birthright israel

Initiated by philanthropists Charles R. Bronfman and Michael H. Steinhardt, birthright israel is the most extensive philanthropic Jewish outreach program ever to target Jewish young adults. birthright israel's mission is to present lifelong Jewish values to Jewish young adults worldwide through a first educational peer-group trip to Israel.

The birthright israel gift is made possible through a $210 million partnership from a group of prominent philanthropists, the people of Israel through their government, local Jewish communities through United Jewish Communities, Keren Hayesod and The Jewish Agency for Israel.

The birthright israel gift covers roundtrip airfare (from various gateway cities in North America) plus 10-days of educational programming in Israel. Any Jewish youth, 18-26 (post high-school), who has never been to Israel on a peer-group educational program, is eligible to apply for the birthright israel gift.
To register, go on line to www.israelforfree.com.
For more information, contact Jordana Ballas at [email protected]

Hadracha
Initiated by Hillel of Greater Toronto, Hadracha is a bi-annual trip to Israel for active Jewish students studying in Toronto. With the goal to train and educate students on Israel advocacy, the Hadracha trips have been extremely successful. In Israel the students have the opportunity to hear from an array of top level speakers, educators, journalists, and politicians. As well, the Hadracha trip travels to Eilat, Toronto's twin city, to volunteer in the community and help make a difference.

May 2003 will mark a unique Hadracha trip. Hillel of Greater Toronto is proud to present Hadracha 2003: Through the Footsteps of the Pioneers, a journey to discover the roots of Zionism in Eastern Europe and Israel. May 18-29th, ten students will be traveling to Prague and Israel to trace the story of Zionism. Highlights of the program in Prague will include exploring the Jewish quarter, Wenceslas Square, a tour of Kafka's Prague, Therezienstadt. The trip will then travel to Israel where we will be touring the most significant spots in the country that paint the story of Zionism, such a few days in the Galilee (the cradle of Zionism), Jerusalem, and Independence Hall in Tel Aviv. Our trip will culminate in Jerusalem on May 29 to celebrate Yom Yerushalayim.

The purpose of this trip is to train upcoming leaders by providing them hands on education of Zionism in order for them to return to campus in September and transmit the knowledge and passion they have acquired to Israel programming. This is the first time that Hillel is organizing an Israel trip with a European component. We are very excited about this initiative and look forward to very rewarding results.