I'm Jewish and nobody and ever offered me a free trip to Israel! Who told you this?

Okay, I don't have a facebook account to log into it. (I'm also well past the age). But I'm sure there it a catch to it. Nothing is totally free. If something sounds too good to be true, it is too good to be true.

Pretty sure it’s legit. I’ve read about it before.

It may be legit, but I don't think it is totally free. Like I said, I'm sure there is a catch to it somewhere.

I'll ask around (in my Jewish community of friends) and report back on it in a few days.

Wife is Jewish, it’s totally free. I’m honestly amazed that you could be Jewish and not know about this - it’s called “birthright”.

She spent a month in Israel, flights paid for, lodging paid for, transportation and entertainment in country paid for.

You can’t go on birthright, but if you are Jewish, there are many organizations that will pay for your travel. I’m not Jewish, but my wife and I could go totally free.

As to the original post - this isn’t breaking news. Of course they want to allow every opportunity for their followers to meet, marry, and proliferate the faith. Every religion has some form of this, although probably not as lavish or well publicized.

I definitely know about the Birthright trip, but I wasn't aware it was totally free. My husband is Jewish too. Neither of us went on this trip. We've never been to Israel. We've never had a desire to go.

I know everything related to Israel is free, but I think you're on the hook for getting yourself to New York for the flight to Tel Aviv.

Okay. I checked into it a little bit more too. Also, you need spending money for the trip. Oh, and there is a LONG wait list. So even though you sign up, you might not get to go for a few years.

False, I signed up 2 months ago and just came back from mine. Also, can confirmed that the alcohol is most definitely NOT free and it’s also definitely NOT encouraged unless it’s after program hours and even then we were supposed to be responsible (i.e not black out drunk). If anyone is Jewish and reading this I recommend shorashim cause you get to be with the Israelis the whole time instead of part of the trip.

What country are you from? I think it depends on what country you are traveling from. I read that the USA has a big wait list.

USA, from Florida. Had to buy my own flight to jfk to join the el al flight to Ben Gurion in Tel Aviv

Oh, okay. Well, I guess I was misinformed on that. So glad it didn't take you long to go on the trip!

As a jew I recommend others NOT going and supporting a country committing war crimes to this day, and increasing settlements and forcing Palestinians into smaller and smaller ghettos. It's absolutely disgusting, and I work hard nearly every day to have more Jewish friends and family to watch the debate between two of the brightest Jewish scholars ever, Dershowitz and Chomsky https://youtu.be/3ux4JU_sbB0?t=221

Us Jews must be so bad at genocide cause all I see here are signs in Arabic AND Hebrew and of course the only middle eastern country where Jews and Arabs can coexist (what a coincidence that it’s the one where the Jews are in charge). But go ahead, keep on spreading bullshit about “your” people

https://youtu.be/3ux4JU_sbB0?t=3031 Please watch a couple minutes of this. Please. And respond to me. Noam Chomsky is more brilliant than both of us combined. Israel has a 10 minute super highway commute, Palestinians have a 2.5 hour+ path when it isn't rained out and impossible to use at all? That's SO racist.

Israel is a fucked up place and are breaking the geneva conventions as stated by the UN's world court. It isn't a place to go party if you are actually woke. Europeans don't have this problem because their media actually covers the truth about Palestine. https://youtu.be/3ux4JU_sbB0?t=221

Yes, I definitely know about the Birthright trip, just didn't know it was free.

I also looked more into it. There is a long wait list for the trip. So even if you sign up, you might have to wait a few years to go.

In addition to the waiting list, they can also just flat-out reject you. My brother signed up for it, they gave him a quick phone interview and didn't take him.

Really? Why? What did he say to them?

I have no clue. His guess was that either he wasn't Jewish enough (he never goes to temple) or wasn't pro-Israel enough.

Well, it is a good thing my two sons don't want to go on the Birthright trip then. Neither one of them goes to Temple regularly and they aren't pro-Israel either! LOL!

What about you? Did you go or did you want to go?

I never had enough free time to go. Most winter breaks and summers I was either working, taking classes, or studying for graduate placement tests. I know a ton of people who went, and I've heard mixed reviews. The major criticism I heard was that the schedule was super regimented, and they feel like they missed out on a lot of things. There was a lot of time spent in the places with a lot of Jewish religious and historical significance like Galilee, Jerusalem, the desert/Masada, etc, while very little time was spent in the more general tourist spots.

I know lots of people who have gone on this trip too. Most of them are more religious than we are. My boys (19 and 21) have never expressed a desire to go, so I never pushed it like the other families did.

Masada and Jerusalem are the touristy spots. Galilee is a beautiful lake that has no religious significance that I know of. And in the desert you smoke weed around a bonfire and ride camels. The schedule is regimented because there’s a lot to do and the timings are tight but it also depends on what type of group you go with, i.e I went with older kids ( no one under 19) and it was decently chill

Safed and Tiberias are actually hugely important cities in Jewish history. Safed was central in Kabbalistic development, while Tiberias was really big on Jewish law and rabbinical scholarship, including the writing of the Jerusalem Talmud.

