According to a study conducted by Brandeis University among 2,500 participants in the Birthright Israel (?Taglit?) program, 10% of those students return to Israel within a year of the program and 50% said that they definitely would do so in the future. The program, designed to strengthen Jewish identity and fight assimilation among Diaspora youth, seems to have achieved a measure of success, with most program graduates saying that they want to live a more ?Jewish life? as a result of their experiences here. In addition, Birthright participants report a greater involvement in Jewish activities upon their return to their states of origin and a desire to stay informed about events in Israel.
According to the study, the site most meaningful for the Birthright students was the Western Wall (the Kotel), followed by the fortress at Masada, the city of Jerusalem, the Dead Sea and the Yad VaShem Holocaust Museum. The Makor Rishon newspaper reports that many of those students who participated in the study indicated that atmosphere of Shabbat in Israel was particularly impressive for them. Most of the Birthright participants expressed a desire to maintain the contacts they had, most of them for the first time, with the State of Israel and its citizens. One of the activities the Birthright students did this year was meeting with Israeli soldiers, who are their peers in age, in order to promote Jewish unity. During the meeting, the students presented the IDF soldiers with sweaters donated by Timberland president, Jeff Schwartz.
Thus far, 50,000 young Jews from North America have requested to participate in the program. Currently, 6,000 students are in Israel on the Birthright program and another 18,000 are expected to arrive over the course of the year.
According to the study, the site most meaningful for the Birthright students was the Western Wall (the Kotel), followed by the fortress at Masada, the city of Jerusalem, the Dead Sea and the Yad VaShem Holocaust Museum. The Makor Rishon newspaper reports that many of those students who participated in the study indicated that atmosphere of Shabbat in Israel was particularly impressive for them. Most of the Birthright participants expressed a desire to maintain the contacts they had, most of them for the first time, with the State of Israel and its citizens. One of the activities the Birthright students did this year was meeting with Israeli soldiers, who are their peers in age, in order to promote Jewish unity. During the meeting, the students presented the IDF soldiers with sweaters donated by Timberland president, Jeff Schwartz.
Thus far, 50,000 young Jews from North America have requested to participate in the program. Currently, 6,000 students are in Israel on the Birthright program and another 18,000 are expected to arrive over the course of the year.