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What is Birthright?

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The Unofficial 13 Dos and Dont’s of Birthright Israel

This summer season marks the 13th anniversary of Birthright Israel, the audacious program that brings diaspora Jews aged 18-26 to Israel for a free trip. In honor of Birthright’s Bar Mitzvah, we’ve compiled a list of 13 completely unofficial dos and dont’s to help participants make the most of their experience. Several of us here at Jewlicious have worked as Birthright staff and these represent our collective wisdom. So here they are, presented in no particular order:

1. Choose your trip provider wisely Birthright Israel trips are run by a collection of different trip providers. Some of these are simply private tourism businesses and others are associated or affiliated with an underlying Jewish organization. Birthright Israel, the organization at the top of this entity, sets out strict and extensive criteria regarding the content of these trips, but even so, your experience may vary significantly depending on who you choose to go with. As such a little research can go a long way to making sure that your trip provider meets your needs. The Birthright Israel Web site contains information about each trip provider as well as links to their sites. You should talk to your friends who have been on Birthright before and gather their opinions. They’ll all say their trip was the best so try and listen critically. Just don’t sign up for a trip from the first provider that comes your way, and don’t just go on a trip because your equally uncritical friends are all going too. For instance, Mayanot is a great trip provider, but it always amazes us how many people sign up not knowing that they are affiliated with Chabad – not that there’s anything wrong with that!

Yummy. But not every day!

3. Don’t eat at McDonalds That’s just solid advice wherever you are, but its also a euphemism that urges you to avoid the familiar. I know that when one is far from home, familiarity can bring a sense of comfort. But still, it’s just a ten day trip. Why not put down that Coke and try a Malty instead? And it’s more than just about food choices – it’s about taking the opportunity to learn something new. Talk to the Israelis on your trip about their lives and hopes, challenge the narratives about Israel presented by your tour guide, get to know the other participants on your trip – the ones from other colleges or cities or social circles. It’ll be worth it and it will make your trip that much more interesting and meaningful.

4. Extend your ticket Come on! You’re flying thousands of miles, going to a country you have little experience with, why not stay a little longer and explore a little on your own? Even if you have a job waiting, try like the dickens to get at least a couple of days more and spend some time getting to know Jerusalem or Tel Aviv a little better. If you have a more flexible schedule, you can visit the rest of the country, or find an inexpensive program for a week or two, like say Livnot that costs as little as $100 a week for full room and board and a program that includes hiking, learning and service projects in the always fascinating city of Safed. That’s just one (very good) example of the many options available to you. You’re definitely not going to have many more opportunities to fly to Israel for free so for goodness sake, take advantage!!! Once again, we cannot tell you how many times we’ve had to deal with disappointed participants who, 3-4 days into the trip find out that they really want to stay longer and simply can’t, but could have had they planned it earlier.

5. Don’t join the ISM after your trip If you are an Anti-Israel activist and want to use your Birthright eligibility in order to score a free ticket to Israel just so that you can go and join an anti-Israel group in the West Bank, please don’t. Because of the very real danger involved, it goes against Birthright Israel rules. If they get wind of your plans beforehand, they will cancel your ticket; if they find out during the trip, they will send you home. I’m sure your intentions are good, and you feel your values are commendable, but why tarnish that with dishonesty and deception? If you are so hell bent on joining the ISM, then demonstrate your commitment to the cause by paying for the ticket to Israel yourself. Or better yet, read up about what the ISM is really all about . Oh and while you’re at it, read up about BDS as well .

6. Take off your headphones and listen to your tour guide Your tour guides are highly trained professionals. They train for years in order to earn the certification that allows them to take you around the country. They know so much, it’s incredible, and if you show them just a bit of encouragement, they’ll return the consideration in spades! Ask them questions, make requests, engage them in thoughtful conversation, but for goodness sake, do not have your headphones on while they speak. It’s dumb because you’ll be missing out and also, it’s rude as fuck! They do not talk endlessly, there will always be time for music. Please, please take off your headphones…

7. Don’t get stoopid drunk Maybe you’re under 21 and from the the US and this is the first time you have been able to drink legally (drinking age in Israel is 18). Or maybe you think that drinking makes you more attractive to the opposite sex (it doesn’t). Or maybe you’re a habitual drunk. Who knows? In any case, you’re an adult. Your trip allows you to go to stores and buy whatever you like, no one checks your bags. This isn’t High School. Again, you’re an adult and the assumption is that you’ll behave like an adult. Part of that means learning moderation and being considerate of others. If you drink excessively and somehow don’t get caught, you’ll be hung over the next day and obviously sluggish. This will detrimentally affect your trip – which isn’t free at all – it’s very expensive. Israeli tax dollars that could be used to help poor people eat are being used in order for you to have a meaningful experience. It can’t be meaningful if you’re in a haze. If you do get caught, you’ll be kicked off the trip which will cause an administrative hassle, and result in more wasted money that could have provided underprivileged children with puppies. You cad!

8. Don’t do drugs See #7 above and add to that the possibility of getting ripped off, the possibility of getting arrested, the possibility of jail and the possibility of … oh never mind. Read our post titled The Unofficial Guide to Drugs on Birthright Israel . It will tell you everything you need to know.

9. Don’t hook up with someone on the trip unless you’d hook up with them outside the trip Again, that’s just good life advice. You don’t want to end up like this girl – she, an arty hipster type, he, a frat brother in finance. A wasted hand job led to the inevitable conclusion after the trip. This and other pieces of excellent, albeit unofficial sex advice for adult Birthright Israel participants can be found here .

10. Read up about Israel before you come here Many of you are avid travelers and wouldn’t think of going to a foreign country without reading up on it ahead of time. But on Birthright you seem to be the minority. Maybe it’s because the trip is free and you know it’ll be guided so you don’t care? However, you will enjoy the trip so much more if you read up a bit about Israel ahead of time. You can read a travel book or a history book, look up stuff on the Internet, whatever. Having some idea of what’s going on generally in the region makes for a much better experience! Everything won’t seem as foreign to you, you’ll be able to ask more informed questions etc. Don’t be that person who asks “So what’s the deal with the Palestinians anyway? What’s that all about?”

11. No matter what, cover yourself in mud at the Dead Sea In all likelihood, after visiting the mountain fortress of Massada, you will visit the Dead Sea. Depending on where you go, Dead Sea mud may not be immediately available. Stop whatever you are doing and get some. You may have to ask around, you may have to buy a bag of it for 15 shekels, whatever. Just do it. It makes for a great photo opp and it leaves your skin smooth as a baby’s butt. Also read up about environmental aspects of the Dead Sea in order to appreciate the experience that much more.

12. Beg your tour guide/trip provider for a meaningful Shabbat experience In all fairness, some Birthright Israel trip providers allow participants to enjoy a meaningful Shabbat experience. This can include a Friday night visit to the Kotel / Western Wall at the start of the Friday night Sabbath, or home hospitality meals at the homes of cool observant Jews or at the very least, a Sabbath meal led by trained facilitators who attempt to add meaning to the experience. However, some trip providers are content to just have a Sabbath meal with maybe a token blessing over the wine and that’s that. Please inform yourself ahead of time as to the nature of your trip’s Sabbath plans and if nothing meaningful is planned, switch to another trip provider or insist that your trip include a proper Sabbath program. You’d be surprised how receptive trip providers are to that sort of lobbying. Sabbath in Israel is actually pretty special. Visiting Israel and not enjoying at least one peaceful, spiritually fulfilling Sabbath would be like going to Mardi Gras and not getting drunk. Or something like that. Yeah, sorry. Worst. Analogy. Ever.

