YELADIM-NETIVOT:  OUR TAGLIT BIRTHRIGHT VISION

The Taglit process is designed to challenge the participant to reevaluate his current connections to the Jewish People, his Jewish Identity and to Israel.  This reevaluation hopefully results in the incorporation of additional Jewish themes, and connections in the personal narrative that makes up his own identity.

In order to achieve this, it is important that the participant have a wide range of experiences and exposures that will challenge his assumptions, as well as encourage him to think and feel differently. Our organizational outlook sees a seamless connection between the three central pillars of Jewish experience: Torah or Tradition; Jewish Peoplehood and the land of Israel.  We therefore attempt to integrate these three aspects in all parts of the programme in a complex way, rather than relate to them independently.  While one is in Zippori, for example, the location where Sanhedrin was located, it is essential to point to the complex nature of that city where Hellenised Jews and Tanaim lived sided by side and had a major impact on each other. 

In a similar way, we continually integrate  dealing with the Jewish connection to the land of Israel with our connectedness to the modern State of Israel.  Irrespective of which philosophical model one relates to, the modern state of Israel is clearly the vehicle of the realization of the Jewish destiny whose roots lie beneath the soil of the land of Israel.

We are also focused on bridging the gap between the historical Israel of grand moments and complex issues and conflicts, and the everyday Israel in which we live.  This is achieved through the mifgash  where a critical part of the programme involves experiencing Israel together with and throught the eyes of Israelis who join with us.  We also try to ensure that we travel Israel meeting people and key personalities as well as seeing places as tourists.

In order to facilitate the processes described above, one needs not only to provide the raw material of experiences, thoughts and feelings, but also cue the participants to internalise, personalise and  process them.  To this end there are numerous opportunties to process and develop the thoughts  and narratives and reactions to the programme.

This trip is a gift from Taglit-birthright israel.

Taglit-birthright israel is a unique partnership between the people of Israel through their government, local Jewish communities (North American Jewish Federations through the United Jewish Communities, Keren Hayesod, and The Jewish Agency for Israel), and the birthright israel Foundation, generously supported by the following Jewish philanthropic partners: S. Daniel Abraham, The Abramson Family Foundation, Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson, The AVI CHAI Foundation, The Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies, Edgar M. Bronfman, Circle of Service Foundation, Susie and Michael Gelman, Richard and Rhoda Goldman Foundation, David and Ruth Gottesman, The Harold Grinspoon Foundation, Hadassah - The Women's Zionist Organization of America, Susan and Roger Hertog, Ronald S. Lauder, The Marcus Foundation- Bernie Marcus, Jane and Daniel Och, The Samberg Family Foundation, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, Judy and Michael Steinhardt, The Wasserman Foundation, Leslie and Abigail Wexner and The Wexner Foundation, Karen and Gary Winnick in North America; Marc Rich in Europe.

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