PRE-TRIP INFORMATION ANd TRAVEL ... - Birthright Israel

Winter 2012-2013
Pre-triP
information
and travel
ComPanion

KeeP the memories
of your triP alive
With the Birthright
israel BraCelet.
The sterling silver bracelet features the Taglit-Birthright
Israel logo, on recycled 100% cotton cord with a
slip-knot closure.
All proceeds go directly to the Birthright Israel
Foundation, which funds the Taglit-Birthright Israel trips.
www.birthrightisrael.org/supportus

taBle of Contents
1 Beginning your Journey
5 What is taglit-Birthright israel?
9 What haPPens on these ten days?
11 Where Will you Be traveling?
19 an enCounter With israeli Peers
23 learn more
35 suggested PaCKing list
37 exPeCtations of the triP
41 after the triP
43 notes
48 the traveler’s Prayer
BaCK travel heBreW
Cover
We’re so glad that you will soon be among the more than
330,000 young Jewish adults from around the world who
are able to say they are alumni of the Taglit-Birthright Israel
program. Now enjoying our 13th year of operation, our
organization is celebrating its ‘coming of age.’ Reaching this
milestone truly allows us to see the impact we’ve had in
changing the landscape of the Jewish community, and in making
a trip to Israel a rite of passage for every Jewish young adult. If
you haven’t already celebrated your own Bar/Bat Mitzvah, then
perhaps your time in Israel will provide this opportunity; and,
together, we can join in saying ‘Mazal Tov!’
Table of conTenTs

You are boarding an airplane and flying
several thousand miles away.
You are well-traveled.
So what’s the big deal?
This time is different.
This time you’re going to Israel.
Beginning your
Journey

For your distant forebears, your
great-grandparents, and maybe even
your grandparents, what you’re doing
would have been an inconceivable
dream. For the Jewish people, what
you’re doing is a revolution.
For the majority of Jewish history, most Jews dreamed about a place called Zion,
Eretz Yisrael, or Jerusalem, but most of them had no idea what the place looked
like and mere handfuls actually went there. Israel was a figment of the Jewish soul
and imagination – a place “saturated with prayers and dreams,” in the words of the
poet Yehuda Amichai. Even in the first half-century, after the State of Israel was
established in 1948, a minority of the world’s Jews came to Israel. You are part
of the first generation to create a mass movement that is turning this imaginary
dreamland into a real place to be visited.
That’s a big deal.
your host
Taglit-Birthright Israel is taking you on this journey. But who is Taglit-Birthright Israel?
Who are these strange people who have invested their money and tremendous
effort in giving you a free trip to Israel?
The folks behind Taglit-Birthright Israel are Jews in Israel and abroad who deeply
believe that Jewishness is a positive dimension of life, and that Israel is a central
aspect of that Jewishness. The gift of the 10-day trip is being provided by our
partners: the people of Israel through the government of Israel; Jewish communities
around the world (through The Jewish Federations of North America, Keren
Hayesod, and the Jewish Agency for Israel); and some 30,000 individual donors and
philanthropists from all over North America. We are not simply worried about the
future; we care about the present, too, and we wanted you to have a chance to
experience this 21st-century miracle first-hand, right now.
We don’t have some secret agenda; there’s no fine print to decipher. Let’s be
honest: We think being Jewish is meaningful, and we believe that Israel has great
personal messages for Jewish life. But we’re not doing a hard sell so you’ll endorse
our product. We want you to come to Israel, see it, experience it, talk about it, and
think about what Israel means for you and the Jewish people. Then, after you go
back home, consider opening some doors and continuing your Jewish journey – if
you so desire.
beginning your journey
2

Let’s be straight, too, about what this is not: It’s not a ploy to get you to live in Israel.
It’s not a training course in Zionist advocacy. It’s not a comparative political science
course on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. All these things have a time and place, and
it’s your decision to pursue each or any of them at some point. But this trip is, quite
simply, a journey in Jewish meaning-making. It’s a gift of 20th-century Jewry, because
we care for you and we believe in Jewishness.
Even though we’re absolutely sure that you’ll have fun on this trip, we don’t think
of you merely as “tourists” on a simple vacation to somewhere like Cancun or a ski
resort in the Rockies. We think of you as people who want to experience something
more profound, learn something about yourselves, think and grow and meet new
people. The hundreds of thousands of people who’ve already taken this trip seem to
affirm that we’ve got it right.
your Journey
You can do a lot in 10 days, but you can’t do everything. So Taglit-Birthright Israel
had to be selective in planning your trip, and focus on a few main themes.
You’ll unearth the historical roots of the Jewish people. You’ll briefly get to meet
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah. You’ll visit King David in his
walled city, and the defenders of Masada in their last battleground, so you can better
understand the Jewish people’s longstanding connection to the land.
You’ll also learn about the Jewish people’s return to Israel in the past century. So
you’ll meet the founders of kibbutzim in the Galilee region, the father of modern
Hebrew, and David Ben-Gurion – who announced the establishment of Israel in
1948. You’ll get to learn the linchpins of contemporary Zionist history and the story
of the founding of a country, achieved through years of sweat and toil.
3 beginning your journey

But this isn’t just a history class or an educational program. On your trip, you’ll
discover a modern country with a diverse and dynamic culture: hip music, cuttingedge
art, world-renowned literature, and more. Forget the stereotypical images of
bearded men in caftans riding camels through the desert. Today’s Israelis are more
often found wearing jeans, talking on cell phones, working in high-tech industries,
dancing at clubs, or sitting in urban cafes, arguing about everything from politics to
philosophy to last night’s soccer match.
You won’t spend all your time looking at ancient buildings from thousands of
years ago; you’ll meet real live people. Young Israelis – often soldiers – will travel
with you for at least half of your trip. You’ll get to know them as your peers, your
contemporaries, actual people with their own individual opinions. They’ll share their
points of view with you; Israelis aren’t known for being shy. And, of course, you can
share your point of view with them in return.
on the road
So you’re on the road. You are the new “pioneers.” You join hundreds of thousands
of peers who have already changed Jewish history by coming to Israel. Their greatgrandparents
and grandparents are kvelling (Yiddish for saying “you’re awesome”).
But more important is you and your trip. Some thoughtful Jewish leaders cared
enough to give you a chance to get on the road of Jewish exploration. Some people
depict Jewish history as a continuous road of suffering, persecution, and struggle.
We at Taglit-Birthright Israel see it differently; we see Jewish life as a yellow-brick
road of ideas, ideals, values, questions, periodic bumps, and much fulfillment.
Have an incredible experience!
Barry Chazan, Education Consultant for Taglit-Birthright Israel
beginning your journey
4

What is
taglit-Birthright
israel?