Gidi Mark, CEO of Birthright Israel

So yeah, Mazal tov on your Bar Mitzvah Birthright Israel! Today you are a man!

Ok, that too was a bad analogy. Again. Sorry.

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About the author.

Founder and Publisher of Jewlicious, David Abitbol lives in Jerusalem with his wife, newborn daughter and toddler son. Blogging as "ck" he's been blocked on twitter by the right and the left, so he's doing something right.

61 Comments

Really disappointed by this post! Not up to par with your usual stuff Jewlicious! Not only is it not really that funny, but am very surprised that you neglected to mention that Mayanot puts a RABBI on each trip – something that never fails to shock their participants!

I don’t think I was going for funny. This is all serious advice… As for Mayanot, seriously not a bad trip provider at all. But try and find a rabbi on their site. It’s pretty funny.

I agree with Naomi…. Serious or not, it wasn’t CK quality…. I’m disappointed.

Aw come on you guys! If we write something salacious then the old people yell at us. Now that I am writing something that contains solid advice, readers are dissing me? I can’t win.

CK, this was an awesome post. Really.

You can’t please everyone, so please yourself. If you like it, if it’s read, then that’s enough.

I personally thought it was all sound advice!

I agree, i think this was a solid post. Don’t let people get you down:)

Number 3 does NOT apply if you keep kosher.

If you keep kosher, and you have the opportunity to eat McDonalds FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YOUR LIFE – Do it!

(At least get some fries. McD fries are very unique and fantastic)

FYI: Not all McDonalds location in Israel are kosher. In fact, only about 20% of them are, so be sure to check for their kosher certificate first.

The one in the airport is kosher!! The one by Ben Yehuda street is not.

As an FYI, there is no longer a McDonalds at the airport. I just came back from a non-birthright trip where I was obsessing over finding a kosher McDonalds. Found it the last day and took photos to torture my mother. 🙂

No. Never eat at McDonalds. Ever.

Can you please suggest to me what a 16 year old boy can do for 3 weeks during the summer? A friend’is coming for some program but then staying an additional 3 weeks. Initially he plans on staying at my place in tel aviv. I was thinking he can go to ulpan gordon, but I dont know if they take 16 year olds. What else could he do? Are there programs for a few weeks that dont have offiicial start and end dates…that he can join whenever? thanks.

Try the Alexander Muss High School in Israel. they have programs year-round and may have something going on that a visitor can join.

I also thought that the post was pretty on-target with some good suggestions. One point though — I know plenty of people who were able to extend their ticket while they were on their BRI trip, even one who extended last week, on Day 10. You may have fewer options for return flights than if you plan ahead and extend before you arrive in israel, but if you can be flexible, there are always opportunities to extend for a few days, a few weeks or longer.

Wow. I remember when I was 16. I went to Israel and started a one year program at Hebrew U. If he’s mature enough, just let him travel! Otherwise, call up the Jewish Agency and see if they have programs available… there’s got to be something!

I traveled to Israel by myself when I was 15. I slept at a relative but was pretty much left on my own the whole time – not sure what my parents were thinking but if they are mature enough it’s fine.

You know that no matter what you do or say, [redacted] is going to hate you guys, right?

Ed. Note: If you are going to make unsubstantiated accusations of any kind, including against an identifiable person, prepare to have your comment deleted or modified. We are leaving this up as a warning to you and to others.

I have no idea what you’re talking about Eve. [redacted] works tirelessly on behalf of Birthright Israel and the Jewish world and we have nothing but admiration and gratitude for the work that she does.

Don’t be coy ck. You ought to know exactly what I’m talking about. Let’s just say that throughout the organized North American Jewish community, there are certain individuals who make it a point to cock block you every chance they have. No amount of fawning praise is going to change that because some of them absolutely hate you. Wasn’t there a large event planned for September I think that had eager community partners and then suddenly it just evaporated overnight? Didn’t you wonder how that happened?

I don’t think this is the proper venue for this discussion. You can email me at jewlicious at gmail dot com and I will be glad to entertain whatever it is you want to share with me. Otherwise can we focus a little more on the main topic? Why do you even care?

Fair enough.

Why do I care? I’m a fan! I’ve been reading the blog for years and I heard Rabbi Yonah speak recently in Toronto; he was great! Now back to Birthright Israel – best trip ever! Thanks Gidi Mark! Thanks Liz!

Thank you Eve for the compliment!

Actually, I found it to be practical and useful for anyone exploring the trip. Sometimes you loose the message when you go for the funny bone.

Women 18-16 who want to extend their trip can apply for the Torat Reva Fellowship and Study in Jerusalem for 5 moths for only $1000 (or $2000 for the year). Check out the details on http://www.toratreva.org .

Don’t understand all the criticism….I thought this post was witty, insightful and clearly the author is trying to target his audience (teens/young adults). It’s not as shocking as some other stuff on jewlicious but rather some solid advice that I plan on sharing with my siblings!

Oh and thanks for the tip about Gidi, I’ll make sure to write them a thank you note

Hello everyone. You are graciously invited to visit my web site… thestarofkaduri.com

Such a good point about livnot! Extend and do the program in tzfat, I guarantee you won’t regret it!

I’m here in Tzfat now with Livnot. For a post-Birthright program, or for a way to spend a month in Israel wisely, Livnot is definitely the way to go. Amazingly talented and dedicated staff, great people. We just got back from an overnight hike in the desert it was incredible.

As far as extension programs go, Livnot was absolutely amazing. I got to enjoy the benefits of a program without feeling suffocated, and it was more than just sight seeing. My week there was definitely one of the high points for my trip.

I violated the very first suggestion given – picked a provider at random… however absolutely loved it! I went with Mayanot and although I’d previously only lit a Menorah a couple times, did not have a Bar Mitzvah, had never been to temple, and had zero knowledge of Shabbat, it was a great choice.

Having a Rabbi on the trip was awesome, in fact his wife was there too and they were both 25 years old. Although it is affiliated with Chabad they do not pressure you in any way and the atmosphere is very much, “here’s what Judaism/Israel is all about, question us, discuss, and take away whatever you feel comfortable with.”

Great list ck. Also, I highly recommend http://www.livnot.org . I extended my birthright trip and stayed with Livnot in Safed just shy of two weeks which really allowed me time to reflect and spend time with others who wanted to take it all in and explore Israel/Judaism a little more in depth. The program was ridiculously inexpensive and all the hikes, activities, and especially Shabbat with both the staff and a local host family are 100% worth experiencing!

You become a bar mitzvah once yo turn 13; the ceremony is not like a Christian sacrament, it’s not supposed to turn you into anything, rather mark the occasion. I know party planners won’t like me sharing this bit.

I instinctively looked for a like button on your comment Froylein 😉

I could not agree more with the extend your trip part and about doing a program like Livnot!!!! I felt as though I learned more about myself and Judaism by doing Livnot after Birthright then I had my entire life growing up in the states. It’s an atmosphere of where they encourage questions, candor, and discovery. Best of all, what you find through the program is totally up to you, whether you’re looking for a week packed with hiking and cave exploring, or to dive into the spirituality that is Tzfat. and its sooooooooooooooo cheap!

Can I post this article on my Facebook page! It’s fantastic and I would love to share this info with our fellow Jews!

Of course you can Sara! We encourage the sharing of our content! I mean we even have a button on the left side to make it easy and you’ll note that as of this writing, this post has been shared on Facebook 251 times already! 🙂

ok, it just didn’t allow me to it says content blocked.

Just now?? That’s weird. Try again or simply copy and paste the URL into your facebook status… let me know how it goes!

