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A FREE ISRAEL TRIP

REGISTRATION FOR SUMMER 2024 TRIPS IS OPEN SIGN UP   |  SAFE TRAVEL

REGISTRATION FOR SUMMER 2024 TRIPS IS NOW OPEN  |  SIGN UP   |  SAFE TRAVEL

BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL + ISRAEL OUTDOORS

Israel Outdoors is a leading organizer of free Birthright Israel trips for eligible travelers, ages 18-26 – departing from across North America.

Travel with Israel Outdoors because our trips are fun, adventurous, and inspiring! Our approach is pluralistic and we encourage open-minded exploration all along the way. Through it all, you'll gain new friends as we discover the timeless beauty of Israel together.

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SMALL IN SIZE MIGHTY IN ADVENTURE

World-changing historic sites, colorful Middle Eastern bazaars, stunning desert landscapes, mouth-watering Mediterranean cuisine, and so many amazing memories await!

Discover 3,000 years of Jewish and world history treasures in Israel’s capital city

Descend to the planet’s lowest point to experience effortless floating

Scale an ancient fortress and watch a sunrise over the Jordan Valley

Experience the beach culture of the Meditteranean’s capital of cool

Look out across the Sea of Galilee, and explore Israel’s greenest landscapes

Ascend to the Galilee highlands to discover the birthplace of Kabbalah

NEGEV DESERT

Spend a memorable night sleeping under the bright desert stars

Explore one of the oldest and most beautiful ports in the Mediterranean

GOLAN HEIGHTS

Hike through a lush canyon and survey the region’s geopolitical backdrop

Tour Israel’s most diverse city and the iconic Bahai Temple on Mt. Carmel

View ibex in the wild and hike to a desert waterfall at this authentic oasis

JORDAN RIVER

Cool off floating down the historic upper Jordan River valley

ROSH HANIKRAH

Descend into the ocean-swept caves along Israel’s rugged coast

Explore the Roman-era ruins of Herod’s palace and aqueduct on the beach

RAMON CRATER

Step out to the edge of the world’s largest erosion crater

MAHANE YEHUDA

Browse Israel’s most iconic open-air produce and culinary market

EIN AVDAT CANYON

Climb through a narrow desert canyon to discover a hidden pool of water in the middle of the wilderness

Navigate underground caves dug by humans in the chalky rock of Beit Guvrin National Park

Grapple with the meaning of loss at the World Holocaust Remembrance Center

THE WESTERN WALL

Place ya note between the ancient stones at Judaism’s most cherished site

CHOOSE YOUR TRIP

Select from a range of travel experiences designed for all kinds of interests and schedules 

We also offer 8-14-day Volunteer Trips funded by #Birthright for ages 18-40, regardless of prior Israel program experience

Explore Our Trips

Explore more.

Each trip is 10 days and covers your international flight , all accommodations , two meals daily , professional guiding , and touring admissions costs. Here's what you need to know to get on your way to Israel...

ELIGIBILITY

For starters, eligible travelers are age 18-26 and identify as being Jewish LEARN MORE

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Before you travel halfway around the world, you may have some questions LEARN MORE

HOW TO SIGN UP

Registration is quick and commitment-free when you know what to expect in advance LEARN MORE

We love our travel adventures and we're so excited to share them with you LEARN MORE

ABOUT BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL

Discover the foundation behind this incredible no-strings-attached opportunity LEARN MORE

ABOUT ISRAEL OUTDOORS

Find out about the organization and  people who will be hosting you in Israel LEARN MORE

PRE-TRIP PREP

Get all you need to know to prepare for your Birthright Israel adventure LEARN MORE

SAFETY COMMITMENT

Our guiding priority is to organize safe, meaningful, and joyful travel journeys LEARN MORE

You'll be directed to the Birthright Israel site

YOU CAN ONLY GO ONCE

Here's why Israel Outdoors is the right choice for your Birthright Israel gift!

With so many dates, departure cities, and trip types, we offer the choice you seek

You'll spend less time on the bus and more time on the go experiencing Israel with all your senses!

PERSPECTIVES

Because we're 100% pluralistic & independent, you'll take what you want from the experience

RELIABILITY

Take comfort knowing you're supported by a team who cares about your wellbeing like family.

READ THE REVIEWS

We know you'll love an Israel Outdoors trip. But don't just take our word. Check out these real reviews from our travelers...