Taglit-Birthright Israel has been providing the gift of first-time,
peer group, educational trips to Israel for Jewish young adults
ages 18 to 26 since the winter of 1999-2000.
Taglit-Birthright Israel acts as an umbrella organization that provides the gift of the
trip, authorizes different providers – Trip Organizers – to run the programs, and
sets down the guidelines, standards, and security policies overseeing each and
every trip.
aBout taglit-Birthright israel
Taglit (Hebrew for “discovery”)-Birthright Israel is a unique partnership between
the government of Israel, local Jewish communities around the world, and leading
Jewish philanthropists. The founders of the program created this project to send
thousands of young Jewish adults, from all over the world, to Israel as a gift in order
to strengthen each participant’s Jewish identity; to build an understanding, friendship
and lasting bond with the land and people of Israel; and to reinforce the solidarity of
the Jewish people worldwide.
In the thirteen years since its inception, Taglit-Birthright Israel has brought 330,000
Jewish young adults to Israel from 59 different countries, and from all 50 US States
and all Canadian Provinces and Territories, including students at nearly 1,000 North
American college campuses. Additionally, 60,000 Israelis have participated on the
trips as part of the mifgash program (see page 20).
the funding Partners
There are three primary funding partners of Taglit-Birthright Israel: the people of
Israel through their government; individual donors and philanthropists; and Jewish
communities around the world. In North America, community funding is provided
by local Jewish federations through The Jewish Federations of North America.
Outside of North America, Keren Hayesod-UIA and the Jewish Agency for Israel
are our other community partners.
government
of israel
individual
donors &
PhilanthroPists
JeWish
Communities
WorldWide
triP organiZers
triP organiZers
triP organiZers
triP organiZers
(This organizational chart represents a simplified explanation
of our structure. Read on for more details.)
whaT is TagliT-birThrighT israel?
6

government of israel
The government of Israel has been a partner in the funding of the Taglit-Birthright
Israel gift since the inception of the program. The people of Israel and the Israeli
government recognize the importance of strengthening the relationship between
Israel and the next generation of Jews in the Diaspora, and in connecting them to
the land and people of Israel. Every year members of the Israeli Knesset have to vote
through a budget to continue supporting the program, and it is this conviction in
reaching outward that has been a leading force in the success of the project.
The government of Israel understands that a trip to Israel goes beyond building
emotional ties to Israel; it also demonstrates the centrality of Israel to world Jewry,
introduces the notion of Jewish peoplehood, and starts participants on a journey of
self discovery of their Jewish identity.
individual donors & PhilanthroPists
The Birthright Israel Foundation and the Birthright Israel Foundation of Canada raise
funds to support taking participants from North America on Taglit-Birthright Israel
trips. The long-term goal is to be able to succeed in helping Taglit-Birthright Israel
send 51,000 participants to Israel on an annual basis. To that end, the dedicated
professional staff and committed lay leadership develop and implement fundraising
initiatives to engage thousands of individual donors including Taglit-Birthright Israel
alumni and their families for the purpose of building a broad, sustainable base of
support through an annual campaign.
Many of the most prominent Jewish philanthropists from around the world and
Israel are partners in the project, viewing it as a significant part of their investment in
strengthening the next generation's ties to Israel and the Jewish people.
JeWish Communities WorldWide
In North America, our community partners are the Jewish federations in each
community. Jewish federations serve as the central address for Jewish communal
needs and resources. Federations build and strengthen Jewish community, reduce
Jewish poverty and hunger, rescue and resettle new immigrants, and spur Jewish
renaissance worldwide. You can learn more about the federation system and locate
your local federation online at: www.jewishfederations.org.
A growing number of federations across North America are choosing to increase
their giving to the program to ensure buses are comprised of local area participants.
7 whaT is TagliT-birThrighT israel?

These community buses allow for participants who live in close proximity to
one another to build relationships not only during the trip, but with their Jewish
community upon returning home.
Outside of North America, Keren Hayesod-United Israel Appeal (UIA) and the
Jewish Agency for Israel partner together with local donors in each participating
country to help support sending participants from their own community.
the role of triP organiZers
While the funding and the setting of logistical, security and educational standards are
overseen by Taglit-Birthright Israel, Trip Organizers are our partners who actually
plan and operate your ten-day trip. They represent well-established educational,
religious, and tourism companies that are highly qualified in leading groups within
Israel. They are responsible for recruitment, staff training, insurance, and all land
arrangements, including buses, hotels, attractions and meals.
All Trip Organizers must meet Taglit-Birthright Israel’s rigorous standards in order to
be eligible to offer trips. All Trip Organizers are subject to unscheduled inspections,
participant evaluations, and on-site monitoring. Those found to be in violation of
Taglit-Birthright Israel rules and regulations are banned from operating trips.
Regardless of which Trip Organizer you travel with to Israel, rest assured that you
will have an enjoyable experience that you will never forget. A complete list of
approved Trip Organizers and their contact information can be found at:
www.birthrightisrael.com.
A Tlalim Project
Hillel
SACHLAV
whaT is TagliT-birThrighT israel?
8

What haPPens on
these ten days?

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 you the beauty of Israel. At the same
time, there is a core program with several themes that are
common to all trips.
ContemPorary
israel
You will visit modern Israel, a
contemporary state with people from a
variety of cultural, ethnic, and religious
backgrounds. You will see how a country
combines a very old tradition with 21stcentury
life: cutting edge business and
technology, higher education, fashion
and culture, and military readiness.
narratives of
the JeWish PeoPle
Your ten days will help you experience
and learn about some of the basic
periods of Jewish history. In Israel you
will literally walk in the footsteps of
the Bible: archaeological sites, nature
reserves, and desert and mountain
scenes serve as the backdrop for this still
unfolding historical drama.
values of the
JeWish PeoPle
Your ten days will include programming
in which you will relate to some key
ideas and values that have been a part of
Jewish life throughout the ages. Tikkun
Olam (repairing the world), Shalom
(peace), and Klal Yisrael (the unity of
the Jewish people) are just some of the
topics you will discuss and experience.
traveling as
a grouP
You will be traveling with your peers
from across North America. In addition,
several Israeli peers will join you for
at least half of your trip (see section
‘An Encounter With Israeli Peers’).
You will be guided by a team of highly
skilled staff, including an Israeli tour
guide/educator, as well as talented and
committed North American staff.
learning
through
exPerienCe
The program includes touring, hiking,
group discussions, social events, camel
and jeep rides, and even a little sleep.
There is lots of learning too, but instead
of a lecture hall with professors; Israel
is your classroom, and experience is
your teacher.
the Bottom line
Your ten days in Israel will seem like a
lifetime full of experiences. You will laugh
and cry, see and think, question and
wonder, taste and touch. It’s a chance for
you to connect with your people, your
history, and your future.
whaT happens on These Ten days?
10

study the maP of israel
In a country relatively the same size as the state
of New Jersey, Israel has an incredible variety
of terrain, flora and fauna, and cultural diversity.
The varied geography includes physical as well
as cultural, political, and religious dimensions.
Learning about the land of Israel, Eretz Yisrael,
and walking through it are significant parts of the
Taglit-Birthright Israel experience!
MEDITERRANEAN
SEA
SINAI
Gaza
EGYPT
Tel Aviv
Haifa
2
Jerusalem
Masada
Beer Sheva
6
The Negev
Eilat
7
RED SEA
LEBANON
ISRAEL
West
Bank
1
Golan
Heights
Tzfat
4
Samaria
Judea
Where Will you
Be traveling?
3
Dead
Sea
Galilee
JORDAN
SAUDI ARABIA
5
SYRIA

The following is an outline of sites in Israel, not all of which you
will visit. However, most groups do visit many of the sites in
what is a very short amount of time. You’ll just have to make a
list of things to do and places to visit on your next trip!
1
Jerusalem
Jerusalem, a city holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims, as well as to Arab and Israeli
alike, has witnessed 3,000 years of religious and national conflict. Since 1967, the
reunification of the city and renaissance by the State of Israel have created new
realities that have yet to be finalized, as political conflicts endure.
A short stroll through Jerusalem’s streets is a trip through history and the eternal
connection of the Jewish people to its sacred sites. The Western Wall, the southern
wall excavations, the Jewish Quarter and the modern city reflect some of the
diversity of this complex kaleidoscope of culture and history. Within the walls of the
Old City are also located the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aksa Mosque, holy to
Islam, along with the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the site of the burial of Jesus,
holy to Christianity.
The Old City is divided into four historic areas: the Jewish Quarter, the Muslim
Quarter, the Christian Quarter and the Armenian Quarter.
the Western Wall: Holiest of all Jewish sites, it is a remnant of the Temple
Mount complex and has been a focal point of Jewish yearning and prayer since
the destruction of the Second Temple on the 9th day of the Hebrew month Av,
2,000 years ago. History, continuity, sacrifice and the centrality of Jerusalem to the
Jewish people are etched in the ancient stones of the Wall and are reflected in the
thousands of notes tucked into the crevices between them. (See page 47 to add
your own note to the Wall.)
JeWish Quarter: Rebuilt and excavated since 1967, fascinating remains of the
2,000 year-old Jewish community have been uncovered in numerous archaeological
sites. The Herodian Mansions reflect the wealth and status of the priestly class
serving in the ancient Second Temple but serve as the backdrop for the tensions of a
divided Jewish society on the verge of revolt and destruction.
the Cardo: Ancient Jerusalem’s “downtown” and main thoroughfare in the
sixth century. Excavations have revealed a Byzantine street, Crusader shops and the
remnants of a broad outer defense wall from the Israelite period, 2,700 years ago.
where will you be Traveling?
12

