All the information about Birthright
The gift of a trip to Israel from Taglit-Birthright Israel is designed to offer a first-time educational peer experience. As such, while the trip is available to young Jews all over the world and from various backgrounds, there are guidelines for eligibility.
All participants must be between 18 and 26 and have finished high school by the time their trip departs. If you are turning 27 prior to May 1 for summer trips, or December 1 for winter trips, you are not eligible to participate in the upcoming round of trips.
Eligible inspaniduals are those recognized as Jewish by their local Jewish community or by one of the recognized denominations of Judaism. Applicants must also have at least one Jewish birth parent, or have completed Jewish conversion through a recognized Jewish denomination, and identify as Jewish while not actively practicing another religion.
Those applying from the Former Soviet Union are eligible if they have at least one Jewish birth grandparent.
Previous Israel Experience
If you have been to Israel before but only with your family or on other personal business, you are still eligible. However, if you have been to Israel as part of a touring group, educational program, study program or an organized extended residential program since you were 12 years old, you are not eligible.
If you participated on the March of the Living when you were in high school you are eligible to participate on one of our programs once you turn 22 years of age.
If you were born in Israel or are an Israeli citizen you are only eligible if you left Israel before the age of 12. If you have served in the Israeli Army or volunteered on an Israel Army base, you are not eligible.
If you were born in Israel or have ever held Israeli citizenship or have held an Israeli passport you are not eligible unless you prove by official documentation that you left Israel before the age of 12. If you are accepted to the program you will need to obtain army exemption papers from your local Israeli consulate.
Students in exclusively Jewish Studies programs in any institute of higher learning, including Jewish teacher training programs, Jewish Studies Programs (not including Jewish Studies major or minor candidates at secular institutions), rabbinical programs, yeshivot/seminaries, Jewish communal service programs and the like are not eligible for the Taglit-Birthright Israel gift while they are still in the study program.
Each bus group is comprised of 40 participants that travel together throughout the ten days. In addition to the participants, the staff consists of two local staff members, or madrichim, who fly with the group to Israel, one Israeli tour educator, and an Israeli medic/security guard. Additionally, the bus driver is considered part of the team.
The content of the trip focuses on three main areas: the Narratives of the Jewish People, Contemporary Israel, and the Formative Values of Judaism. Though this is an educational program, you won???t be sitting in a chair in front of a book. Your trip will include touring, hiking, discussions, social events, camel and jeep rides and much more.
Taglit-Birthright Israel trips are conducted by multiple Trip Organizers. Each has been accredited by Taglit-Birthright Israel and each has a unique approach and perspective on how to introduce and show Israel to you. At the same time, there is a core program with several themes that are common to all trips.