I just want to publicly thank Gidi Mark and everyone behind Birthright Israel. My Birthright trip represented a watershed moment in my life. It’s amazing, now that I think about it, just how much I learned about Israel and how much closer I now feel to the land and the people. I have since been back to Israel twice and Israel has become a very important part of my Jewish identity. Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart!

Awesome post…but I think you should have recommended the Fish N Chips in the shuk. BTW, the Jlem & TLV Shuks both have websites. You might want to link to them: http://www.shuktlv.co.il/ & http://www.machne.co.il/en/

Re: extending your trip and having a meaningful Shabbat experience – Jerusalem House can do both – and it’s free. http://jerusalemhouse.co.il/

Can you give me any advice as far as what you think will help people continue post-birthright jewish involvement?

Thats the million dollar question. Anyone with good financial resources who wishes to know the answer can contact me via the contact form. I have some good ideas…

Gidi Mark is still alowing the Birthright Program to be used to get ISM activsits over to the West Bank where they can harass IDF soldiers. IT’s time to truth start to come out about an administrator more interested in money than helping the people of Israel.

The establishment of the Israeli state, and the alleged Jewish “birthright,” involved the violent displacement of several hundred thousand indigenous Palestinians, and the destruction of hundreds of Palestinian villages. A Palestinian refugee population of nearly 7 million people is to this day excluded from returning to their lands by Israeli state discrimination.

In contemporary Israel — where approximately one-fifth of the population is Palestinian — the rights of citizenship (ezrahut) and nationality (le’um) are intentionally distinct. Palestinians born within the 1949 armistice line are considered citizens (and not nationals). Meanwhile a Jew born and raised in New York has a “birthright” to the Israeli state in Palestine, is considered a national, and can almost immediately become a citizen upon emigrating.

Yeah war sucks. Do you know what happened to Jewish areas captured by Arabs and indigenous Palestinians? 100% Judenrein. Women were raped, men had their sex organs cut off and stuffed into their mouths. Thanks for your grossly oversimplistic rant. You don’t know shit.

Being defensive toward a commentor on your post that woes only, factual, empirical statements is like publically announcing that 2 plus 2 does not, in fact, equal 4. His rant could go on about the 1400 Palistinians killed by the IDF in November of 2008, 6 months after signing a peace treaty. Although you feel the need to blindlessly defend your side, you don’t. It undermines the situation, and presenting a more accurate representation of israel on these birthright trips should be the main goal, not guilt tripping american college students into believing war-propaganda.

Wrote a blog post about my birthright experience (among others about Israel) last year. Check it out!

http://www.apassionandapassport.com/2013/02/accepted-my-kesher-israel-experience.html

I don’t know where you got “frat brother in finance” from that woman’s story ( especially since she described him as a “pale, bespeckled law student with allergies”) but that portion of the article begs the question: What constitutes a beneficial handjob?

Israel-Bashing BDS Movement refuted by Alan Dershowitz:

http://www.aish.com/jw/me/Alan-Dershowitz-Dismantles-the-BDS-Movement.html

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Birthright Israel

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New York, NY 10175

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Birthright robbed me in a very cruel & disgusting way! I was scheduled to go to the trip in summer 2015 which should have also been near my 21st birthday as well. When I registered, I had every intention of going, I thought it was going to be a great cultural experience. I gave a $250 deposit to birthright to hold my place for the trip and it was supposed to be refundable when I got back from the trip. There was a deadline of cancellation on April 8 before the June summer trip to cancel and I guess get the refund back but life doesn't always work according to written deadlines. I woke up one day paralyzed from the waist down and it happened way after the April 8 cancellation deadline about a few weeks before the trip. I had no way of knowing it was going to happen to me. I couldn't prepare for such a catastrophic event. I was desperately going from urgent care to primary doctor to specialists getting terrible news and I just wanted to try to get just an ounce of hope of healing and getting my life back and even if there was a sliver of chance I would have loved to also go on the trip. Turns out the cold blooded devils of birthright don't care about extreme situations because that doesn't fit the criteria of their paperwork. I emailed birthright and I made a complaint to my bank and eventually just lost the deposit because the witch herself Lauren Krol from the Israel Outdoors Birthright emailed the bank and cc'd me a smartass email saying i missed the deadline of cancellation and forfeited my deposit. I didn't have a choice, I couldn't even walk so there was no possible way I could make it to the trip. Not enough I physically lost ability to walk and got extreme health problems that arised from the paralysis, I also lost the deposit money that could have went to medical bills so I got smashed twice. Any reasonable person / company would have understood my situation and given me back my deposit but not the evil people at birthright. This year it'll be 7 years since the paralysis and I'm still recovering. Thank God, my family and the one doctor who gave hope which allowed me to even recover as much as I did until now and hopefully I can make a full recovery one day with God's help. Birthright are disgusting thieves for not caring about a situation this severe and stealing my money. Birthright has a bunch of really bad reviews on yelp but they advertise themselves so amazingly to make it look like heavenly trip but at the end they are heartless people. Birthright kept sending me emails, calls, and texts for years to try to get me to join their trip again in the future. I kept telling them they stole money from me and I hate them and they finally stopped but every once in a while kept still sending me emails and texts. Birthright should be ashamed of themselves and Israel should be as well for allowing this to happen. Birthright are imposters and they deceive people trying to make it look like they'll give an amazing trip and that they are such caring people. I don't want to go to Israel because of them and I don't want anything to do with birthright ever in my life. By the way, I have records of everything: doctor records, emails to birthright, videos proof of how terrible my health was and not able to walk or move my legs so birthright can't make up some lie or excuse in any way avoiding this. They know exactly what they did. The recovery from paralysis was the hardest thing I've ever had to go through in my entire life and that's why it's taken me this long to write about what happened. It's not easy for me to talk about this vulnerable situation but at the interest of showing people what kind of cruel people are behind birthright, I'm putting this review online so people can see a complete picture and not just a bunch of pictures of smiling people and catchy headlines in advertisements for birthright thinking it's the best trip and best organization ever. Look up other bad reviews about birthright as well through other Yelp reviews and other experiences online. Look up reviews based on each trip there are mayanot, israel outdoors, and several others. Get a complete picture of what birthright is based on other people's experiences before deciding if you want to go on this trip. I'm not the only one that had my deposit taken unfairly and there were people with terrible experiences once they got to Israel on the trip so look through as much info, experiences, and reviews as you can before deciding if it's worth it for you to go on this trip.

If I can id do negative stars, This whole thing was a complete nightmare and a waste of time. They completely screwed me and my brother over and dont seem to care. I was supposed to go before covid hit, they then cancelled the trip 5 times due to coivd. One time it was two days before we were supposed to go, I had to get the vaccine if I wanted to go (so I did) just for them to cancel last possible minute ( 2 days before). We had to argue with the airline companies to get our money back, it took 3 months to do that. Low and behold I aged out, I applied and was set to go before I was too old and then they changed the age limit, so When I was finally able to go I was to old. They made me get the vaccine so I can go, then a few months later they no longer require it, which pisses me off because I didn't want it anyways, ( I got it because I really wanted to go). This whole thing was a GIANT WASTE OF TIME, and I highly recommend going on your own, not with this company. DONT WASTE YOUR TIME, you will get a headache and it wont be worth the time or effort. Horrible company

Do not use Israel on the House when booking your birthright trip. There is a serious lack of communication with this group. They never returned any of my calls and never responded directly to my emailed questions. When I requested to speak with a supervisor I was denied any contact information. There are a ton of wonderful birthright trips to choose from so do your homework and be selective. Stay away from Sachlav ISRAEL ON THE HOUSE!

The lack of communication and unorganized staff at Birthright and Sachlav ruined my first time in Israel. I guess that's what you get for free.