mount sCoPus: Superb panoramic views of the city, the Temple Mount and
the Judean Desert looking toward Jordan can be enjoyed here. It is the site of
the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, founded in 1925, closed during the War of
Independence and reopened following the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967.
mahane yehuda marKet: One of the most interesting places to interact
with locals is at this outdoor market, or shuk. You will find endless stalls of fresh
fruits and vegetables and other produce, freshly baked breads and pastries, candy
shops, and carts of colorful and fragrant spices. On Friday afternoons, this becomes
one of the most crowded places in the city as people buy groceries as they prepare
to welcome in Shabbat.
the Knesset: Israel’s Parliament building reflects the unique combination of
old and new, unique and mundane, Jewish and Israeli in the modern nation state
of Israel. Jewish architectural themes and artwork grace the building in which the
mechanism of governing the Jewish State is located.
Ben yehuda street/Pedestrian area: In the heart of modern
Jerusalem, this is an area full of shops, restaurants, bars and night clubs, which are
all connected via cobblestone streets. This will be a chance for you to taste some of
the local food, buy gifts for friends and family back home, and spend some free time
taking in the local scene.
mt. herZl: This is the burial place of Theodor Herzl (1860-1904), the journalist
and visionary who helped inspire the Zionist movement and organized the First
Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland, in 1897. Former Prime Ministers Golda Meir
and Yitzhak Rabin are buried here as well as hundreds of soldiers.
yad vashem: Israel’s Holocaust Memorial is located on Memorial Mountain
adjacent to Mt. Herzl. Unique exhibits in addition to the historical museum include
the Children’s Memorial, the Valley of the Communities and the Avenue of the
Righteous Gentiles. In addition, research, educational activities and teacher training
are undertaken here.
13 where will you be Traveling?

22 tel aviv & the mediterranean Coast
Israel’s Mediterranean coastline is dotted with perfectly planned resort towns, old
and new, and well-preserved archaeological sites that are cherished and visited
frequently by tourists and Israelis alike. Some of the cities on the shore include:
Ashdod, Ashkelon, Caesarea, Haifa, Herzliya and Netanya.
tel aviv: Established in 1909, the Tel Aviv metropolitan area is now a bustling
modern city that serves as Israel’s center of entertainment, culture, big business and
international trade. The city reflects the modern trends in the Zionist movement
rushing to be Western and in tune with other Mediterranean cosmopolitan centers.
In Tel Aviv, one can celebrate the creativity of new technologies, popular culture,
free enterprise and freedom of expression.
raBin sQuare: This large square which often houses cultural events, concerts
and political rallies was renamed after Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was
assassinated here at the end of a peace rally on November 4, 1995. A monument
now commemorates the site, and graffiti drawn on nearby walls in the days following
the event is still preserved.
indePendenCe hall: Located on historic Rothschild Boulevard, this is
the site where, on May 14, 1948, Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion,
proclaimed Israel's independence. A recording can be heard upon visiting the
museum. (See page 29 for the full text of Israel’s Declaration of Independence.)
tayelet: The Tayelet, or promenade, is a strip of restaurants, cafes, hotels and
bars that line Tel Aviv’s beautiful sandy beaches. Always crowded, the Tayelet is full
of people biking, going for a stroll or sitting to take in the beautiful ocean view.
where will you be Traveling?
14

Jaffa: Old Jaffa’s cobblestone paths and winding alleys twist through the massive
stone fortifications that surround the city. The colorful port is alive with restaurants
and nightclubs while the nearby artist colony offers art galleries and high-quality craft
shops. Visitors can view Tel Aviv’s new coastline from Jaffa and recall its humble
origins in this ancient port.
3
dead sea
The lowest point on the earth, famous for its curative powers, the Dead Sea is the
saltiest and most mineral-laden body of water in the world. Visitors can float in its
waters, cover themselves in the mud from the salty shore and relax in one of the
numerous health spas and hotels in the Dead Sea area.
masada: This ancient Roman fortress is synonymous with the Jewish resistance
to Rome in the Great Revolt (66-73 CE). The story of the Zealots on this
mountaintop has endured for it is here, according to the Josephus account, that they
committed mass suicide rather than go as slaves to the Romans.
ein gedi: This desert oasis is a nature reserve complete with cascading
waterfalls, small pools for swimming, and flora and fauna unique to the Judean
Desert region. One can view the ibex (a desert mountain goat) in its natural habitat
and enjoy the challenge of a short or long desert hike.
Bedouin tent exPerienCe: Relax and enjoy the hospitality of your
Bedouin hosts as you partake in a genuine Bedouin feast and learn about the culture
and people who inhabit this arid land. Ride a camel, or donkey, and enjoy the
tranquility of this desert oasis, as you sleep beneath the stars and ponder your place
in the universe.
15 where will you be Traveling?

4 galilee
Pastoral green valleys and mountains characterize Israel’s northern region.
Kibbutzim and moshavim – agricultural settlements – dot the biblical landscape of
the Galilee. These communities embody the pioneering spirit of the early waves of
immigration and the values of the collective.
safed (tZfat): Perched atop the Galilee mountains, Safed is a holy city
associated with ancient Jewish mysticism – Kabbalah – and the 16th century
renaissance of the Jewish community. The Ari, Joseph Caro and Abuhav synagogues
of the Jewish quarter provide the backdrop for deliberation about identity and
spirituality.
sea of galilee: The Sea of Galilee, a fresh water lake known as the Kinneret
in Hebrew, serves as the source of 30% of the country’s drinking water. In this
region pioneers established the first kibbutz, organized the first defense organization
and developed the ideological foundation of the new Jewish society evolving in the
land of Israel.
Jordan river: This famous biblical waterway descending from the Dan,
Banias and Hazbani Springs, separates Israel from Jordan and connects the Kinneret
with the Dead Sea. In spring and summer, kayaking and canoeing are common.
5
golan heights
A high volcanic plateau tucked into the northern corner of Israel, the Golan Heights
stands as a border to Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. Considered strategically essential
to Israel by many citizens, previous governments nonetheless placed this land area
on the negotiating table with Syria in an effort to reach a peace agreement. Beautiful
rivers and waterfalls cross the Golan, spilling their water into the Kinneret.
where will you be Traveling?
16

6 the negev
This southern region accounts for more than 60% of Israel’s landmass, yet less than
3% of the total population. The vast landscape of mountains, canyons, craters and
rocky terrain offers numerous opportunities for off-the-beaten-track hiking and
exploration. Trekking through the Negev desert provides an escape from modernity
and a flashback to the Jewish people’s wandering years.
mitZPeh ramon and the ramon Crater: Mitzpeh Ramon is
located alongside one of the world’s unique geological formations: the Ramon
Crater. The Ramon Crater is 40 km. long and 2-10 km. wide, shaped like an
elongated heart. It is a part of the Ramon Nature Reserve that includes the
surrounding Negev mountains.
7
eilat
The southernmost city in Israel, Eilat hugs a slope that leads to the Red Sea. An
important tourist destination with Israelis, the city is popular with those seeking time
on the sand and in the surf. In addition to the casual tourist doing some snorkeling,
the coral reefs attract scuba divers from around the world. Eilat is also a gateway to
reaching the ancient city of Petra (Jordan) to the East, and the Sinai Peninsula (Egypt)
to the West.
17 where will you be Traveling?

