More teens will be able to return to Israel this year after Taglit- Birthright announced they will expand eligibility for their free, 10-day trips.
Every year, young adults between the ages of 18 and 26 become eligible for Taglit-Birthright’s Israel program, a trip intended to give every young Jewish adult an opportunity to go to Israel. The only catch is you are not eligible if you have previously traveled to Israel as part of an educational program, touring group, or study program: until now.
The company, an umbrella organization who sets guidelines, standards, and security policies for Birthright trips, recently announced they expanded their eligibility to include young adults who have traveled to Israel on an educational trip while in high school, a change that will open Birthright’s doors to more college students.
Maryland Pride on top of Masada
“ I am so excited that they changed the eligibility. I went to Israel with an organized trip in high school, before I was 18, and was always sad when I saw all of my friends going on Birthright,” Rebecca Yatovitz, a sophomore marketing and supply chain management major, said.
Through Taglit-Birthright Israel over 350,000 participants from across the world have had the opportunity to visit Israel. The trip includes a tour of Masada and the Dead Sea, as well as a tour of the Old City of Jerusalem and the Western Wall. All trips are led by Israeli tour guides and include visits to cities like Haifa, Tel Aviv, Eilat and Tsfat.
The Western Wall
“ I was so happy when they changed the rules because I have been trying to go back to Israel since I left 3 ½ years ago. I can’t wait to go back and be reunited with the Holy Land,” sophomore kinesiology major Jessica Brown said.
Taglit-Birthright Israel offers trips in the summer and winter. Summer sign-ups are open now! To register visit http://www.birthrightisrael.com/Pages/Default.aspx or register through Maryland Hillel at http://www.marylandhillel.org/birthright/.