I hate to give out bad reviews but I was extremely disappointed with this trip.. if could give this trip zero stars I would. The only reason I am giving the Taglit trip one star is because of the friends I met along the way and places I got to see. However, I warn you.. the trip is VERY VERY regimented. when I went to orientation they reassured me that I would have "the best time of my life"... Sad to say that was not the case. My father and family are from Israel and I felt that this trip did not do a proper job of highlighting what Israel is all about... instead we were herded along like cattle from one activity to the next with ZERO down time. Everyday we woke up at 6:30am and were not allowed to return to the hostel room until 12am. I got a whopping 4 hours of sleep each night. Staff was extremely unfriendly and ridiculed us for complaining about the amount of walking, lack of sleep, and cleanliness of "hotels" aka hostels that has bed bugs and cockroaches. My tent experience was the worst thing I have ever endured... the one thing I was really looking forward to was riding the camels! I woke up promptly at 5:30am and was extremely excited to go camel riding! As we began to approach the camels they started making moaning noises and were beginning to get muzzled I even saw one of the guys "punishing" one of the camels by proceeding to kick the animal in the neck. Why would birthright bring us here? Where staff is rude and unorganized and animals are not properly cared for ? Many of us got ill including me and when we needed our medic to help us he said we were being "needy" .... let me sum it up. If you're willing to have a near death experience where nobody on this trip gives a rats ass about you then go for it! Seriously felt like I joined boot camp! Out of everything I will still return to Israel but this time for a relaxing vacation on Tel Aviv beach. Good luck taglit!!!! Hope you make changes so that others will not endure such a poor experience.

My trip organizer was Israel Outdoors (Ages 18-22), a liberal, overall look opportunity of Israel. Here are some tips: -It is a mandatory rule to participate in all activities in the itinerary. If you don't, according to the manual, then you are to be let go from the program. I advise to ask about the itinerary in advance of choosing your desired program. -I went to a crepe place in Jerusalem with some friends and was yelled at for bringing falafel and pita. It's not meat, I'm freaking vegan. You must respect their rules or else you will be treated poorly. But you should be treated kindly considering you're bringing tourism and acceptability to Israel. -A male in my group decided it would be fun to try to drown me purposely in one of the pool's hotel we were staying at after rejecting him romantically. Apparently it's considered a joke amongst my peers and my so called "counselor" laughed along with them, never taking me seriously. The boy never received any form of punishment. Please take self defense or krav maga prior to the trip. -Do not get me started on the American counselors. They are just as clueless as you. You might as well have better informed staff or none at all. Perhaps train them more and have them deeply understand the meaning behind this trip. Thanks. -Bring a hat and sunscreen with you. Stay hydrated. -No drunkenness. Yet somehow a drunk kid fell out of a window and suddenly became an overnight hero. He was not sent home, which is against their own rules. If you're gonna have us sign a petition, the organizer must play fair game as well. Yay. Bitches are stumbling on the floor. Fuck that. Do that at your own risk. -On this trip organizer you are able to dress slutty but coordinate which times are okay and which times it is recommended to dress modestly. Positives -Visiting the Dead Sea, climbing Mount Masada, going water rafting, sleeping in a tent for a night, getting a bat mitzvah. -Hang with the nice Jewish boys and girls and you'll form friendships. -The falafel was down right beautiful. -The Mystery Moses (secretly exchanging gifts to one other person) was a blast! -There was a personal body guard watching over us during each of our activities - only at given times though. When he was I did feel more safe. -Noam, our tour guide, was motivational and inspirational. -The Western Wall made me feel connected spiritually with myself. Yes, obviously, the positives are more worth it.

Just came back from a 7-day Mayanot Birthright trip. Best trip of my life! I recommend all eligible people to strongly consider going through this amazing experience.

A free trip to Israel for Jews between the ages of 18 and 26??? How can you go wrong? I went with EZRA, a Russian organizer in Brooklyn, but everything falls under Taglit/Birthright anyway. This is the opportunity of a lifetime. The trip is amazing, the people are amazing, and if you haven't gone yet, what the hell are you waiting for???

Go at your own risk. No one will do anything to help you if anything goes wrong say your luggage doesn't arrive. Wouldn't change the itinerary or even call a cab so my daughter could get a few necessities. It's a total propaganda trip, and in this case was led by a Rabbi who was a misogynist, responding to questions from males and putting off females. There is an agenda here, get kids to embrace Israel and after the trip, relentlessly solicit parents for contributions.

Where to begin well lets begin if you value your childs life dont let them go with taglit.The group leaders are more dangerous then the terrorists .My child complained of a swollen leg after being bit by something.They put her off till it swelled to twice its size.Then after her third request they took her to a clinic.Where they diagnosed an infection and gave her antibiotics and sent her on her way.This was on a monday she was scheduled to leave thursday.If she had not extended her stay she would of been on a plane with a swollen leg twice its size.Risking an embolism on a long flight made longer by the fact plane turned back 7 hours into the flight.As luck would have it she had extended her stay and when leg did not improve she took herself to the emergency room where they admitted her to hospital and started her on IVS.At no point has anyone from taglit or taglits insurance provider returned a call or email from me.Please think twice before you risk your child to these idiots

3 other reviews that are not currently recommended

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Why I Walked Off My Birthright Israel Trip

Guest Writer

“I could live with having my home being destroyed once a year,” Awdah Al-hathalean tells me as he paces around the International Community Center of Umm Al-Khair, a Palestinian Bedouin village in the West Bank. “My friend’s house was demolished four times in the last year.”

As he walks, I sip sage tea from a small glass cup and look at pictures of Awdah’s uncle. I hadn’t expected to be in Umm Al-Khair that night. But two days earlier I had walked off my Birthright-Israel trip along with seven other Birthright participants.

Birthright , which since 1999 has sent more than 650,000 young Jews like me on free trips to Israel, claims to be an apolitical trip intended to put young Jews in touch with our history and culture. Over the course of a week, however, it became clear that Birthright was advancing a political agenda, both hiding and supporting Israel’s military occupation of Palestinians. How could we see and understand the truth of what was happening in Israel without hearing from Palestinians living under occupation?

So after days of struggling to understand, I decided to walk off the trip. A participant on my trip reached out to IfNotNow , a movement of young American Jews working to end our community’s support for the occupation, looking for ways to confront Birthright in their miseducation They helped put us in touch with Israeli and Palestinian anti-occupation leaders like Awdah and his family, who offered to show us what was really happening in Israel.

Umm Al-Khair in the South Hebron Hills, where Awdah and his family live, is under constant threat of destruction . The Civil Administration, the Israeli government body that controls resources in the West Bank, has repeatedly ordered the demolition of structures in the village, claiming that they are built illegally.

The Civil Administration controls almost every aspect of life for Palestinians living under occupation: demolishing buildings, cutting off electricity and limiting Umm Al-Khair’s water supply to only seven hours of running water a week. The Community Center, which doubles as a summer camp for children, has been demolished and rebuilt twice already — once in the middle of the night, while Awdah was sleeping inside. It’s still hard for me to fully grasp and describe the trauma Awdah and his family face.

Umm Al-Khair, a village of tents and sheds, sits a stone’s throw from the encroaching Israeli settlement Carmel, a sprawl of large, suburban-style houses. The inequality is maddening. The settlements display an array of bright street lights in the middle of the night, hiding the stars in the sky, while Umm Al-Khair has been denied electricity by the Civil Administration and uses a handful of solar panels to provide energy for the entire village. Because the settlements have abundant access to water, they’re able to grow forests of trees; Umm Al-Khair uses their seven hours of water a week to give drinking water to their children.