is it safe to travel
in israel?
We constantly review all safety procedures and
implement the most stringent security measures
throughout your trip to ensure that we provide a
comprehensive safety umbrella.
These precautions include careful planning and
review of each group’s itineraries on a daily basis.
Our trips do not travel to or through areas of the
Gaza Strip or East Jerusalem, with the exception
of the Jewish Quarter of the Old City (changes
are possible when permitted by the security
authorities). Throughout each day, itineraries are
cleared through the official government authorities
who also review all educational field trips for
Israeli schools and educational institutions.
A GPS (Global Positioning System) is carried by
each group so that authorities are aware of their
location at all times. Any itinerary can be changed
immediately to reflect any heightened risk or
security concerns.
A safety and security orientation is held for every
group upon arrival in Israel. Additionally, your
Trip Organizer will brief you daily as you travel to
different locations throughout the country. The
orientation and briefings will include guidelines
for free time and general travel safety. Free time
is considered a group activity and participants are
given specific boundaries that are safe to
walk within.
The trips do not use public transportation
and you are advised to avoid the use of public
transportation at all times. The tour bus
companies and drivers are subject to Taglit-
Birthright Israel approval, and drivers are
instructed never to leave a bus unlocked or
unattended. In addition, at least one Israeli security
escort accompanies every group.

an enCounter
With israeli Peers

Israel shouldn’t just be seen through the bus window or
learned by listening to the guide’s narrative. Only by meeting
and getting to know Israelis will you truly gain a sense of the
country and its people. Only then will you leave the “tourist”
behind, and become the “pioneer” who makes Israel his own.
the mifgash
One of the core components of your adventure in Israel will be traveling alongside
and living with Israeli peers. Every trip includes a structured mifgash, or encounter,
which consists of Israelis your own age – most of who will be from the Israeli military
– joining your trip for a minimum of five days (and some for the entire ten days).
Who are the israelis?
Israelis are a complicated people from diverse backgrounds with conflicting views
about their personal, religious, and political identities and ideologies. Your trip will
provide you with an opportunity – both formally and informally – to meet Israelis
and interact with them.
Israel, like most of the Middle East, is a rare cultural hybrid, caught halfway between
East and West. You can sit in a super-mod, Yuppie-filled café and hear Middle
Eastern music; you can easily find a kosher Burger King right next door to a falafel
stand. In Israel, this kind of cultural mix-n-match is just part of daily life.
Israelis are something of a hybrid as well; Jews and non-Jews; Western and Eastern
origins; old and new immigrants; secular lifestyles and varying degrees of religious
observance; urban and rural existence; a high-tech economy and ancient traditions.
In a country just over 60 years old, the definition of “Israeli culture” is still up
for discussion.
the military exPerienCe in israel
Army service is one of the most important aspects of Israeli life. Awareness of the
army begins early, since all children have relatives in “the service.” Later on, Israeli
teens begin to plan where they want to serve, the experience they want to have and
where it might lead them.
an encounTer wiTh israeli peers
20

Young men ages 18 and older are required to serve three years, and young women
20 months. Ultra Orthodox Yeshiva students are exempt, and Orthodox females
can opt not to serve. Still, the vast majority of Israeli youth join the armed forces,
and many volunteer for elite combat units. That makes the military a unique melting
pot for Israelis from all backgrounds.
fast faCts aBout young israelis
• After their army service, many Israelis go on a long backpacking
trip (from a few months to a year or more), usually to the Far East,
Australia, Latin America or Africa.
• Most Israeli students begin university at age 22, after serving in the
army and traveling. Many Israelis get married while in school for
their undergraduate degrees.
• Israeli universities require registration to a specific department –
undergraduates have to choose their major before they apply!
• The most popular university departments in Israel are business
management and communications.
• Most Israeli students work their way through university, many of
them holding full-time jobs while studying full-time.
• Israeli university students can lower their tuition by joining Perach
(Flower), a tutoring/mentoring project which pairs students with
kids in need of academic help or just an older role model.
21 an encounTer wiTh israeli peers

a sPeCtrum of religious oBservanCe
In Israel, most of the population defines itself as “secular” and the great majority
of people do not observe strict religious rituals, although several Jewish traditions
and holidays are observed. Across the spectrum of religious observance in Israel
are: religious or strictly observant Jews (what North Americans call Orthodox);
Masorti Jews (the Conservative movement in Israel); and the Israel Movement for
Progressive Judaism (the Reform movement in Israel). Most Israelis observe basic
Jewish practices, including Passover Seder, fasting on Yom Kippur, Bar/Bat Mitzvah
and the celebration of Chanukah.
Unlike in the United States and Canada, where Reform and Conservative Jews are
a majority, non-Orthodox movements are a minority in Israel. Israel’s all-Orthodox,
government-sponsored Rabbinate presides over all official life-cycle rituals in Israel
(circumcision, marriage, divorce, burial) as well as all conversions.
A small but growing Jewish “renaissance” is taking place in Israel as secular and
religious Jews search for non-Orthodox alternatives to study and worship.
the saBra of the neW millennium
The Israeli character has been shaped by a unique set of ideas, events, and
influences. From the Middle Eastern climate to the Arab-Israeli conflict, from
agriculture to the military, from the emotional legacy of the Holocaust to the
rise of post-Zionism, there are both contextual and internal forces that make
Israelis who they are.
The image of the “Sabra,” or native-born Israeli – a cactus fruit that’s prickly on the
outside and sweet on the inside – has evolved a great deal since the early days of
statehood. Still, much of that tough-yet-sensitive character remains today.
an encounTer wiTh israeli peers
22

learn more

did you KnoW?
Traveling in Israel may have all the comforts of a Western
country including a modern transportation infrastructure,
internet cafes, ATM machines, luxury accommodations and
fine cuisine, but there are differences that make being in Israel
an interesting cultural lesson as well!
• Jews are not the only visitors to
Israel. Religious Christians and
Muslims, as well as history buffs
from all over the world are frequent
sights throughout the country!
• A reflection of the diverse
population, most signs you see will
be in Hebrew, English and Arabic;
and many Israelis will speak all
three languages!
• Israeli Jews come in different shapes,
sizes, skin color and speak different
languages since they come from
all corners of the globe, including
Africa, Asia, Europe and the
Americas!
• You may notice that Shabbat (Friday
sundown until Saturday sundown)
is a real day of rest in most of
Israel, shops will close and mass
transportation is unavailable…but
Sunday is a full working day!
• It is a tradition for Jews who travel
to Israel to bring notes and charity
(tzedakah) from family and friends
to the Western Wall (The Kotel),
the holiest site in Judaism.
• Israelis are not known to be
reserved or shy people; honking car
horns, public arguments and loud
cell phone conversations are to be
expected!
• Israelis’ religiosity is often entwined
in their political views as well; many
men display this with their choice
of head coverings: black hats for the
ultra-Orthodox; knitted kippot for
the modern Orthodox; a folded
kippah in the pocket for the liberal;
and a novelty (Yankees, etc.) kippah
for the secular!
• Kosher restaurants and products
are the norm, rather than the
exception!
• Armed soldiers are found
throughout the country, even on
buses, in the market or on the
street! Since most Israelis are
trained in the army, this is not as
alarming to Israelis as it can be to
visitors!
• Nearly everyone you meet will be
Jewish, including the bus driver, tour
guides, waiters, soldiers, medics and
young adults...all the night clubs are
‘Jewish singles scenes!’
learn more
24

