Taglit-Birthright Israel, which has sponsored free 10-day trips to Israel for young people who had never traveled there with a group, has changed its policy. The free trips are now available to young adults who have visited Israel on a peer-group trip before they were 18. This policy change makes it possible for participants in JCC Maccabi Israel programs to take advantage of the free trip when they are older. Former participants in any Israel group travel program are now eligible to join JCC Association’s new and exciting JCC Professionals Birthright trip to Israel (as well as more unique programs coming up soon).
“If Birthright eligibility was an issue in the past and kept you or your teens’ parents from offering an Israel teen trip in your community, your teens now get a second chance to experience Israel through a different lens, on our amazing JMI teen trips to Israel,” said Ido Medan-David, program director, JCC Maccabi Israel.
The goal and the effect of the policy change is to encourage communities and individuals to plan Israel trips for teens before college, enable them to experience Israel through multiple programs, and make them more-informed advocates for the Jewish State. Beginning with the Summer 2014 registration that opens on Feb. 19, applicants between the ages of 18-26 who had made a prior visit to Israel on an organized peer trip before they reached the age of 18 years old may now apply.
For more information about planning a JMI trip to Israel for your teens, please contact Ido Medan-David, program director, JCC Maccabi Israel, JCC Israel Center at: [email protected]
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