At the very same time that I was with Awdah and his family, my friends and peers still on the Birthright trip were also in a Bedouin village. But they weren’t hearing about the daily horrors of occupation or the difficulty of preserving the Bedouin way of life in the face of Israeli demolitions. Instead, Birthright offered them a night “dreaming under the stars” that would be “just like the fairy tales,” according to the website of the Bedouin-styled “lodging site” Birthright takes participants to. Birthright participants are promised camel rides, coffee ceremonies and “hospitality.” There’s no sign of the real hardships faced by Bedouin communities in Israel and the occupied territories.

To me it was clear: While I was learning about the occupation’s role in destroying the lives of innocent Palestinian children and families, Birthright was teaching young Jews a rosy narrative intended to obscure the Israeli government’s military control over millions of Palestinians.

I hadn’t come on Birthright expecting to walk off and meet Awdah. I had boarded the plane to go to Israel for the first time excited to learn more about a country my family loves. I wanted to connect with my Judaism, and to be honest, the free trip was a pretty big factor. But I’ve learned that Birthright is not just a free trip .

I was lucky enough to be traveling with people who knew to ask questions about the separation wall we drove past, about the false maps Birthright handed out , and about the fact that Palestinian people live without basic civil, political and economic rights. Many of my fellow walk-offs had learned about these things from IfNotNow, and came prepared to challenge Birthright if they didn’t give a full picture of what was happening in Israel-Palestine.

“Birthright is funded largely by the Israeli government and right-wing American billionaires with ties to President Donald Trump, like Sheldon Adelson.”

When they saw that our itinerary included a visit to the Davidson Center, an archeological park that is operated by the radical settler organization Elad , they invited me and others to take part in the walk-off. Elad uses the money it gets from the entrance fees of tens of thousands of Birthrighters each year to fund settlements and displace Palestinians living in occupied East Jerusalem. It was clear in that moment that Birthright wasn’t just hiding the occupation from us; it was supporting it.

Perhaps it shouldn’t have been surprising that Birthright was pushing a pro-occupation agenda. It is funded largely by the Israeli government and right-wing American billionaires with ties to President Donald Trump , like Sheldon Adelson . Birthright claims to be apolitical, but because they are financially and ideologically invested in the occupation, they hide Israel’s military-backed violence and countless human rights abuses from young Jews.

Visiting Umm Al-Khair showed me just how much Birthright is leaving out. It’s a moral failure for the largest organization that educates American Jews about Israel to tell a false narrative that obscures the truth about the occupation and its effects on Palestinians. If I didn’t walk off Birthright, I would never have known the story of Umm Al-Khair. I would have gone back home without hearing about the settlements, the West Bank, or the lives of Palestinians.

If Birthright were really the apolitical educational institution it claims to be, it would tell the whole story. I and other young Jews like me deserve to know the whole truth, and the people of Umm Al-Khair and Palestinians like Awdah, who are just fighting to live, deserve to have young American Jews on their side. Risa Nagel is a 24-year-old New York Jew. She graduated with a BA in Mathematics from Hamilton College and now works in education policy in Seattle.

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Answered: Which trip organizer should I choose?

Where to start

Trip organizers, amazing israel, israel outdoors, mayanot israel, ou israel free spirit, sachlav israel on the house, yael adventures.

There isn’t one “Birthright Israel trip.” Instead, there are almost 600 trip options from 9 trip organizers, affiliated with the official Birthright Israel organization. The one you choose makes a big difference on the type of trip you go on and the experience you have in Israel (and traveling over there).

BirthrightGuru actually recommends not starting with the trip organizer — but don’t skip over reviewing completely. We just think that the best way to choose a trip from the hundreds of options is to narrow down the selection with a few basic preferences, see what organizers match up with the smaller pool of choices, and then review them to make a match. You’ll likely find that if you pick a trip that works for you the organizer will be great! There are very few “red flags” with the organizers overall. And if you pick something specialized, like a trip with your campus, community, or personal passion, you’re likely to jive with the organizer too. That said, there are some that have a religious or academic slant, which might not be your top pick, and you might decide it’s worth getting to a different departure city or even traveling without your college friends to try something different.

If you heard about a great organizer from a friend or family member and want to know more, scroll down to see our guide to Birthright Trip organizers. And if you’re looking for even more info on how to choose the best trip (not just organizer), head over to our Ultimate Guide to Birthright Israel trips.

Amazing Israel is a seasoned trip organizer and tour company based in Jerusalem. Their focus is on memorable Birthright trips, and they bring their expertise from planning tons of tours in Israel for B’nai Mitzvot, family trips, conferences, and more. Their claim is for “out of the box” Israel trips, but their itinerary is typical of the standard version. Not a problem, but don’t get sold by the marketing only. In reality, they’re a professional tour operator at heart, and should be trusted to provide an excellent trip. Amazing Israel is not affiliated with any religious movement and is vocal about accepting participants from all backgrounds on their trips.

Facebook Reviews: 4.8/5 stars (44 reviews)

Trips: Classic (10-day and 7-day) Outdoors/Adventures Entertainment Professionals Urban and Culture

Departures: Boston, Dallas, LA, NYC

Ezra World has roots in a youth movement focused on connecting Russian Jews to their community, and their Birthright trips grew out of the organization as it expanded to new avenues of connecting Jews to their heritage. Now, they points out especially that their staff are all Americans who made the choice to come to Israel, who are now immersed in Israeli society, and who attended the best Israeli tour guide educational programs. Technically, Ezra world is affiliated with the Orthodox Judaism movement, so expect more than the average amount of time spent on religious connections to Israel and Zionism, though the organizers clearly point out that they are open to all participants. Ezra World also offers speciality trips, including a foodie-focused itinerary and a trip organized around world-renowned startups and entrepreneurship in Israel.

Facebook Reviews: 4.3/5 stars (43 reviews)

Trips: Classic (10-day and 7-day) Outdoors/Adventures Foodie Startups and Entrepreneurship Single Gender

Departures: Austin, LA, New York

Hillel is a campus-based organization, so their focus is on college students and university-specific trips. If you want to travel with friends from school, there’s a good chance that Hillel is planning a trip leaving from campus (and departing from a nearby big city, unless you’re in the midwest!). They are not limited to college campuses, and offers speciality trips and trips for all ages like the other trip organizers, including one of the most adventurous trips in the entire program: Israel Underwater, which takes participants SCUBA diving in Israel with Israeli Navy divers! Hillel is non-denominational, but definitely a religious organization. They also have a reputation during classic and campus trips for taking more time for deep conversations and learning, rather than focusing on adventure or experiencing the culture. Mostly expect a typical itinerary, with that slight extra focus on religion and activities designed (and sometimes feeling forced) to create meaningful connections among participants and to Israel, in addition to the speciality trips offered by this organizer.

Facebook Reviews: Not reviewed

Trips: Classic (10-day and 7-day) Campuses (many!) Underwater: SCUBA dive with Israel Navy divers LGBT Pride Trip to Tel Aviv Pride Parade Yoga and Mindfulness American Sign Language

Departures: Atlanta, LA, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego

Israel Outdoors lives up to their name, but also goes so far beyond. On an Israel Outdoors Israel by Foot or Israel by Bike trip, expect more time outdoors, breaking a sweat. They also offer many speciality trips, including multiple extended study abroad, cultural, campus, and accessible trips (the most offerings of any provider). They even offer a one-of-a-kind USA-Argentina joint trip. And all of these trips are offered with departures from the most cities out of all trip organizers. Israel Outdoors is an experienced Israeli tour operator based in Tel Aviv (with offices in Washington, DC), and have earned a reputation for participants who want to travel to Israel and take extra advantage of the incredible natural beauty of the country and the spirit of adventure. As expected, they’re non-denominational and open to participants from all backgrounds.

