This trip is a gift from Birthright Israel. Birthright Israel: Hillel trips will connect Jewish students to their Jewish journey and identities, to Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people, and, upon return, to their Jewish communities. All Hillel trips will provide a variety of meaningful Jewish experiences for students from all Jewish backgrounds to explore their tradition. Hillel will focus
on follow-through after the trip with all campus-based participants, enabling and empowering them to continue examining their relationship to Israel and to the Jewish people both on campus and in their communities. Hillel is committed to pluralism, student leadership, social justice and engaging Jewish students. Birthright Israel: Hillel trips are staffed by local Hillel campus professionals who get to know participants before the trip, and return to campus with them after their Israel experience. Our Israeli tour educators are the best in their profession. They all speak English fluently and will make Israel come alive for participants. Participants can expect to learn about Israel from their peers – Israelis on their trip, their Israeli tour educator, and through their own eyes – seeing Israel as she is. They will see the cities, industries and nightlife that aren’t covered on network news. On Shabbat, we focus on taking a break from the fast-paced regular itinerary. Shabbat is celebrated in a pluralistic manner, allowing for many opportunities and experiences. In addition to Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox services, we also offer non-prayer alternatives such as meditation, discussions, and/or yoga. Shabbat is also the time where students have the opportunity, if they would like, to take on a Hebrew name and celebrate becoming a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. In addition to the major sites of Israel – Masada, the Dead Sea, and the Western Wall, we’ll take you to amazing places you didn’t even know existed. Ride a camel at the Bedouin tent, go Jeeping in the Golan, have lunch in a Druze village, and meet Ethiopian children at an absorption center. And of course, in addition to your campus peers, you will be traveling with new Israeli friends and getting to know the real Israel. Philanthropists, Jewish communities worldwide, and the government of Israel have partnered to launch Birthright Israel - whose goal is to provide a free first peer-group trip to Israel as a birthright for every Jew. Thanks to Birthright Israel, Hillel is able to offer thousands of Jewish college students and young adults the opportunity for a free first peer-group trip to Israel. Hillel International is the largest Jewish campus organization in the world, with Foundations and affiliates on 500 campuses. Hillels offer a rich and diverse array of exciting opportunities for Jewish involvement, including social, educational, cultural and religious programming, in a pluralistic community that encourages intellectual challenge and growth. Birthright Israel is an innovative partnership between the people of Israel through the Government of Israel, private philanthropists through the Birthright Israel Foundation and Jewish communities around the world (North American Jewish Federations through the United Jewish Communities (UJC); the Jewish Agency for Israel; and Keren Hayesod). Neither Hillel nor Birthright Israel is affiliated with a political party or religious movement. For more information about these organizations, visit www.hillel.org or www.birthrightisrael.com.
