continued on page 10

STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Taglit-Birthright — the bridge between Israel and
the diaspora — builds the next generation of Zionists.

T

en days in Israel can make 
a lasting impact on shap-
ing the Jewish identity of 
a college student or young adult. 
This has been the case for more 
than 800,000 diaspora Jews who 
have traveled to Israel with Taglit-
Birthright since the philanthropic 
organization began offering its free 
trips in 1999. 
This summer’s 
trips, in the midst 
of a war and raging 
global antisemitism, 
have been like no 
other. Admittedly, 
the war has cut 
into the number of 
participants, which 
peaked at 48,000 in 2019. And after 
having to cancel trips altogether this 
winter, the program has brought 
nearly 14,000 participants to Israel 
this summer for 10 days or several 
weeks touring, learning, volunteer-
ing or interning. 
I am way past the maximum age 
of 26 to be an official Birthright 
participant. But, for the first time 
in its existence through the gener-
osity of donors, Jewish journalists 
like me were invited to spend a 

JULY 25 • 2024 | 9
J
N

More than 2,000 participated and celebrated in solidarity on June 24 at Birthright’s 
Mega Solidarity Event.

Christian South Africans
touring the site of the
Nova festival massacre.

STACY GITTLEMAN

MARK NOMDAR PHOTOGRAPHY

STACY GITTLEMAN

Stacy 
Gittleman
Contributing 
Writer

Birthright Israel — the bridge between 
Israel and the diaspora — builds the 
next generation of Zionists.