Facebook Reviews: 4.7/5 stars (98 reviews)

Trips: Classic (10-day and 7-day) Campus Study abroad extended trips (diplomacy, archeology) Outdoors/Adventures (biking and hiking) Culture (film and food) Mindfulness and Spirituality LGBTQ Special Needs USA-Argentina Joint Trip Social Justice

Departures: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, LA, Miami, NYC, San Diego, San Francisco, Washington

Mayanot is a unique trip organizer — they’re affiliated with both the academically-oriented Mayanot Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem and the religiously-inclined Chabad. This overlap is definitely their niche: Expect a wonderful tour of Israel on your Birthright trip, with a consistent theme of deep learning and a spiritual connections to the land and to Judaism. You’ll definitely see this priority in their choice of staff. In addition to traditional Israeli tour guides, Mayanot Israel Birthright trips include Jewish educators and rabbis. They’re affiliated with the Orthodox Judaism movement, but open to all participants. This organizer does not offer the most departure options, but they cover the east coast, west coast, and midwest, making their distinctive portfolio of trips very logistically accessible to all those interested.

Facebook Reviews: 4.4/5 stars (116 reviews)

Trips: Classic (10-day and 7-day) Campus Extended Study Abroad (counter-terrorism and conflict resolution) Innovation and Entrepreneurship Outdoors/Adventures Vegans and Vegetarians / Animal Rights Single Gender

Departures: Chicago, LA, Miami, NYC

OU Israel Free Spirit is an offshoot of the Orthodox Union, which is the largest Kosher certification organization in the world. But don’t think that all of their trips are about traditional religion and prayer. In fact, Israel Free Spirit is another trip organizer vocal about their acceptance of all participants from all Jewish affiliations, with an extremely diverse selection of trips (with the only downside of only leaving from 3 departure cities). This trip organizer is the only one to offer a trip specifically built for those young adult Jews recovering from substance addiction. In addition to providing a sensitive completely sober experience for the entire trip, this itinerary goes deeper and offers participants a chance to visit and learn about treatment centers in Israel and engage with Israelis going through the same experience. It’s a special opportunity for those who may otherwise feel excluded from Birthright Israel trips. Israel Free Spirit also offers special medical needs trips with special staff, equipment, and itineraries. Fitting with their name, there is also a Kabbalah and Mysticism trip, offering a noteworthy experience for those seeking a spiritual connection to Israel outside of the traditional religions. And if a traditional religious experience is more your speed, there are trips for Modern Orthodox men and women (single gender). Or if your religious experience was connected to the JSU/NCSY youth group movements, they offer an alumni trip to reconnect with friends! Not to be left out, they too offer an adventurous trip and an itinerary focused on arts and culture. Don’t let the name fool you, and be sure to check out OU Israel Free Spirit that may be a great match for you.

Trips: Classic (10-day and 7-day) Renewal and Recovery Medical Special Needs Outdoors/Adventures Modern Orthodox Single Gender Kabbalah and Mysticism JSU/NCSY Alumni Arts, Music, and Entertainment

Departures: LA, Miami, NYC

Sachlav Israel on the House is a straightforward, unaffiliated, Israel-based Birthright trip organizer. They fit in a sweet spot for adventurous travelers who shy away from extreme adventure trips, but are looking for a really exciting itinerary. Sachlav Israel on the House has clearly thought through their trip timing, logistics, and plans very well to deliver wonderful experiences. They don’t offer a ton of specialized trips, but they do offer some unique options, including their own take on the LGBTQ experience and a special all-women Modern Orthodox trip with all female IDF soldiers, plus an amped-up adventure option for those looking for more hiking, rappelling, and camping. They also only leave from 3 cities on the coasts, so they might not be the most logistically friendly for all participants.

Facebook Reviews: 4.7/5 stars (106 reviews)

Trips: Classic (10-day and 7-day) Outdoors/Adventures LGBTQ All Women Modern Orthodox

Shorashim offers the unique opportunity to spend the entire trip with Israelis by your side. They’re also known for creating top-rated itineraries across a number of speciality trip options and their classic itinerary. Combine their reputation, trip options, and the second highest number of departure cities, and you’re looking at a solid trip organizer for many trip participants for Birthright Israel! Shorashim is another provider to offer extended study abroad options, in this case, focused on Israeli Multiculturalism. Definitely a great option to enhance your learning and overall experience in Israel (plus pickup a few college credits, if useful). They also offer trips focused on LGBTQ with a trip to Tel Aviv Pride Parade, food, outdoor adventures, spiritual self-discovery, and regional industries (including DC politics and Wall Street finance).

Facebook Reviews: 4.7/5 stars (57 reviews)

Trips: Classic (10-day and 7-day) Outdoors/Adventures LGBTQ Foodie Culture Spiritual Self-Discovery Regional/Industry Communities (DC politics, Wall Street finance)

Boston, Chicago, LA, Miami New York Washington

Yael Adventures has the distinction of being a tour company not just for Israel but for Israelis. In fact, their claim to fame is that they are one of the largest tour companies in Israel for Israeli schools and other institutions. This experience can serve them well when planning Birthright Israel trips, especially if you’re looking for a classic itinerary (they only offer a few specialized trips) with the knowledge that they are not catering to only to the basic touristy spots, but rather to travelers who want a true Israel travel experience with some lesser-known spots. This organizer offers only one specialized trip, designed for those looking for even more adventure on the itinerary (plus the same extreme adventure for women only). They also don’t offer many departure cities.

Facebook Reviews: 4.3/5 stars (38 reviews)

Trips: Classic (10-day and 7-day) Outdoor/Adventures Outdoor/Adventures (women-only)

Departure cities: LA, Miami, NYC

Answered: Which Birthright Israel trip should I choose?

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Taglit Birthright Trip - Sabra Way

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My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our 7 day tour of Israel thanks to our knowledgeable guide, Rom... read more

My wife and I, along with 15 other intrepid travelers from the States spent over a week on a... read more

Taglit Birthright Trip

Super knowledgeable and passionate about all the history and topics of Israel!! Great tour guide and educator!

I have travelled quite a bit and this trip was definitely one of the best - primarily because of Rom. He is a great guide and attentive to all He is knowledgeable, a delight to be around and determined to make each day memorable and enjoyable. All in all a FABULOUS guide!

We booked a tour of Israel for 14 friends. You are always nervous when you are in charge. Rom , our tour guide , put us at easy immediately. He met us at our boutique hotel, the Lilly and Bloom and we never looked back. Rom is such a expect with a easy going style. He is a native Israeli and he had great insights into all the sites we visited. We toured a Kibbutz, toured Jerusalem , swam in the Dead Sea, drank great Israeli wine. The American Colony Hotel was my favorite. This is a must do tour for everyone and I would say using Rom Amit was the best decision we made.

Rom Amit, our guide for 11 amazing days. He has exceptional historical and religious knowledge, along with personal charm and wit. He can find an amazing lunch spot in the market or spend time explaining historical details, both with equal success. He made each person in our group feel as though we left his country with a better insight into their complicated history as well as their current living conditions. His warmth and charm made this trip outstanding.

Thank you so much for taking the time and putting such a beautiful review. It’s been a great pleasure to guide y’all.

Rom absolutely made our trip fantastic! He is an expert guide who is also a wonderful “people person”. I can’t imagine having a better person to show me Israel!

Thanks for your kind words, i really appreciate your effort and it means so much for me.