timeline of israel’s history
B.C.e. (Before the Common era)
1004
King David establishes
Jerusalem as the capital of
the Kingdom of Israel
350
Jerusalem
captured by
Persians
66-73
First Jewish
Revolt against
Rome
332
960
Alexander the Great
(Greece) conquers
Jerusalem
C.e. (Common era)
1858-1860
Mishkenot Sha’ananim,
1st Jewish settlement
outside Old City, is
built
1948-52
Mass wave of
immigration from
Europe and Arab
countries
1985
70
Free Trade
Agreement signed
with United States
1993
PLO and
Israel mutually
recognize
each other
Jerusalem & the
Second Temple
destroyed by the
Romans
1994
25 learn more
1870
King Solomon (David’s son) builds
the First Temple as the religious
and spiritual center of the Jewish
People
Jerusalem’s
population:
Y 11,000;
� 6,500;
� 4,500
1967
132-135
313
Ptolemy I
captures
Jerusalem
Second Jewish Revolt
led by Bar Kochba, Jews
slaughtered, exiled from
the city
1909
Tel Aviv
founded
north of
Jaffa
Six-Day War; Jerusalem
reunified under Israeli
control with free access to
holy sites of all religions
1987
First Palestinian
uprising (intifada)
begins
Peace with Jordan; Oslo
Accords implementation
begins; Israel begins
withdrawal from the
administered territories
1988
1917
170
922
Kingdom divides between North
(Israel) and South (Judea) —
Jerusalem is capital of Judea
Jerusalem conquered by Antiochus
Epiphanes (Seleucids of Syria)
324
Byzantine
rule
British conquer
Jerusalem; British
Mandate period
begins
1967-70
War of Attrition
Israel's first
intelligence satellite,
Ofek I, is launched
into space
1995
Yitzhak Rabin
assassinated by an
Israeli student at a
peace rally in Tel Aviv
1989
614-638
Jerusalem falls to
the Persians (614),
Byzantines (629) &
Arab Muslims (638)
nov 24, 1947
UN proposal calls for
the establishment of
a Jewish and an Arab
state
1973
Yom Kippur War
Four-point peace initiative
proposed by Israel; mass
immigration of Soviet Jews
begins
1996
3000 years since the
establishment of Jerusalem
as the capital city

586
Nebuchadnezzer, King of Babylon
conquers Jerusalem and destroys
the first temple, Jews exiled to
Babylon
167-164
Maccabean revolts against Hellenistic
domination; Jerusalem restored to Jewish
autonomy under Hasmonean (Maccabean)
Empire
1099
First Crusaders
capture Jerusalem
may 1948
1187
Saladin
captures
Jerusalem
538-515
Jews return to Eretz (the land of)
Israel from Babylon, known as the
Return to Zion
1260
British Mandate ends (5/14); State of Israel
proclaimed (5/14); Israel invaded by 5 Arab
countries, War of Independence begins
(5/15); Israel Defense Forces formed
1978
Camp David accords
signed; contain basis
for settlement of Arab-
Israel conflict
1991
1979
Israel-
Egypt
Peace
Treaty
signed
61
Mamelukes rule
Jerusalem
1981
Iraq attacks Israel with ground-to-ground missiles
during Gulf War; Middle East peace conference
convenes in Madrid; multilateral talks follow to
promote peace and address regional concerns
2000
Second
intifada
begins
2003
Col. Ilan Ramon becomes first Israeli
astronaut; the Columbia Space
Shuttle breaks up on re-entry over
the Southern United States, killing all
aboard
Roman invasion led by
Pompei
1949
1516-17
37
Turkish Ottoman
Empire (Sultan
Salim) conquers
Jerusalem
1982
515
Ezra & Nechemia
lead the restoration
of Jerusalem and the
Second Temple
King Herod appointed
as ruler of Judah by the
Romans, restores the
Temple
1535-38
Suleiman the
Magnificent
rebuilds city
walls
Armistice agreed to with Egypt (2/9), Lebanon (5/23),
Jordan (4/3) & Syria (6/20); First Knesset elected;
Israel admitted to UN as 59th member; Jerusalem
proclaimed capital of Israel
Iraq’s nuclear reactor
destroyed by Israeli Air
Force, led by young IAF
pilot Ilan Ramon
1992
Israel’s withdrawal from Sinai
completed; Operation Peace for
Galilee launched by Israel to end
PLO attacks from Lebanon
Diplomatic relations established with China
and India; Yitzhak Rabin elected Prime Minister;
25th Anniversary of reunification; Jerusalem’s
population: Y 392,000; � 136,200; � 15,000
2005
Israel disengages
from settlements in
the Gaza Strip
2012
Taglit-Birthright Israel
brings its 300,000th
participant to Israel
learn more
26

the Changing maP of israel
1947
un Partition Plan
on november 29, 1947,
Resolution 181 was approved by
the General Assembly of the United
Nations, partitioning the former British
Mandate area into a Jewish and Arab
state. In this plan, Jerusalem was to
become an international city, while the
Negev, coastal strip and eastern Galilee
panhandle were to be part of a Jewish
state. Despite the objective limitations
of such a division of land, the Jewish
population accepted the plan, while the
Arabs rejected it.
27 learn more
1949
armistiCe lines
following the end of the War
of independence in 1949, Israel
conducted armistice negotiations with
its Arab neighbors under the auspices
of the U.N. The agreements signed
with Lebanon, Egypt, Transjordan (later
Jordan) and Syria set the following
terms: Israel retained the Negev desert
and Egypt retained control of the Gaza
Strip. Jordan controlled the West Bank
and the eastern half of Jerusalem.
Borders with Lebanon and Syria were
based on internationally recognized
frontiers.

1967
six day War Borders
following increased tensions
and threats of war on the part of
Israel’s Arab neighbors, on June 5th,
1967, Israel launched a preemptive
strike against Egypt, Syria and Jordan.
Following six days of fighting Israel
captured the Sinai Peninsula, the Gaza
Strip, the Golan Heights and the West
Bank, including the eastern half of
Jerusalem.
The cease fire lines left these areas
under Israeli control, and would remain
Israel’s borders until the Yom Kippur
War of 1973.
1979
israel-egyPt treaty
in 1979 israel and egypt signed
an historic peace accord at the
end of negotiations begun at Camp
David in 1978. The 1977 visit of Anwar
Sadat to Jerusalem paved the way for
the process, which ended the state
of war between the two countries.
Israeli forces withdrew from the
Sinai Peninsula in two stages and by
April 1982 the entire Sinai was under
Egyptian sovereignty.
For a current map of Israel, turn to
page 11.
learn more
28

israel’s deClaration of indePendenCe
The Land of Israel was the birthplace of
the Jewish people. Here their spiritual,
religious and national identity was formed.
Here they achieved independence and
created a culture of national and universal
significance. Here they wrote and gave
the Bible to the world.
Exiled from Palestine, the Jewish people
remained faithful to it in all the countries
of their dispersion, never ceasing to
pray and hope for their return and the
restoration of their national freedom.
Impelled by this historic association,
Jews strove throughout the centuries to
go back to the land of their fathers and
regain their statehood. In recent decades
they returned in masses. They reclaimed
the wilderness, revived their language,
built cities and villages and established a
vigorous and ever-growing community,
with its own economic and cultural
life. They sought peace yet were ever
prepared to defend themselves. They
brought the blessing of progress to all
inhabitants of the country.
In the year 1897 the First Zionist
Congress, inspired by Theodor Herzl’s
vision of the Jewish State, proclaimed
the right of the Jewish people to national
revival in their own country.
This right was acknowledged by the
Balfour Declaration of November 2, 1917,
and re-affirmed by the Mandate of the
League of Nations, which gave explicit
international recognition to the historic
connection of the Jewish people with
Palestine and their right to reconstitute
their National Home.
29 learn more
The Nazi Holocaust, which engulfed
millions of Jews in Europe, proved anew
the urgency of the re-establishment
of the Jewish State, which would solve
the problem of Jewish homelessness by
opening the gates to all Jews and lifting
the Jewish people to equality in the
family of nations.
The survivors of the European
catastrophe, as well as Jews from
other lands, proclaiming their right to
a life of dignity, freedom and labor, and
undeterred by hazards, hardships and
obstacles, have tried unceasingly to
enter Palestine.
In the Second World War the Jewish
people in Palestine made a full
contribution in the struggle of the
freedom-loving nations against the Nazi
evil. The sacrifices of their soldiers
and the efforts of their workers gained
them title to rank with the peoples who
founded the United Nations.
On November 29, 1947, the General
Assembly of the United Nations adopted
a Resolution for the establishment of an
independent Jewish State in Palestine, and
called upon the inhabitants of the country
to take such steps as may be necessary
on their part to put the plan into effect.
This recognition by the United Nations of
the right of the Jewish people to establish
their independent State may not be
revoked. It is, moreover, the self-evident
right of the Jewish people to be a
nation, as all other nations, in its own
sovereign State.

