SPECIAL COMMENTARY
Such A Wonderful Problem!
Washington D.C.
pointment of those who will not partici-
n just four weeks of registration,
pate in the trip. We will offer them the
more than 9,500 Jewish college
opportunity to participate in the next
students applied for 3,000 places
Birthright Israel-funded Hillel trip to
on Hillel's Israel 2000 program,
Israel. We will give them a token of our
a free, 10-day trip to Israel sponsored
appreciation. And we are working hard
by Birthright Israel.
to find strategies to fuel their newly
The students applied on our Web
expressed interest in Israel and Jewish
site from private schools and
identity, including free trial
state schools; by themselves,
subscriptions to Jewish peri-
in pairs and in groups. They
odicals.
are activists and uninvolved,
At the same time, Hillel is
observant and non-obser-
grappling with the most
vant. They are choosing
important problem in this
Israel for winter break over
Pandora's box of possibilities:
Cancun, Cozumel, Panama
How can we give these stu-
City, Vail or Sugar Loaf.
dents the trip of a lifetime,
They are choosing a 14-hour
the Jewish experience of a
flight over a quick jaunt;
lifetime, one that will lead to
RICHARD M.
education (and fun) over
more Israel encounters and
JOEL
pure fun; the Land of Abra-
more Jewish doings? How
Special
to
ham over the Land of Aber-
do we find the resources to
the Jewish News
crombie & Fitch.
fund Israel stays in the years
The success of Israel 2000
to come so that the students
points to the brilliance of philan-
who cannot go this year can experi-
thropists Charles Bronfman and
ence Next Year in Jerusalem? And how
Michael Steinhardt, the visionaries
can we give them equally exciting Jew-
behind Birthright Israel, who took an
ish experiences once they return to the
idea and brought it to life. Ignoring
real world" of the campus and com-
skeptics, they asserted — correctly, as
munity — experiences that lead to
it turns out — that things Jewish still
greater and greater involvement?
have resonance for young Jews and
The Jewish world will not be the
that a free trip to Israel would be irre-
same once the Birthright Israel partici-
sistible. They believed, "If you fund it,
pants return home. We will enjoy the
they will come." They did, and they
enthusiasm of 6,000 young people who
are coming in droves — far too many
are turned on by Israel and their Jewish-
to accommodate on this first trip.
ness; 6,000 young people who feel in
The sweep of the first trip is
their bones that they are part of a mass
breathtaking. Birthright Israel is pro-
movement of Jewish college students
viding free trips to 6,000 students:
and are not isolated in their Jewish iden-
3,000 through Hillel, 1,000 through
tity; 6,000 Jewish college students who
other Jewish organizations in the
will have a personal connection to Israel;
United States, 1,000 in Canada and
6,000 students who will be able to con-
1,000 from other countries. Even
nect their history with their present and
before the first planes take off, the ini-
future; 6,000 future parents who will be
tiative already has given the Jewish
able to tell their children about the
community a number of gifts. It has
Shabbat they spent in Jerusalem or
thrown open the gates of the Jewish
about their rafting trip on the Jordan.
world to young people and welcomed
These students will relate to each
them in, giving Jewish identity a high
other differently, to their families dif-
profile in the process.
ferently, to their community different-
Hillel professionals are using this
ly and to themselves differently. The
opportunity to create meaningful
relationships they form — and, even-
events to engage these students in
tually, the families they build — may
Jewish life. We can nourish this rela-
be different as well.
tionship using the list of Israel 2000
They will be a gift for our camps and
applicants, a database of thousands of
schools in the short term, to our syna-
interested Jewish college students.
gogues, Jewish Community Centers,
Not the least of all, Birthright Israel
federations and other organizations in
has provided a resounding morale
the years to come. The Birthright Israel
boost to Jews everywhere.
experience will be indelible. It will leave
Hillel must now soften the disap-
its mark on these students and on the
Jewish people. Maintaining, improving
Richard Joel is president and interna-
and expanding this vision in the future
tional director of Hillel: The Founda-
may be difficult, but what a wonderful
tion for Jewish Campus Lift
problem. P
C
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272YEAR5 — KINDERGARTEN BOUND
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e Session II: July 17 - August 4
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For more information call:
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12/17
1999
37