I heard so much about how amazing this trip was but it exceeded expectations. Do yourself a favor and go, it's well worth it. - David

I spent a week bonding with a group of incredible people, witnessed & experienced sights like nothing I've seen before! - Wilson

I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to travel with. I learned so much & walked away with 40 new friends! - Kendall

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Hillel International

Birthright israel trip.

Jewish students and young alums between the ages of 18-26 years old are eligible for a 10-day trip to Israel. Through Hillel: Birthright Israel, they’ll explore their Jewish identity in the Jewish homeland.

Applications are now open for Hillel: Birthright Israel trips for Summer 2024. Scroll down to browse all trip dates for campus and national trips. If you have any questions, please submit a help request or call  202-449-6695 .

More pre-trip information.

Find information about eligibility, how to apply, and frequently asked questions below.

Explore Your Heritage

Float in the salty waters of the Dead Sea. Embark on a sunrise hike through the desert. Pray at the ancient Western Wall. Go Jeeping in the Golan Heights. Long lasting memories…you don’t want to miss out.

Through Hillel: Birthright Israel, Jewish college students and young adults can explore different facets of their heritage.

If you have any questions about the Hillel: Birthright Israel trip,  submit a help request or call  202-449-6695 .

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This trip is a gift from birthright israel.

This trip is a gift from Birthright Israel. The gift of a Birthright Israel trip is made possible thanks to tens of thousands of donors including individual donors and foundations, and alumni and their families that support Birthright Israel Foundation in the United States as well as the people of Israel through the Government of Israel, and Jewish communities and Federations around the world.

Summer Registration

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Thousands of people choose MAYANOT for their Birthright Israel trip each year for good reasons. We spare no expense to give you the experience of a lifetime! We are all about creating memories.

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This trip is a gift from Birthright Israel.

The gift of  a Birthright Israel trip is made possible thanks to tens of thousands of donors including individual donors and foundations, and alumni and their families that support Birtright Israel Foundation in the United States as well as the people of Israel through the Goverment of Israel and Jewish communities and Federations around the world. 

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Summer 2024 trip dates are 6/2 - 6/10

FAQ from Birthright

Birthright Israel is an innovative partnership between Jewish communities around the world and the people of Israel, providing the gift of peer-group, educational trips to Israel for Jewish young adults ages 18 to 26. It is made possible with the support of the Government of Israel, private philanthropists, and thousands of donors worldwide.

The Tufts Birthright Experience

We help students develop personal connections and explore Israel’s deep religious and spiritual significance—and its history, languages, cultures, politics, and connection to Jewish tradition. And through our role as a convener, we encourage students with divergent views to build bridges.

With the generous support of Boston’s Combined Jewish Philanthropies, Tufts Hillel is proud to offer Birthright Israel trips for eligible Tufts students and their friends. By going on Birthright Israel with Tufts Hillel, you can explore Israel with Israelis the whole time & experience Israel through the eyes of the locals. Float in the Dead Sea, hike in the desert, wander the streets of Tel Aviv, & so much more this winter by applying now!

These trips are staffed by our own campus professionals, and we work to customize the itinerary in order to provide Tufts students with a truly unique Birthright Israel experience.

Tufts Hillel provides this Campus Birthright Israel trip through Combined Jewish Philanthropies’ Israel  IACT initiative.  In addition to opportunities provided on the trip itself, IACT expands the Birthright Israel experience with excellent pre- and post-trip programming, and creates many opportunities for students to engage in Jewish life upon their return from Israel.

Our trips are also open to friends and family members of Tufts students. If they are eligible for Birthright Israel, friends from camp, from home, siblings, and cousins are welcome to join the Tufts Hillel trip! In order to save a spot together, make sure to apply today!

Our vibrant undergraduate program offers a wide range of programs including Shabbat, holiday, educational, cultural, social justice, social and Israel-related offerings that attract Jewish students from a broad range of Jewish backgrounds.

Birthright Israel Summer 2024

Applications are now open.

Trip dates: June 16-27, 2024

Click here to register:  http://hillel.org/trip/uwash

Why go with Hillel UW?

We focus on YOU. This trip is curated for UW students and the UW experience. You get to travel with other UW students and Hillel staff to make for the best possible experience both on and after the trip. We like to say the trip is just the beginning!