Accordingly, we, the members of the
National Council, representing the
Jewish people in Palestine and Zionist
movement of the world, met together
in solemn assembly today, the day of
termination of the British Mandate for
Palestine, by virtue of the natural and
historic right of the Jewish people and of
the Resolution of the General Assembly
of the United Nations.
Hereby proclaim the establishment
of the Jewish State in Palestine, to be
called Israel.
We hereby declare that as from the
termination of the Mandate at midnight,
this night of the 14th to 15th May, 1948,
and until the setting up of the duly
elected bodies of the State in accordance
with a Constitution, to be drawn up
by a Constituent Assembly not later
than the first day of October, 1948, the
present National Council shall act as the
provisional administration, shall constitute
the Provisional Government of the State
of Israel.
The State of Israel will be open to the
immigration of Jews from all countries
of their dispersion; will promote the
development of the country for the
benefit of all its inhabitants; will be based
on the precepts of liberty, justice and
peace taught by the Hebrew Prophets;
will uphold the full social and political
equality of all its citizens, without
distinction of race, creed or sex; will
guarantee full freedom of conscience,
worship, education and culture; will
safeguard the sanctity and inviolability of
the shrines and Holy Places of all religions;
and will dedicate itself to the principles of
the Charter of the United Nations.
The State of Israel will be ready
to cooperate with the organs and
representatives of the United Nations
in the implementation of the Resolution
of the Assembly of November 29, 1947,
and will take steps to bring about the
Economic Union over the whole
of Palestine.
We appeal to the United Nations to
assist the Jewish people in the building of
its State and to admit Israel into the family
of nations.
In the midst of wanton aggression,
we yet call upon the Arab inhabitants
of the State of Israel to return to the
ways of peace and play their part in the
development of the State, with full and
equal citizenship and due representation
in all its bodies and institutions —
provisional or permanent.
We offer peace and unity to all the
neighboring states and their peoples,
and invite them to cooperate with
the independent Jewish nation for the
common good of all.
Our call goes out to the Jewish people all
over the world to rally to our side in the
task of immigration and development and
to stand by us in the great struggle for the
fulfillment of the dream of generations —
the redemption of Israel.
With trust in Almighty God, we set our
hand to this Declaration, at this Session of
the Provisional State Council, in the city
of Tel Aviv, on this Sabbath eve, the fifth
of Iyar, 5708, the fourteenth day of
May, 1948.
learn more
30

israel’s national anthem
HATIKVAH, “The Hope,” was written by Naphtali Herz Imber as a poem in 1878.
It became the anthem of the Zionist movement; when the State of Israel was
established, it became the national anthem.
Transliteration:
Kol od ba-lei-vav p’nimah
Nefesh Y’hudi ho-mi-yah
Ul’fa-atei miz’rakh kadimah
Ayin l’tzion tzo-fi-yah.
Od lo avdah tik-va-teinu
Ha-tik-vah bat sh’not al-payim
Lih’yot am khof-shi b’ar-tzeinu
Eretz Tzi-yon vi-rusha-layim.
31 learn more
Hebrew:
המינפ בבלב דוע לכ
הימוה ידוהי שפנ
המידק חרזמ יתאפלו
היפוצ ןויצל ןיע
ונתוקת הדבא אל דוע
םיפלא תונש תב הוקתה
ונצראב ישפוח םע תויהל
םילשוריו ןויצ ץרא
Translation:
As long as deep in the heart
The soul of a Jew yearns
And towards the East
An eye looks to Zion.
Our hope is not yet lost
The hope of two thousand years
To be a free people in our land
The land of Zion and Jerusalem.

suggested reading
reCent WorKs on israel
THE CASE FOR ISRAEL & THE CASE FOR PEACE, Alan Dershowitz The Harvard
Law School professor argues passionately in these two short but potent works.
COMING TOGETHER, COMING APART, Daniel Gordis After moving his family
from Los Angeles, a father reflects on the joys and struggles of life in Israel.
JERUSALEM: THE BIOGRAPHY, Simon Sebag Montefiore The author reveals
this ever-changing city in its many incarnations, bringing every epoch and character
blazingly to life.
START-UP NATION: THE STORY OF ISRAEL’S ECONOMIC MIRACLE,
Dan Senor and Saul Singer A fascinating expert look at Israel’s meteoric rise in the
global economy.
ClassiC novels aBout israel
EXODUS, Leon Uris The classic historical novel about the heroic founding of
the state.
O JERUSALEM, Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre A compelling account of the
War of Independence and the battles for Jerusalem and Jewish statehood.
THE SOURCE, James Michener This novel follows the sweep of Jewish and Israeli
history through the various layers of an archaeological dig.
non-fiCtion By israelis
BEN-GURION: A POLITICAL LIFE, Shimon Peres A dramatic and revelatory
biography of Israel’s founding father and first prime minister.
IN THE NAME OF SORROW AND HOPE, Noa Ben Artzi Pelosoff Yitzhak Rabin’s
granddaughter writes about her grandfather’s life and dreams for peace.
MY LIFE, Golda Meir An inspiring autobiography of a woman Zionist, pioneer,
politician and prime minister.
WARRIOR, Ariel Sharon An account of Israel’s battles through the eyes of the
military commander who became prime minister.
other ideas
NIMROD FLIP-OUT, Etgar Keret A collection of twisted stories by a young
Israeli novelist.
WALKING THE BIBLE, Bruce Feiler The best-seller places Israel in the context of
the ancient world that birthed the Jewish people.
learn more
32

israeli Poetry
Another author we recommend, and one that you will encounter during your trip,
is Israeli poet Yehuda Amichai. Consider the meaning of the following two poems
“Love Of Jerusalem” and “The windmill in Yemin Moshe” as you spend your ten days
in Israel.
“love of Jerusalem”
There is a street where they sell only red meat
And there is a street where they sell only clothes and perfumes.
And there is a day when I see only cripples and the blind
And those covered with leprosy, and spastics and those with twisted lips.
Here they build a house and there they destroy
Here they dig into the earth
And there they dig into the sky,
Here they sit and there they walk
Here they hate and there they love.
But he who loves Jerusalem
By the tourist book or the prayer book
is like one who loves a woman
By a manual of sex positions.
In the first two stanzas of “Love of Jerusalem,” Amichai talks about the daily life
going on around him in Israel. People are at work, the markets are alive, and even
though there may be homeless people on the street, skyscrapers are being built and
life is happening all around. Then, in the final verse, he comments on travelers who
miss all these things and only see the sites mapped out in their travel guides.
Will you travel strictly as a tourist taking pictures and mental notes of each site you
visit? Or will you embrace the land, the people, and your own personal connection
to this country?
33 learn more

