Editor's Letter
Securing The Birthright
T
he wildly successful program that caters to Jewish
young adults who have never visited Israel with a
peer group represents a golden way to change the
course of Jewish history. t,
So say Birthright Israel benefactors Miriam and Sheldon
Adelson.
They're right: The findings of a new
study confirm the widespread appeal
and impressive impact of the trips for
18- to 26-year-old travelers from the
diaspora. Before going on Birthright,
young Jews tend to be less in tune with
Judaism and Israel. A stunning 73 per-
cent of participants surveyed said their
trip to the Jewish ancestral homeland
was a "life-changing experience."
Birthright may not make young Jews
more religious, but alumni are more
likely to take Jewish studies courses
in college and return to Israel via study abroad, work-study
or other programs. Many Hillel student leaders also are
Birthright alums. For many young Jews, being Jewish may
rank low among the identities they feel — until Birthright.
The free 10-day trips are offered by the New York-based
Birthright Israel Foundation, in partnership with the State of
Israel, United Jewish Communities, Keren Hayesod-United
Israel Appeal and the Jewish Agency for Israel.
The Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis
University in Waltham, Mass., conducted the just-released
study "Now that we have this research:' the Adelsons wrote in
a cogent commentary, "increasing the number of Birthright
Israel participants should become a top
priority of Jewish philanthropy"
The Adelsons are well-positioned to
encourage that. She's an Israeli-born
physician who works in the field of
drug addiction. He's a casino mo
— chairman and CEO of Las Vegas
Sands, Inc.
alumni. Is this an ambitious Jewish outreach initiative against
the forces of assimilation on young people, or what?
Great Promise
Take it from the Adelsons: If Birthright continues to touch
40,000 young adults a year, we one day could touch a majority
of young Jews. But the cost is steep: $100 million yearly.
"This becomes a real tipping point that can transform
an entire generation:' the Adelsons contend. "With so many
demographic and geopolitical forces arrayed against our peo-
ple and the Jewish state, increasing the number of Birthright
Israel participants should be a no-brainer."
As potent as the trips are in invigorating Judaism's pull,
they aren't the only effective means to building Jewish back-
bone. But Birthright is the marquee means to targeting under-
affiliated young adults for less than $3,000 per person.
The Adelsons are the dominant Birthright backers. But
they're seeking help. They hope the government of Israel,
which benefits from the influx of Birthright dollars and the
expanded support base in the diaspora, boosts its allocation.
Ditto for the federations, foundations and philanthropists that
have played an important role in the program's growth.
In seeking a deeper donor pool, the Adelsons point to
"Birthright Israel as a proven and simple way to use our
charitable dollars to strengthen the Jewish people and the
Jewish state." The Jewish Week in New York envisions the trips
remaining "the bargain of the century" even if participants
had to pay $100, which would generate millions of dollars
to attract more young Jews to the innovation and allure of
Birthright.
Beyond The Journey
Transforming the immediate rise in
Jewish identity into something more
lasting, like sustained communal
involvement, is Birthright's vexing pur-
suit. A visceral connection may fulfill
the long-ago hope of the participants'
Hebrew school teachers. But it does
not necessarily translate into instant
Jewish identification and giving even
Strong Pillars
though warm impressions about Israel
Birthright Israel is one of Jewish
linger for years. The ultimate effect
America's best success stories in
bringing non-Orthodox Jews into
will arise over the next 10 to 15 years
when behaviors like marrying a Jew or
the organized fold. It was founded in
raising kids Jewish can be measured
1999 by mega-philanthropists Michael Miriam and Sheldon Adelson
Steinhardt and Charles Bronfman. They
among the early trip goers.
The major thrust must now be how to keep Birthright
joined forces with 14 other big givers as well as the Israeli gov-
ernment and the North American Jewish federation system.
alums Jewishly engaged back home. Birthright Israel NEXT,
The Adelsons recall how Steinhardt and Bronfman repelled
a network of post-trip alumni activities that sustain the con-
nection, is a start. But it shouldn't bear the sole responsibil-
the drumbeat of skepticism and "persisted in making their
creative idea a reality starting in 2000."
ity. If the rest of the Jewish world doesn't also embrace the
pursuit of compelling follow-up, Birthright Israel will remain
"When we were approached to support Birthright Israel at
only a gateway. It won't also portend a lifetime of Jewish and
the end of 2006:' the Adelsons recall, "it appeared to us to be
a transformative program based on the anecdotal evidence
Zionist engagement, which it has the potential to do — and
which it really should do. H
we heard. Now there is research that validates our impres-
sion. The Birthright Israel experience significantly increases
participants' ties to Israel and the Jewish people, the rates of
0 • Should Birthright be more than a trip
I- Li
in-marriage and the value placed on raising Jewish children
organizer?
tn
— among other desirable outcomes."
The trips have proven so popular, funding lags behind
zz How can local communities engage trip
5 0
interest despite the Adelsons' investment of more than $90
a. a . goers?
million over the past three years! There are more than 220,000
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November 12 • 2009
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