We have never met a guy like Rom. We hardly find the right words to express our thanks and gratitude to him. Rom made our visit to Israel more than amazing. He is the right man doing the right things with the heart. Many words of praise to Rom have already been written here, all of them are absolute truth. We want to meet this attractive unforgettable guy again, for sure! Rom, thank you for your knowledge you have given us, thanks for a great time spent with you. Your KDZ company group from the Czech Republic :-)

Thank you for your encouraging words and kindness. I’ve really had a wonderful time with your group! and I’m sure that your review will help other people to decide about coming to visit Israel.

Israel For Free? Here's How to Do Birthright

It feels great to turn your hard-earned points into travel. But you know what feels even better? Traveling for free.

Every year thousands of young Jewish people do just that through the Birthright Israel Foundation , a nonprofit with a mission to connect Jews to Israel. This popular trip is a favorite on college campuses, where students can partake in a once-in-a-lifetime experience — for free!

Wondering how to hop on board? Here's a one-stop guide to all things Birthright, from what to expect to how you can apply, plus a few exclusive pointers from several Points Guy team members who have taken the trip themselves.

What Is Birthright?

Birthright Israel is a nonprofit foundation that sends up to 40,000 young Jewish people to Israel every year for free. While the program's stated goal is to help Jewish youth explore their identity and build stronger ties to Israel, it doesn't have a religious agenda and accepts Jews of all denominations.

Who Can Go?

Going on a Birthright trip is pretty straightforward: Almost any Jewish non-resident from the US between the ages of 18 and 26 is eligible — check out Birthright Israel's FAQ section for more info. If you do qualify, you'll hop on a summer or winter trip and head out to explore the land on your air-conditioned coach bus chock-full of guides and new friends.

Should I Go With Friends?

A Birthright trip is what you make of it, and whether or not you know anyone else on the trip beforehand could have a huge impact on your time there. TPG Editor-in-Chief Zach Honig went solo back in 2011, a decision he said helped him open his mind to new experiences and people, while TPG Social Media Editor, Samantha Rosen, says she cherished the chance to go on Birthright with some of her closest friends from college.

Which Trip Should I Choose?

10 different tour providers work with Birthright Israel to coordinate trips, and while all follow similar itineraries, each brings a different taste to the table. Hillel International sends you to the Holy Land with other kids from your college campus, while Mayanot, Ezra World and Israel Free Spirit all tend to attract many Orthodox Jews. Every trip has a "mifgash" (or meeting) in which Israeli soldiers tag along for a portion the tour, but Shorashim has soldiers stay on for all 10 days. This was a key piece for Rosen, who went on a Shorashim trip in the summer of 2013.

"The soldiers give you insight into what life is like in Israel, to give you a perspective and become your friends," Rosen said. "They become a part of the group."

Many providers also offer single gender, LGBTQ, culinary and other specialty trips as well. If you do some research into what you want from your trip and what's available, and it will pay off in delivering exactly what you want when you get there.

What You'll Do in Israel

Think of Birthright as your passport to Israel's hottest spots. You'll place a note in Jerusalem's Western Wall, hike to the top of the Masada mountaintop fortress and explore the lively seaside streets of Tel Aviv. You'll also take some time to reflect on Jewish history by visiting the Yad Vashem Holocaust Remembrance Center and Mount Herzl, Israel's national cemetery. In between, you and your new friends will get some time to explore on your own. Try plenty of street food to get a taste of the local flavor, but stay away from "Jerusalem mixed grill" if you're squeamish around mystery meats.

Can I Earn Miles on My Flight?

Honig traveled with Israel Outdoors in 2011, and like the points-hound he is, he managed to score some mileage out of his 5,500-mile flight. But it did take a bit of wrangling; though he didn't book the ticket himself, he was able earn miles by eventually adding his frequent flyer information to the Delta itinerary.

"It depends on how [the provider] books the tickets," Honig said. "Sometimes they have deep discounted group fares that aren't eligible for mileage accrual." While Honig's experience may be a fluke, there's no harm in trying.

Have you ever been on a Birthright Israel trip? Tell us about your experience, below.

How to Apply for a Birthright Israel Trip

So you’ve read or heard all about the incredible Taglit Birthright Israel trips. Now you’re ready to experience it for yourself. But before packing a suitcase, you’ll need to fill out the online application . Here are the steps you need to follow when applying for a free Birthright trip to Israel.

Step 1: Choose a Trip

Whether you’re focused on Israeli cuisine or belong to a Jewish organization on campus, Birthright Israel offers diverse trips for varying interests and preferences. Head to the marketplace to learn more about the Trip Organizers- each has its own unique style and set of trips so you can travel with like-minded peers who share your interests. If you decide to choose a niche trip like Active or LGBTQ, you’ll still do all the classic activities such as touring the old city in Jerusalem, hiking Masada, and floating in the Dead Sea.

Step 2: Fill out the application

After you sort through the options and find the perfect trip, the next step is to create an account. After confirming your email address, you can get started on the application . Some of the questions will be about your Jewish background to confirm eligibility. You’ll also be asked to provide contact information and why you’d like to travel with us.

Step 3: Pay the deposit

To be approved for a trip, all applicants must pay a fully refundable $360 deposit . This saves you a seat on the trip and provides us with reassurance that you won’t cancel at the last minute. Until the deposit is paid, all trip offers are conditional. After your trip is over, you can choose to have your deposit refunded in full or to donate it to help other Jewish peers participate in a free Birthright Israel trip. We collect the deposit via PayPal which has a $25 non-refundable one-time processing fee.

Step 4: Provide passport information

We’ll ask you to share your passport information so that Birthright Israel can book a flight on your behalf.  

Step 5: Relax and wait for us to reach out

After you finish the application and make the deposit, sit back and wait for us to reach out. Your trip organizer will contact you within three weeks for a phone interview. This is to review and confirm the details on your application. Medical information must also be provided so that we can help you if an emergency were to occur while you’re on the trip.

Once you’re approved for a trip, you will be contacted through email with a conditional offer. You must accept the trip offer to reserve your spot. If you’re ready for the trip of a lifetime, get started on your application today. Spots are filling up quickly.

SUMMER 2024

Register now, summer 2024 registration now open register here, volunteer in israel this summer 2024 -  apply now .

HELLO ISRAEL

Classic Birthright Israel Trip

Ages: 18-22, 22-26

Cities: New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Boston

This 10 day trip allows you to take a meaningful and intimate tour around Israel:

- Spend Shabbat in Jerusalem

- Stay by the beach In Tel-Aviv

- Float in the Dead Sea

Experience Israel on an action-packed journey

TRIPS THAT MATCH

Your interest.

Whether you're looking for the Classic Birthright experience or Onward Volunteering/Fellowship programs,  we have something for you

Onward   

ONWARD VOLUNTEERING:  

This program is 8 or 14 days long and allows you to help the people of Israel  when they need it most.

ONWARD FELLOWSHIP:

Join our subsidized 4-week fellowship in Israel!  Gain digital marketing skills while immersing yourself in its vibrant culture. 

A taste of our adventures 

A taste of what you will experience on a Yael Adventure

Visit the world famous shuk •  Wander the old city and Jewish Quarter • Experience the Western Wall

Explore the vibrant city • Swim in the Mediterranean Sea • Self explore the city

Climb Masada at sunrise • Explore the ancient fortress • Enjoy Ein-Gedi hike and water springs

Float in the salty waters  • Cover yourself in mineral-rich mud • Relax and enjoy the lowest point on earth

Enjoy a night under the stars • Experience Bedouin hospitality • Build a camp fire •  Camel ride in the desert

Planning your Birthright Israel Adventure should be easy

In a few steps, you can be on your way to your Birthright Israel adventure .

