Rant #2,422: The Israelites

In a few weeks, my daughter is going to be visiting Israel as part of the Birthright Israel program, which sends those 18 to 32 years of age to Israel, virtually for free.

And this is only for Jewish young adults of that age. You supposedly have to provide documentation that you are Jewish to participate, and there is a reason for that, if not many reasons.

First and foremost, the program has been designed to introduce these young Jewish people to Israel--its culture, its tradition, its history, and yes, its future.

Being that Israel is the Jewish State, it would stand to reason why young Jewish people would be the target group of such a program. As the Jewish State matures, it obviously wants young Jews from around the world to move there, or if not to move there, then at least to support the country with its ideals and dreams.

So yes, the program targets young Jews, and young Jews only, although from what I have heard, a few non-Jews have snuck into the program here and there, but Birthright has clamped down on this, and there is less and less of this abuse of the program then there had been.

While in Israel, the young adults get to visit many modern sites--Tel Aviv is said to be one of the most modern and progressive cities on the planet--and the historic, religious sites--including the Wailing Wall.

They keep the kids away from controversial sites such as in Gaza and in Jerusalem, but then again, Israel itself is thought to be controversial in and of itself by some people, so they go where they go to give the participants a good view of the Israeli landscape.

They are also brought to shopping areas, they do have some free time to explore where they are--but not to galavant around the country--and after the seven to 10 day trip is done, the feeling is that they get a good sense of what Israel is all about.

This is not the only such program in existence, since Birthright itself is highly controversial. Some believe that the program gives participants a sanitized version of the country, and does not allow them to really get into what is happening in Israel, including keeping the kids away from Palestinians and the "plight" of this group.

Thus, in recent years, J Street--a Jewish organization that is to the political left of Birthright--has set up its own tours, called "Let Our People Know," which provided both Israeli and Palestinian viewpoints.

Of course, this program is also highly controversial, and Birthright does have a "leg up" on the J Street program because it has been around for so long--since 1994, started by wealthy American and Canadian Jews in partnership with the Israeli government--and knows the territory it is bringing participants to better than any other such organization.

In fact, feeling such pressure from other similar--but vastly different--organizations, Birthright has extended its age limitation to age 32 in recent years, from its original focus on those in their late teens and early 20s.

That is how, at age 31, my daughter is able to participate in the program, a program in which two of my nephews participated when they were in their late teens.

I remember that they came back from the trip with good memories, although they weren't all good. My youngest nephew told me of excessive partying by those on the trip with him, but supposedly that has also been clamped down upon.

All in all, my two nephews ended up having a great time on the trip. It might not have been a life-changing experience, but they did learn about the country, its heritage and its future, and thus, Birthright for them was a success.

How many participants actually change their life plans and move to Israel is unknown, but as long as young adults get a sense of what the Jewish State is, I think the program has done its job.

I hope my daughter has a great time on her trip, that she is safe and happy as she treks across the world, and that she brings home maybe s sense of being--and who she is--that she didn't have prior to the trip.

If you are interested in Birthright, their website address is https://www.birthrightisrael.com/ for 18 to 32 year old Jewish people. As the website says, "Come and get a taste of Israel."

i wish they had such a program for "old fogeys" like myself and my wife.

We would go in a minute.