Initially, UJC planned to pay $52.5 million of the
contribution from world Jewish communities. That
included $6 million from one of UJC's overseas part-
ners, the Jewish Agency for Israel.
The remaining $17.5 million was to come from
Keren Hayesod, which raises money from non-North
American Jewish communities around the world.
Now, however, UJC says it wants to pay $39 mil-
lion. So far, it has paid "in the neighborhood of $9
`Wow,
we're
going
to
get
a
gift
to
go
to
Israel,
it's
free.
RACHEL POMERANCE
million," according to UJC President Stephen
No strings attached.'"
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Hoffman, out of the $17 million it owes so far. The
But enrollment has fallen since the Palestinian
amount was supposed to increase incrementally each .
intifada began in September 2000, despite measures .
New York City
year.
to ensure security of the program.
sh Neman has been wrestling for three years
Hoffman said the $52.5 million total would have
Free time to roam the streets has been eliminated.
over whether to take advantage of Birthright
included
Birthright programs for high school students
Birthright also gives every bus a cell phone and a
Israel's free trips to the Jewish state.
and
others
that never materialized. As for the short-
global positioning system, so groups can be tracked at
Now, after canceling out at the last minute
fall,
Hoffman
said it has to do with tight budgets at
all times.
last year, the 25-year-old doctoral student in neurobi-
local
federations.
Applications for trips this winter are at a record low.
ology at UCLA is taking the plunge.
"At the end of the day, I believe the single largest
More than 6,000 young adults, half of them from
"I've come to the decision that if, God forbid, any-
challenge
in compliance has been the available dollars
North America, have applied. That number is slightly
thing's going to happen, I won't cancel this time,"
that
communities
have to work with," he said. But
down from last year.
said Neman, who is scheduled to depart with a
Hoffman
said
the
few
federations that haven't paid are
In 2000, the program's first year, nearly 9,500
UCLA Hillel group in late December. "It's a chance
the
exception,
not
the
rule.
young adults toured Israel on Birthright programs.
you have to take, but it's worth the chance.
Federation
officials
confirmed
that Birthright enjoys
The following year, the number rose to 13,364.
All Israel-experience programs that foster a link
wide support in the Jewish federation system. • "It's
While
overall
numbers
of
participants
haven't
fallen
between young American Jews and the Jewish state
one of the most important things that the national
have been flagging since the Palestinian intifada upris- much — almost 12,000 young adults are expected to
system has done.for Jewish continu-
ing began more than two years ago.
ity," said Barry Shrage, president of
Birthright Israel, which offers a free
Boston's Combined Jewish
trip to Israel for 18-26-year-olds, is
Philanthropies.
drawing more participants than most
"In order for our national system
Israel programs.
to be relevant, we have to keep pro-
Still, the numbers are significantly
grams like this alive. In addition, is
lower than originally projected when
there any better time to send kids to
the program was launched in late
Israel than right now? Israel is desper-
1999 and peace still seemed a possi-
ate."
bility. In addition, the program is
At the UJC's annual General
grappling with funding issues.
Assembly last month in Philadelphia,
The projected cost of the five-year
the organization's board voted to con-
program — which enters its fourth
sider a resolution to pay its $39 mil-
year in January — was $210 million,
lion pledge to Birthright Israel. A
split evenly among the Israeli govern-
vote on the resolution is expected in
ment, world Jewish communities and
about a month.
several major philanthropists.
Yet funding concerns remain. "A
Unlike the philanthropists and the
major problem has been in fund-rais-
Israelis, however, the United Jewish
ing for this program," stated a June
Communities, the umbrella group of
10 memo from UJC to its board.
the North American federation sys-
"Federations have been very reluctant
tem, has not fully paid its portion.
to cooperate" and "give us access to
Now the UJC is considering a reso-
their donors, to work with us, or to
Visiting the Golan Heights on a Birthright trip last year were Brian Pollack, Wayne State
lution that would commit it to pay-
University; Polina Zionts, Eastern Michigan; Gianni Elezarof WSU• Josh Simon, Oakland raise the funds themselves."
ing $39 million to the program —
According to some federation lead-
University; Israeli Hila Ohana; and Wayne State's Michelle Tunick and Monica Sklar.
down substantially from what it was
ers, the resistance stems from their
originally slated to pay.
lack of influence in the program's
go on Birthright through next spring — the propor-
The impetus behind Birthright was the realization
policies.
tion of North Americans has dropped from 86 per-
that- 80 percent of American Jews had never been to
Some communities, like Chicago, have not
cent in the program's first year to roughly 50 percent
Israel. By that reckoning, more than 200,000 18- to
approved
the entire amount requested because of con-
in its third year.
26-year-olds would be eligible for Birthright trips.
cerns
they
hope to negotiate into the pending resolu-
At the same time, increasing numbers of partici-
Backers initially anticipated that Birthright would
tion.
Such
sticking
points relate to whether partici-
pants are coming from Argentina, France and the for-
bring 90,000 young adults to Israel within five years,
pants
should
be
asked
to pay some amount toward
mer Soviet Union.
but expectations have now been slashed to 50,000. So
the
trip,
and
whether
federation's
role should be more
Birthright officials speculate the increased numbers
far, more than 33,000-young Jews have participated.
publicized.
They
also
are
worried
about the trans-
from these places stem from the more-threatening
An average of 70 percent of the participants during
parency of the program's budget and ways to ensure
personal
and
economic
situations
in
those
regions.
the first three years have come from North America.
the program's viability.
The entire cost of the program — $1,600 per per-
The program was launched in December 1999.
The resal , ltion before UJC's board would increase
son — is subsidized. Decreased attendance means
"It became a new, exciting, innovative idea in a
federations'
payments to the program by 33 percent,
Birthright's total cost will be less than the projected
time of peace," said Marlene Post, chairwoman of
BIRTHRIGHT 01 page 20
$210 million, but officials can't yet say by how much.
Birthright Israel USA. "People would say to you,

No Birthright?

Future of ee-trip program is in funding jeopardy.

"

.

12/ 6
2002

18