Get in touch 

Want to get in touch? We'd love to hear from you. Here's how you can reach us...

Contact Yael Adventures 

Sometimes you need a little help from your friends..or a Yael Adventure support rep. Don't worry, we're here for you

We'll get back to you within 24 hours

Quest is our most popular experience and our most balanced itinerary.

Join us on an exploration of Israel’s iconic natural beauty, its epic 3,000-year old history, and many colorful cultural traditions. As an active experience, you’ll be spending less time on the bus and more time on the go—discovering the past, present and future of this remarkable land!

Through the course of this 10-day journey, you’ll form new cross-cultural friendships with both Israeli and American peers, experience all the must-see/must-do highlights of Israel, and return home with a new sense of perspective and wonder.

VIEW SAMPLE ITINERARY

LAUNCH YOUR REGISTRATION

You’ll be taken to the Birthright Israel website to register. Remember to select Israel Outdoors  as your trip organizer!

UPCOMING DATES

Explore our trips.

• Ancient and modern Jerusalem
• Negev and Judean Deserts
• Sea of Galilee and Golan Heights
• Tel Aviv and the Mediterranean Coast
• The Dead Sea and Masada
• The mystical city of Tsfat
• Watch the sunrise from Masada
• Gain a new perspective at Yad VaShem
• Celebrate an Israeli-style Shabbat
• Be inspired by models of co-existence
• Experience floating in the Dead Sea
• Tap into the innovative spirit of Tel Aviv
• Camel care and desert tent dinner
• Raft down the Jordan River (summer)
• Explore archeological tunnels
• Beach time and night life in Tel Aviv
• Browse colorful open-air markets
• Cool off under a desert oasis waterfall
• Bond with fellow travelers from home
• Forge friendships with local Israelis
• Gain insights from your staff team
• Discover rich culture and diverse people
• Experience current events first hand
• Develop a deeper sense of perspective

SAMPLE ITINERARY

Each itinerary is unique according to your exact dates, the time of year and so many other factors. Browse the sample itinerary below for a taste of the journey that awaits you

You’ll meet your group at one of our gateway airports and spend the night above the clouds — and headed to Israel. It won’t be easy, but try to get some rest for the journey ahead!

Shalom! And welcome to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport!  Today you’ll meet your Israeli staff team and begin traveling north along the coast.

Start with a welcome ceremony at the beach-side amphitheater in ancient Caesarea and then on to Haifa to see the beauty, grandeur, and inspired design of the Bahai Gardens on Mt. Carmel. Continue north for a view of the Kinneret, or the Sea of Galilee, from above. Spend the evening relaxing and getting to know your fellow travelers.

OVERNIGHT: Kibbutz Guest House in the Galilee

Start the day off right with a hike on Mt. Meiron, the highest point in the Galilee and a mountain rich with history. Then wander through the mystical city of Tzfat where you will meet with a local Kabbalistic artist and enjoy free time walking the cobblestone streets and exploring the colorful artists colony.

If you’re on a winter trip, you’ll visit the Hula Valley migratory bird sanctuary, and if it’s summer, get ready to cool down rafting the Jordan River. No matter the season, spend the evening unwinding at the Hamat Gader hot springs.

OVERNIGHT: Kibbutz Guest House in the Galilee

Ascend the beautiful Golan Heights for a spectacular view of the region from Mt. Bental. Then the views get even more breathtaking as you hike down the water-filled Zavitan Canyon. Follow that with a visit to Beit Ha’Gefen, Haifa’s Arab-Jewish Cultural Center, or enjoy a fantastic tour (and tasting!) at the Golan Heights Winery.

End the day traveling south to Jerusalem via the Jordan Valley (part of the great Syrian-Africa Rift Valley), where you’ll spend the evening getting acquainted with Jerusalem.

OVERNIGHT: Jerusalem Hotel

Get oriented to Jerusalem with a panoramic view of the city from the Haas Promenade. Then, see it up close as you scale the Rampart Walls surrounding the Old City. You’ll tour the legendary Jewish Quarter and have time for personal reflection at the Western Wall, also known as the Kotel. If it’s summer, you’ll visit the City of David complex and discover the joy of splashing through Hezekiah’s water tunnel; if you’re traveling in winter, you’ll go to the Davidson Center and the Southern Wall excavations.

As the day comes to a close, there’s no better place to get a feel for Jerusalem than the hustle and bustle of the Machane Yehuda open-air market. Local Jerusalemites fill the market just before Shabbat begins. Explore, eat, shop. Take it all in!

Friday night marks the beginning of Shabbat, and we’ll celebrate it together in Jerusalem, the historic center of Jewish life.

It’s Shabbat in Jerusalem! If you choose, you can partake in a Shabbat service at a Jerusalem synagogue or celebrate the Day of Rest sleeping in. Enjoy a relaxed afternoon taking a walking tour of Jerusalem’s colorful neighborhoods and having some fun at a local park. End Shabbat with a Havdallah ceremony to mark the start of the new week.

The stars are out now, and it’s time for a group night out to the famous Ben Yehuda Street pedestrian mall as Jerusalem comes alive.

Today begins with a somber visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial and Museum, then continue on to Mt. Herzl – Israel’s National Cemetery. After time of reflection, you’ll descend from the heights of Jerusalem into the Judean Desert and check-in to our accommodations in the vibrant desert city of Arad

In the evening, you’ll spend time engaging in a  mifgash  (cross-cultural) discussion with the Israeli peers who join the journey while enjoying the pure desert air.

OVERNIGHT: Dead Sea Hotel

Wake up long before the sun comes up for your pre-sunrise ascent to Masada via the Roman Ramp (it’s worth the early hours). Explore the desert mountaintop fortress, and then cool off swimming under the desert waterfalls at the Ein Gedi oasis reserve.

And no trip to Israel is complete without a surreal float in the Dead Sea. You’ve got to feel it to believe it! Then travel westwards through the Negev Desert wilderness where you’ll get to ride a camel, enjoy a traditional hafla dinner feast, and then spend the night in an open-air Bedouin tent.

OVERNIGHT: Bedouin Tent, Negev Desert

Start the morning with a desert hike in Nahal Haverim canyon, and then visit the desert community of Sde Boker to learn about David Ben Gurion, Israel’s first prime minister, and his vision for a blossoming desert.

Then experience the realization of Ben Gurion’s vision for yourself at Shvil Hasalat, the Salad Trail, an incredible desert farm where you’ll lunch on what you harvest. Continue north to the dynamic metropolis of Tel Aviv – Israel’s cultural and financial capital. Celebrate the spirit of Tel Aviv at the Nahalat Binyamin street festival and Carmel Market. End the evening with a night out in one of Tel Aviv’s trendy neighborhoods.

OVERNIGHT: Tel Aviv Hotel

Our final day in Israel begins learning about what it meant to establish the modern State of Israel at Independence Hall. And then reflect on Israel’s democratic ideals and future at the Rabin Square Memorial. Unwind with some well-deserved beach time in Tel Aviv followed by a walking tour of the historic Jaffa seaport, a model for co-existence in Israel. Our day concludes looking to the future with a visit to one of Tel Aviv’s innovative start-ups.

Sadly, tonight is also your farewell dinner and closing session, where you’ll have a chance to process everything that you’ve experienced – and make plans to keep in touch with all the amazing people you’ve met on your 10 days in Israel.

You’re flying over the sea now and back home after 10 amazing days with Israel Outdoors. During your time in Israel, you’ve been challenged by new ideas, discovered an extraordinary culture, and are returning home with a renewed understanding of your history.

And once you’re home, there’s still more to discover.   Explore your post-trip options .