“the Windmill in yemin moshe”
This windmill never ground flour.
It ground holy air and Bialik’s
Birds of longing, it ground
Words and ground time, it ground
Rain and even shells
But it never ground flour.
Now it’s discovered us,
And grinds our lives day by day
Making out of us the flour of peace
Making out of us the bread of peace
For the generation to come.
In “The windmill in Yemin Moshe” (a place that you will likely visit when you are
in Jerusalem), Amichai uses the windmill as a metaphor for the existence of the
modern state of Israel.
Moses Montefiore had the windmill built in the 1850s during a time of economic
hardship for the Jewish population. It has stood there ever since, and has been a
witness to the forming of the modern state of Israel. Today, it stands in one of the
most prominent neighborhoods in Jerusalem.
In the second line of the poem Amichai actually references another famous poem –
El Hatzipor “To the Bird” – written by Hayyim Nahman Bialik in 1892. Bialik wrote
his poem while still living in his native land of Russia, and in it spoke of the longing he
had for living in Zion and escaping his life in Odessa.
In the present tense of the poem, Amichai is expressing the fact that the Zionist
dream has come true. While the windmill never actually worked, it is part of a lovely
park near the King David hotel where contemporary Israeli (and Arab) kids play
trying to have happy lives. Zionism is 100 years old and a state was established and
with all the troubles children play and we carve out lives.
On your Taglit-Birthright Israel trip, you will get to experience the Zionist dream
of returning to Israel. You also will get a unique perspective into the lives of people
who are working everyday to build a peaceful place to live. Think about what a gift
you truly have been given in coming to Israel. And, about the generations of your
ancestors who never had the same opportunity.
learn more
34

suggested
PaCKing list
The weather in Israel during the winter
months can be cold and rainy, or sunny
and mild. Casual, comfortable clothes that
can be layered are best. You should only
need one nice outfit for Shabbat; and,
given the packed itinerary, assume that
there won’t be time to do laundry.
Remember to pack as lightly as possible.
We recommend one large suitcase
or duffel bag (checked baggage) per
person, and a school-sized backpack for
your carry-on. Note that you will be
responsible for packing and transporting
your own bags numerous times during
the trip, so make sure not to pack more
than you can comfortably carry.
(The following list is a suggestion only.)
ImporTanT noTe
Taglit-Birthright Israel reserves the right to remove
any participant from the program that is found to
be ineligible, involved in criminal activity, engages in
inappropriate behavior, or does not abide by the
program's drug and alcohol policies. Participants
found to be in violation of these rules will be sent
home immediately at their own expense and may
become liable for the full cost of their trip.

Clothing
6 short-sleeved t-shirts
3 pairs of jeans/pants
2 pairs of shorts
6 long-sleeved shirts
3 sweaters or sweatshirts
1 mid-weight jacket (waterproof)
1 bathing suit
1 pair of sweatpants
12 pairs of underwear
12 pairs of socks
1 pair of water shoes (ie. Teva’s)
1 pair of sturdy shoes for hiking/walking
1 pair of nicer shoes (for Shabbat)
2 long skirts (women) / nice khakis (men)
(for Shabbat)
1 nicer blouse or shirt (for Shabbat)
1 towel
1 hat (baseball style)
‘going out’ outfits (for city nights)
for your
Carry-on Bags
Passport * (put xerox copies in
each of your bags)
Health Insurance Card **
All medications (including copies of
prescriptions)
Prescription glasses/contact lens supplies
(no liquids more than 3 oz.)
Cash/ATM Card/Credit Card
(Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted)
iPod/MP3 player
One change of clothes
suggested items
Adapter for electrical appliances ***
Books/reading material
Camera, charger/batteries
Journal/address book
Mini flashlight or penlight
Plastic bags for wet or dirty clothes
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Toiletries
Travel alarm clock
Kippah/head covering (men)
* For residents of North America, you must hold a US or Canadian passport. If you do
not have either, you may need a visa and have other restrictions; please contact your
closest Israeli consulate for more information. In order to be permitted to travel to Israel
your passport must be valid for a minimum of six months beyond your ticketed date of
return home.
** All participants must bring proof of medical insurance that provides for coverage
abroad and covers pre-existing medical conditions. It is also recommended that
participants purchase travel insurance to cover domestic flight delay, lost luggage, etc.
Travel insurance policies may also include medical coverage as an option should you not
have an existing health plan.
*** Electrical equipment has to be adaptable to 220 volts and have a European adapter for
the prong. Equipment on a motor (i.e., hair dryer) must be adaptable to 50 Hz (as opposed
to 110 volts and 60 Hz for North America).
suggesTed packing lisT
36

We know that at the forefront of your
mind are the thoughts: What should I
pack? Who will I meet on the trip? And,
make sure you don’t forget your passport!
But, once you’ve dealt with all that, take
a few moments before departing on your
trip to Israel and try answering each of
the following questions. If you want, pack
this booklet in your bag, and bring it with
you to Israel. On your last day of the trip,
return to this page and reflect upon which
of your expectations were met, which of
your thoughts have changed, and how, if at
all, the trip will remain with you.
exPeCtations
of the triP

What are your exPeCtations for this triP? (Examples:
meeting new friends, having a good time, gaining a deeper sense of Jewish identity.)
What is your Biggest hoPe uPon emBarKing on this
Journey?
What does israel mean to you?
What does Being JeWish mean to you?
hoW Would you define your Personal JeWish identity?
eXpecTaTions of The Trip
38

“refrain”
My father was born with a severe handicap, a birth defect called cerebral palsy.
It occurs during birth and affects the central nervous system. Makes it very hard
to walk, very hard to talk, to use any sort of motor skills. So my dad could hardly
speak and be understood, and he couldn’t quite hold a pencil to write, but he was a
natural performer. My father was a writer – a comedian.
But how?
With humor.
He would hold up his right hand with his left, and tap the letters of the typewriter
one by one by one, all night long. That sound, the sound of the typewriter being hit,
was the lullaby of my childhood. And it’s funny how things hit you years later. How
the pieces take their time to come together. How you can discover something and it
changes everything.
The truth shifts.
And my identity did, too. I was raised by my father’s Italian Catholic half of the family,
who had so much in common with mother’s Jewish half. But what I remember most
was the laughter. The way humor cut across cultures, and unified them as one family.
I think that’s what my father taught me most, in the face of anything, in the face of
adversity: laugh, deeply and loudly.
We become different versions of ourselves at different times. My father’s death,
when I was 15, changed – well, propelled me. It was my father who had loved Israel
so much when he was younger. I became curious about that place. And curious
about my father, before me.
My grandmother told me very recently all about my dad as a kid. I’ve come to realize
I’m very, very much like him. I write like him. I live in New York City like him. But I
don’t talk like him, and I don’t walk like him. I am an independent state. My parallel,
Israel, is a Jewish state, in a state of tribute to its roots, as I am.
My father had braces on his legs as a kid, to help him walk. My grandma spoke of the
nights that she would stay up sewing huge rips in his jeans and cleaning dried blood
from the side of his head from when he had fallen down and hit the cement. All in a
basic attempt at movement.
But, that’s life, right? To accept. To continue. To try. To fall. And to fight.
To fight.
And sometimes, to die.
39 eXpecTaTions of The Trip

