Taglit-Birthright Israel

Taglit - Birthright Israel was established in 2000 by a group of visionaries, along with the partnership of the Israeli government, as a response to increasing assimilation, decrease in Jewish communal life and disassociation from Israel. Taglit - Birthright Israel’s mission is to provide every eligible young Jewish adult worldwide with the gift of a 10-day educational trip to Israel, strengthening his or her Jewish identity and connection with the Jewish community and Israel. In its 20 years of operation, Taglit - Birthright Israel has proven itself as the most successful Jewish educational enterprise of the 21st century - in both quality and scale. To date, over 750,000 young Jewish adults from 68 countries have experienced the gift of Taglit - Birthright Israel. During the 10-day educational journey, participants discover Israel from its historical Jewish landmarks to its highly diverse society and thriving high-tech and cultural scenes. The sites, experiences and educational framework serve to motivate an inner quest that will promote continued engagement with Jewish concepts, values, communal life and Israel, long after the trip ends. One of the most celebrated components of Taglit - Birthright Israel is the Mifgash, the encounter between overseas participants and young Israelis - primarily IDF soldiers or officers - who join each group. The deep bonds that form are among the highlights of the participants’ experiences on Taglit - Birthright Israel, and often last years. This impact is mutual, as research indicates that Israelis return from Taglit - Birthright Israel with a renewed sense of pride and motivation to further contribute to both the Israeli army and the country. Taglit - Birthright Israel has celebrated over 100,000 Israelis who have taken part in the program to date - rendering it one of the largest educational enterprises in IDF history.