Fulfilling our birthright
GANDEL Philanthropy has recommitted to underwriting the Australian component of Taglit-Birthright Israel, a global program sending Jewish youth for short study and orientation tours of Israel.
GANDEL Philanthropy has recommitted to underwriting the Australian component of Taglit-Birthright Israel, a global program sending Jewish youth for short study and orientation tours of Israel.
The program, which provides a free 10-day educational tour of Israel for young Jewish adults aged 18-26 who have never previously participated in a peer-group educational trip to the country, has the Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) as its local partner.
The new three-year grant will go towards supporting three groups in the coming year, with a further commitment for the following two years. Registration is now open for the December 2014 Taglit programs.
The Gandel Philanthropy commitment will enable 360 young adults – many of whom are currently largely unaffiliated with the Australian Jewish community and have never visited Israel – to experience Taglit-Birthright Israel.
The program is weathering the challenge of attracting young Jewish Australians posed by this year’s Israel–Gaza war and the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
Gandel Philanthropy chair John Gandel described support of ventures that enhance Jewish continuity and identity as a tradition of his family. “This is amply evident with the Taglit-Birthright Israel program and the results it has achieved so far. We are very proud to continue to be associated with this worthy initiative.”
ZFA president Danny Lamm was upbeat about Gandel Philanthropy’s renewal of support. “The outcomes of the program for the participants are priceless in terms of Jewish continuity, and successive academic studies have demonstrated the positive impact of Taglit-Birthright Israel by reducing intermarriage rates of participants.”
Gandel Philanthropy supported three groups in the past year, including two groups organised by the ZFA Hagshama department which travelled in July this year.
Reflecting on his Taglit-Birthright Israel experience earlier this year, program alumnus Kon Knafelman said: “My Hagshama Birthright experience was profound. Since the age of 12, I have gradually been losing connection with Judaism and all that it entails. My identity as a young Australian Jew was at risk of being forgotten altogether.
“Birthright was my first trip to Israel and I can honestly say that the program has significantly changed the way I feel about my Jewish identity and also reinforced my connection with the Jewish culture.”
Since its inception in 2000, more than 400,000 young Jews from 62 countries around the world have taken part in the Taglit-Birthright Israel program, including over 4000 Australians.
For more information, visit www.israelprograms.com.au.
AJN STAFF
Participants of the Taglit-Birthright program in Israel.
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