My grandma also told me about the time in the 1950s when my dad broke free: He
removed his braces from his arms and legs. Then one day he got on a bus. He must
have been 18 or 19 years old, and he just left. He went home, to Italy, to Rome. He
said, “Mama, I’ve got to go, I’ve got to see the world.”
She was scared. He might get hurt, he might get harassed. He shouldn’t go alone.
But she understood, in that way that mothers do.
She hadn’t heard from him for a couple of days…and the phone rang. It was
my dad.
And he said, “Ma, you’re not going to believe it. I’m in Rome and…I just climbed to
the top of the Spanish Steps.”
There were hundreds of steps. Those old, ancient, European, wobbly steps.
“And it was the most beautiful view I’ve ever seen in my life, Mom.”
And my grandma said, “Nicky, how’d you do that? How’d you get up there?”
And he said, “I sat down and I pushed myself up backward, step by step by step.”
(I imagine him saying this in a tone that is carefree and obvious, like a no-brainer.) It
took him hours. And all the people who must have passed him on their way going
up, asking him if he needed help, staring, judging – when really, they were watching a
young man living.
It’s five in the morning. I’m 19 years old, and I’m standing at the bottom of Masada,
this mysterious narrow mountain fortress in the desert. It’s dark. And all of a sudden,
I sit down on the very first step and push myself up every single one. Backward: like
he did.
“And Mom, it was the most beautiful sunrise I have ever seen.”
Diana Arnold was a participant on Taglit-Birthright Israel in the summer of 2004. Her
story is the product of this life-changing experience, and a number of subsequent return
trips to Israel. It is these collective memories that have helped to shape her personal
Jewish journey.
This essay appears in What We Brought Back: Jewish Life After Birthright, a collection of work
by alumni of Taglit-Birthright Israel trips. The anthology was produced by NEXT and Nextbook
Inc., and published by Toby Press. For more information go to: www.nextbookpress.com.
eXpecTaTions of The Trip
40

young leadershiP
Community serviCe ProJeCts
after the triP
getting BaCK to israel
volunteer oPPortunities
next shaBBat

Your trip to Israel is just one of the many gifts that the Jewish
community has to offer. In the weeks and months ahead you
will learn more about the rich variety of programs that are
available to you as a Taglit-Birthright Israel alumnus.
A host of partnering organizations across North America are dedicated to working
with you so that you can continue your experience once you arrive back home.
Whether you’re a student living on campus, or a young professional living on your
own – in the United States or Canada – there are boundless opportunities available,
and endless ways to get connected.
A perfect place to begin this journey is by hosting your friends for a Shabbat meal.
JeWish CooKing Classes
NEXT: A Division of Birthright Israel Foundation wants you to celebrate Shabbat
your own way, so they're offering to help offset the cost. Visit their website:
www.birthrightisraelnext.org/shabbat to find out more!
Whatever your interests, there’s a right answer for you. Whether it's trip reunions,
Jewish cooking classes, community service projects, concerts, Hebrew classes, film
festivals, Shabbat dinners, outdoor adventures, comedy nights, parties and social
happenings, or volunteering opportunities, Taglit-Birthright Israel wants to help be a
resource in connecting you to your local Jewish community.
The experience of a lifetime does not end after 10 days...it's just the beginning.
Learn more at: www.birthrightisrael.com.
afTer The Trip
42

notes
43 noTes

noTes
44

45 noTes

Note for the Western Wall (see next page)
noTes
46

Notes in the Western Wall
It is a centuries-old tradition to place prayer notes in the Western Wall,
which is considered Judaism’s holiest site. Cut out the piece of paper below,
and use the reverse side to write your own note to insert in the Wall
(The Kotel).

the traveler’s Prayer
t’filat ha-derekh ךרדה תלפת
The Traveler’s Prayer is traditionally said at the onset of a trip in hopes of a safe journey.
Although the prayer has not changed in hundreds of years, there
are more modern interpretations which are equally appropriate to recite.
Hebrew:
וניתובא יהולאו וניהולא 'ה ךינפלמ ןוצר יהי
םולשל ונדיעצתו םולשל ונכילותש
ונצפח זוחמל ונעיגתו םולשל ונכירדתו
םולשלו החמשלו םייחל
ךרדב תוער תויחו םיטסלו ברואו ביוא לכ ףכמ ונליצתו
םלועל אובל תושגרתמה תוינערופ ינימ לכמו
ונידי השעמ לכב הכרב חלשתו
םימחרלו דסחלו ןחל וננתתו
ונינונחת לוק עמשתו וניאור לכ יניעבו ךיניעב
התא ןונחתו הלפת עמוש לא יכ
הלפת עמוש 'ה התא ךורב
Transliteration:
Y’hi ratzon mil’fa-ne-kha Adonai elo-hei-nu vei-lo-hei avo-teinu,
she-toli-kheinu l’shalom v’tatz’ideinu l’shalom,
v’tad-ri-kheinu l’shalom v’ta-gi-einu lim’khoz khef-tzeinu
l’khayim ul’simkhah ul’shalom.
V’ta-tzi-leinu mikaf kol oyeiv v’oreiv v’listim v’kha-yot ra-ot ba-derekh
u-mikol mi-nei fur-a-niyot ha-mit-rag’shot lavo la-olam,
v’tish-lakh b’rakhah b’khol ma-asei ya-deinu.
V’ti-t’neinu l’khein ul’khesed ul’rakha-mim
b’ei-nekha uv’einei khol ro-einu, v’tish-ma kol takha-nu-neinu.
Ki Eil sho-mei-a t’fi-lah v’ta-kha-nun attah.
Ba-rukh attah Adonai sho-mei-a t’fi-lah.
Translation:
May it be Your will, Eternal One, our G-d and the G-d of our ancestors,
that You lead us toward peace, guide our footsteps towards peace, and help us
reach our desired destination for life, gladness, and peace. May You rescue us
from the hand of every foe, ambush, bandits and wild animals along the way, and
from all manner of punishments that assemble to come to Earth.
May You send blessing in our every handiwork, and grant us peace, kindness, and
mercy in your eyes and in the eyes of all who see us. May You hear the sound of our
prayer, because You are the One who hears prayer and supplications.
Blessed are You, Eternal One, who hears prayer.
The Traveler’s prayer
48

travel heBreW
Hello/Goodbye/Peace
Good morning
Good evening
Good night
See you later
Yes
No
Okay
Please/You’re welcome
Thanks (very much)
Excuse me/Sorry!
How are you?
What time is it?
What’s this?
Where?
When?
How much is this?
Where are the restrooms?
Pleased to meet you
I understand
Restaurant
Coffeehouse
Do you speak English?
I’m with the Taglit group
What is your name?
How do you say that in English?
I love you
shalom
boker tov
erev tov
lyla tov
l’hitra’ot
ken
lo
b’seder
b’vakashah
todah (rabbah)
s’likhah!
mah sh’lomkha? (m)
mah sh’lomeykh? (f)
ma hasha-ah?
ma zeh?
eyfo?
matai?
kama zeh oleh?
eyfo ha-sheirutim?
na’im m’od
ani meivin
mis’adah
beit kafeh
atah m’dabeir anglit? (to m)
at m’daberet anglit? (to f)
ani im taglit
eykh korim l’kha? (to m)
eykh korim lakh? (to f)
eykh omrim b’anglit?
ani oheiv otakh (m to f)
ani ohevet ot’kha (f to m)
םולש
בוט רקוב
בוט ברע
בוט הליל
תוארתהל
ןכ
אל
רדסב
השקבב
הבר הדות
החילס
ךמולש המ
ךמולש המ
העשה המ
הז המ
הפיא
יתמ
הלוע הז המכ
םיתורישה הפיא
דואמ םיענ
ןיבמ ינא
הדעסמ
הפק תיב
תילגנא רבדמ התא
תילגנא תרבדמ תא
תילגת םע ינא
ךל םיארוק ךיא
ךל םיארוק ךיא
תילגנאב םירמוא ךיא
ךתוא בהוא ינא
ךתוא תבהוא ינא
Have a smartphone? Download HebrewNEXT – the free Hebrew language mobile app of NEXT. You’ll get
all the phrases you need to navigate the airport, order food, and chat with the locals, right at your fingertips!
Scan the related QR code below to download the app from either the iTunes Store or the Android Market,
and הבוט העיסנ (n’si-ah tovah - have a good journey!).
iPhone Android