Birthright Israel is a not-for-profit organization providing the gift of  a 10 day educational group trip to Israel for Jewish young adults between the ages of 18 to 26. Today, Birthright Israel is the largest educational tourism organization in the world that has given over 750,000 journeys to the magical state of Israel.

Here’s a sample trip itinerary!

Want to know more? Check out the trip’s FAQ here.

Register here: http://hillel.org/trip/uwash

If you have any questions about the trip, email Ellie !

This trip is a gift from Birthright Israel. Taglit-Birthright Israel is an innovative partnership between the people of Israel through the Government of Israel, private philanthropists through the Birthright Israel Foundation and Jewish communities around the world (North American Jewish Federations, Keren Hayesod, and the Jewish Agency for Israel).

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Birthright ISrael

WashU Birthright is the premium choice of Birthright trips for students here at Washington University in St. Louis. Our goal at WashU Hillel is to help every student create and explore their individual connections to Israel. We have trips during both the winter and summer seasons, offering immersive experiences in Israel. 

Interested in going on Birthright Israel with us this summer? Start your application now to reserve a spot at Israel Outdoors!  

OUR UPCOMING DATES:

May 23 - June 2

All students are welcome to apply for the WashU Birthright Trip!

Create Your Own Israel Memories

After 23 years & sending more than 40,000 Jewish young adults across more than 1,000 groups on Birthright Israel programs, beginning on November 1, 2022, Shorashim - Israel with Israelis will no longer be offering Birthright Israel trips, as we move our focus to other passion projects within our Tailor Made trips to Israel department . 

We are grateful for all that we have gained from being a part of the Birthright Israel project & proud to have been a part of this important organization. If you are 18-26 &  eligible , don't miss your chance to experience Birthright Israel &  apply with another Birthright Israel organizer  today!

With our passion for immersive experiences and expertise in Israel educational programming, we are taking an exciting leap to expand our involvement in other projects.

What's next?

Learn more about our history & future as your true partner for immersive Israel experiences.

We are open to connect with other organizations & are ready for you to be a part of the big things we have in store!

 Don't hesitate to give us a call at (312) 267-0677 or email us at info @shorashim.org .

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The mission of Birthright Israel NEXT is to inspire all Taglit-Birthright Israel trip participants and their peers to expand their connections to the land and people of Israel, to deepen their personal commitments to Jewish life, and to find or form a community where Jewish responsibility, learning, and celebration thrive.

The mission of Birthright Israel NEXT is to inspire all Taglit-Birthright Israel trip participants and their peers to expand their connections to the land and people of Israel, to deepen their personal commitments to Jewish life, and to…

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The Two-Way

3 things you should know about birthright citizenship.

Eyder Peralta

Every few years, the common law concept of jus soli -- or birthright citizenship — comes back into the news.

This time, it was thrust onto the stage by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who just unveiled an immigration plan . One of his proposals is to stop automatically giving citizenship to most people born on U.S. soil. Rival GOP candidate Scott Walker issued a similar call .

The concept of jus soli has a storied history in the United States that dates to the late 1800s.

Here are three things that will bring you up to speed on the issue:

1. It's in the Constitution

The issue of citizenship was brought into focus by a Supreme Court ruling in 1857 that essentially declared that blacks — even the daughters and sons of freed slaves — were not U.S. citizens.

In 1868, the U.S. ratified the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution . The first sentence reads: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside."

That language made it clear the Supreme Court's ruling in the Dred Scott case was overturned and that black Americans would enjoy U.S. citizenship.

2. It still left some big, open questions

As we've explained in the past , there's one key clause in that sentence from the 14th Amendment — "subject to the jurisdiction thereof" — that left wiggle room for interpretation.

As a Congressional Research Service report from 2010 puts it, what that clause means has been the subject of great debate. Did it mean that the children born to Chinese immigrants — who were once under law not permitted to become naturalized citizens — conferred birthright citizenship? Did it include Native Americans born on sovereign reservations?

All those questions were eventually settled in the 1898 Supreme Court case United States v. Wong Kim Ark .

