av8rmike

Welcome to the birthright israel family! You are joining over 11,000 participants this summer and over 60,000 alumni from around the world who have also been recipients of the birthright israel gift -- that is over 70,000 over the last five years! The gift of the 10-day trip is being provided by our partners: the people of Israel through the Government of Israel, North American Jewish Federations through the United Jewish Communities (UJC), and leading private philanthropists. Please take a few minutes to learn more about our partners, especially your local Jewish Federation, which is your gateway to community involvement, continued learning and leadership opportunities.

We are very excited to have you along this Spring/Summer and want to help you get ready for your trip. On our website, www.birthrightisrael.com you will find suggested packing lists, a Virtual Tour of Israel and some travel Hebrew lessons to get you started.

I have to say, I'm really nervous about this. I haven't even told my mom yet, and believe me, I'm not looking forward to that conversation! But I'm also excited. I'm 26 now, which as some of you may know, is the cut-off age for this tour. This is, for all intents and purposes, my last chance to go to Israel, at least for free.