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 "Grins" are "In" at AGM SHALOM PAY CAMP 272YEAR5 — KINDERGARTEN BOUND Session I: June 19 - July 14 e Session II: July 17 - August 4 Aclat Shalom's warm, experienced staff 2 Morning Program 5 & 5 Morning Programs with Supervised Lunch 5 & 5 Full-day Frograms with complimentary lunches on Wednesday Extended Hours Available Weekly Themes • Water flay with Wading Fools Nature • Crafts & Cooking • Outdoor Adventures "Special Visitors": animals, puppeteers, musicians, naturaliste ,and story tellers Also: Parent-Toddler and 'Just For Me" e For application5, call Eileen Weiner, Camp Director 551-5105 0 Habonim Camp Tavor 'X' Celebrating 46 years of creative Jewish camping in a kibbutz inspired atmosphere The Tavor experience emphasizes Jewish values, Israel, Tikun Olam and a warm community spirit in a fun, safe, Jewish- environment that is not duplicated anywhere ... This summer, join other committed and enthusiastic campers who think of Tavor as their summer home! For more information and the name of your local registrar phone 1-800-55-TAVOR For more information call: Bat-Ami ABAS, Shalicha at 248-355-4939 or Ron Sussman, Registrar 734-971-1147 12/17 1999 37