Essentially, the court said the common law concept of jus soli should be applied to the 14th Amendment. Congressional Research Service explains:

"The Court held that the Fourteenth Amendment affirmed the traditional jus soli rule, including the exceptions of children born to foreign diplomats, to hostile occupying forces or on foreign public ships, and added a new exception of children of Indians owing direct allegiance to their tribes. It further held that the 'Fourteenth Amendment ... has conferred no authority upon Congress to restrict the effect of birth, declared by the Constitution to constitute a sufficient and complete right to citizenship' and that it is 'throughout affirmative and declaratory, intended to allay doubts and settle controversies which had arisen, and not to impose any new restrictions upon citizenship."

In other words, the 14th Amendment excludes children born to diplomats or hostile occupying forces and those born on foreign public ships.

Those are some very narrow restrictions that most legal scholars agree do not exclude the children of illegal immigrants from receiving automatic citizenship. To be clear, it means that current jurisprudence indicates the U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants are given citizenship by the 14th Amendment.

As for Native Americans, the court ruled that the amendment did not confer birthright citizenship to those born on reservations, because they are not technically subject to U.S. jurisdiction. As Congressional Research Service reports, the Nationality Act of 1940 "finally and unambiguously declared all Native Americans born in the United States to be U.S. citizens."

3. Birthright citizenship is a New World philosophy

As University of California, San Diego sociologist John Skrentny told NPR in 2010 , the U.S. is an anomaly in the world when it comes to this issue.

Most of the rest of the world, for example, gives people citizenship based on a concept known as jus sanguinis, literally "by right of blood."

"The idea there is that the nation, the people are bonded together through ancestry," Skrentny said. "The other notion of nationhood is generally understood as a civic notion of nationhood. And this is the idea that folks are bonded together by where they are, by locality and by the ideas that they might share. And that's what we have in the United States. There are folks who say that, you know, to be an American is to embrace an idea."

It is, Skrentny added, a philosophy that works well for countries made up of immigrants, such as the U.S. and Canada.

In 2012, the Law Library of Congress took a comprehensive look at France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain and the U.K. and found that none of those countries automatically give citizenship to children born to undocumented immigrant parents.

The Center for Immigration Studies, which tends to favor more restrictive immigration policies in the U.S., took a worldwide look at the issue in 2010 and found that "only 30 of the world's 194 countries grant automatic citizenship to children born to illegal aliens."

Here's a map of their findings:

A map showing countries that grant birthright citizenship to children born to illegal immigrants. Center for Immigration Studies hide caption

A map showing countries that grant birthright citizenship to children born to illegal immigrants.

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best travel insurance

We've just signed up for one of Rick's tours next summer, and want to purchase supplemental travel insurance (which, according to the emails we've received, we may need to purchase within 2 weeks of signing up for the tour...so asap). Obviously a lot can come up between now and next summer, but our primary concern is that we have elderly parents. While one is in excellent health right now, and the other has no critical health issues, their health is the "unforeseen circumstance" we worry about most. Does anyone have suggestions for reliable trip insurance that would cover us in case something should happen to a relative at home (or suggestions for insurance to stay away from?) Also, does anyone have experience when it comes to definitions of "pre-existing conditions" of non-traveling family members? One of our elderly parents has alzheimers. While this is a pre-existing condition, she has had it for years and lives in a care facility where her needs are met should a non-life threatening problem arise. Is there insurance we can purchase that will cover us in case something happens to her that forces us to cancel or cut short our trip? Thanks for any suggestions/advice on this!

First off, travel insurance is a very broad term so you will need to read the fine print very carefully. Second, insuring a third party (your parents) who is not involved in the travel is very difficult. You probably need a policy that allows you to cancel for any reason. Harder to find and much more expensive. Most polices will be defined risk. In other words, they spell out the reasons acceptable for cancellation. Sick parents are often not included. Check policies at Insuremytrip.com and squaremouth.com

Ruth, I just pulled our latest Travel Guard "Gold Policy." With the disclaimer that policies may vary by state (various state laws/insurance commissioner requirements), here is the Trip Cancellations and Interruption language as it relates to sickness of a mother/father (not traveling with you): 2) If the Insured must cancel or interrupt his/her Trip due to Injury or Sickness of a Family Member not traveling with the Insured, it must be because their condition is life-threatening, as certified by a Physician or because they require the Insured's care. As the other posters mentioned, be sure to read the policies you are considering WORD FOR WORD and be sure you understand them. Call the insurance company a couple of times and ask the same question to be sure you get matching answers. We always buy the Gold Plan with Travel Guard (and we did have a claim that was paid quickly and smoothly) because it allows cancellation for need to work (and that was why we had to cancel a trip). For medical claims, be prepared to send in lots of documentation from all the doctors involved, showing date of diagnosis, etc. You often cannot find the complete policy language on a trip insurer's web site, but you can request that they send it to you (and it comes quickly by email). If you cannot get policy language ahead of time, don't buy. You are smart to buy insurance within the first two weeks of your deposit.....things happen!! And, be sure to insure every single non-refundable dollar you pay out...down to the last penny to insure any pre-existing conditions are covered. Miss it by one dollar, and they will deny the claim!!!!! So, don't self-insure even a dollar if pre-existing conditions are a concern.

The best insurance is one that you don't use. That said, get and read the fine print. Especially the exclusions. You only need insurance for what you cannot afford to write off, or pay for if the unfortunate event comes to be. For me, the big ticket item is medical evacuation insurance. For that, I have bought the lowest cost Basic Travel Guard. I can afford to write off prepaid air and ground cost, but paying for an intercontinental staffed medical evacuation flight would hurt almost as much as the triggering event. The purpose of any insurance is to share risk. The administrative cost burden and profit make insurance a losing bet against the house but a necessity IF you can not afford the consequences. My Dad, a former insurance agent told me re car insurance, you don't need collision if you can afford to buy a replacement car. But you cannot afford to be without liability. Basic, Silver or Gold or no insurance, your choice.

Thank you, Edgar, for putting it so succinctly. As I have said several times earlier, responses to insurance questions along the lines of, "I've never bought it and never had a problem;" and illogical and unhelpful. Ruth's issues are very special, and she needs to read the fine print carefully and maybe even get a lawyer to read it. My inclination would be to search for a policy, if such exists, that has no clause about pre-existing conditions of non-traveling family members.

While prepaid travel can have no refund rules, rescheduling MAY be a possibility. Rescheduling may require a rebooking fee but is not necessarily a complete write off. You may want to ask the RS agency about rescheduling policy. United Airlines Contract of carriage reads in part: "If you have purchased a restricted ticket, depending on the rules applicable to the fare paid, one or more restrictions including, but not limited to one or more of the following, may apply to your travel: (1) the ticket may not be refundable but can be exchanged for a fee for another restricted fare ticket meeting all the rules/restrictions of the original ticket (including the payment of any difference in fares); (2) a fee may apply for changing/canceling reservations; or (3) travel may be restricted to specific flights and/or times and minimum and/or maximum stay may be required."

If at all possible, add the "theft" clause. We were pick pocketed in Paris, and though i had trip cancellation insurance, the theft portion was not specifically included.

Not sure you can get insurance for pickpocketing BUT the best and cheapest insurance is a properly worn and used money belt. After that your homeowner's insurance and sometimes car insurance would probably cover theft of a camera or backpack.

I purchased a policy through Travelex once and Allianz several times, but I’ve never had to file a claim. I believe you will be covered in your situation if you buy the right plan. Allianz, for example, will pay if you need to change/cancel for yourself, a traveling companion, or a family member’s pre-existing condition when you buy the right plan with change/cancellation coverage. Many insurers will offer similar…you need to compare on-line and/or call a human being. Don’t just settle for the quick list of bullet points, read the certificate of insurance (contract) before you buy. If it’s not readily available on-line, call and ask that it be e-mailed to you…they’ll do it. You don’t need to be an attorney…it’s not that complicated. This type of coverage must typically be purchased within 14 days of buying your trip, as you seem to already know. One other important thing…change/cancelation policies have a lot of restrictions. They typically won’t pay out at 100%, and there are rules on when you can change/cancel relative to your departure date and still get reimbursed. Just read everything carefully first so you know for sure what’s covered and what’s not.

The best way to clarify what's covered would be to call the Insurance firm that provides the policy for RS tour members. They'll be able to tell you what they consider "pre-existing conditions for non-travelling family members". If you find that the suggested travel insurance provider isn't able to provide the coverage you need, you could always look at other firms. You might also find it helpful to speak with a Travel Agent or local insurance firm in your area.

As far as theft from pickpockets, you'll be provided with Moneybelts as part of your tour package. If you find the waist style uncomfortable, check a local travel store or Magellans for neck wallets and other models.

Which tour are you taking?

Happy travels!

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