The only requirement is a Jewish grandparent (same requirement the nazis Had to stuff you into an oven), below 32 and haven’t been to birthright yet.

The catch is that Birthrate trips are flooded with pro-Israel/anti-Palestine propaganda. It's a free trip to you, but they're getting more support for Israel in countries like the US.

Yeah, you are probably right! If they are giving you a free trip, then you are on their schedule and have to do what they want, etc. Meaning, they control what they show you and what you hear.

Nope, super wrong. Just came back from mine and there were actually surprisingly fair. I thought it was going to be similar to what you say but it’s a complicated situation there and they were very clear on how the violence is self-perpetuating on both sides.

Hm, I find that extremely hard to believe after talking to friends and family coming back from birthright trips. But you obviously have more experience firsthand than I do so I hope you're right!

Yeah, of course every trip/organization is different so it’s possible that your friends experiences are valid too. This is purely from my singular experience and it’s what I imagine other shorashim trips experience too.

Okay, I called another Jew and asked about this. Yes, it is a free trip. There are many other organizations that offer this too, not just the website you listed. I have definitely heard of the Birthright trip to Israel, I just never knew it was free! It is mostly for young adults, but some organizations offer it for all ages. You only need to take spending money and a little money for food at different times.

I'm an American Jew and married to an American Jew. Neither of us have been to Israel. Our two boys (who are old enough to qualify for this trip) have no desire to go to Israel either. So I guess that's why I didn't know all the details about it.

You should encourage them to go! It’s very rare in life to be able to travel for free. It’s a shame to be born, live and die within a 100 mi radius. Going out and exploring/experience can positively build character!

I disagree. There are a lot more positive places to visit, just because it's free doesn't mean it's right to validate a regime bent on eradicating Palestine. They could have truly had a two state solution in the 50s but chose expansionism over security. It's complete and utter madness as seen by any European. The blind support of Israel in the US is a US phenomenon. Please watch the debate with Dershowitz and Chomsky to have a global, objective view on this humanitarian crisis. Going and partying in Tel Aviv while you understand the disgusting conditions Palestinians are forced in will make your stomach hurt. You won't want to go visit anymore. https://youtu.be/3ux4JU_sbB0?t=221

And what did the Arabs choose when the decided to attack Israel all together? Did they want a two state solution at the time? The embarrassment of 48 and 67 (and 73) made them sore-as-fuck losers. The Israelis have given up more than they have ever really needed to. Way to eat up bullshit propaganda. Why don’t you come here, learn the history and see for yourself.

The debate between Dershowitz and Chomsky isn't propaganda, its all facts

https://youtu.be/3ux4JU_sbB0?t=3031 here's a fact. Is Palestinians in the west bank being forced into three walled banterstands? Or are they not? Are they being shrunk yearly? Completely Isolating them from East Jerusalem? And is the excuse always security? Are you really blind to all of this?

So what happened before there were walls and security? I can tell you, terrorist attacks, busses and restaurants exploding, knife intifadas. You’d want protection too against shit like that.

You should know that their goal was never coexistence, it was always driving the Jews into the sea. The Jews at least can live with coexistence, and for that they have my support, even if the orthodox can be absolute douches at times (even killing their own peace seeking leaders like rabin)

Do you have any idea of the past? Do you know what the Nabka was? Seriously? You sound so hypocritical, it's disgusting. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Palestinian_exodus

Is this what coexistence looks like? Are you really this uneducated? The palestinians were abused, beaten, physical and psychologically for over a decade before "terrorism" started. They were peaceful before, but Israel chose expansion over security. You are pretty much brainwashed though so it's hard to respect the half-truths you tell.

Did you even read the article? It says “during the 1948 war”, which the fucking Arabs started? Stop for a second and think a bit.

You are completely white washing history. Who razed and destroyed 700 Palestinian villages? It was completely disproportionate and disgusting which forced the Arabians hands. Sorry you don't like history and that your people committed crimes against humanity. Let me guess you didn't watch the video I gave you

Not gonna watch a video, but I’ll read shit you link me. Link me something that proves that the Jews came in a destroyed 700 villages for shits and giggles please and you’ll get to be the one who changed my mind, hooray!

The Arabs saw a chance and decided to try to take Israel for themselves. They failed, and again, and again (and again). They’re the ones who supposedly had disproportionate power (5 countries attacked at once in 48, remember?) and lost. Alls fair in love and war my friend.

You won't watch a debate at Harvard university between two Jewish scholars? No all is not fair that's what the UN is for

Where did you go? You ended with some dumbass example of "all is fair in war"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Palestine_war

How about you learn something about your people? Refusing to watch a debate between scholars. I can show you atrocities but then you will just fail to respond. It's like you're waiting for me to spout insults at you so you can dismiss everything. The persecution complex lmao

I don’t give a fuck about what chomsky says fool. I’ve studied his contributions to CS and I know of his important contributions to linguistics, but not one person is intelligent in all topics. I told you already what I wanted. Either respond to my specific points, give me what I want or fork off. You’re refusing to argue in good faith. Mention that stupid video again and I’m done, I’m not wasting my time watching something. I wanna read it

Lol ok. Pathetic excuses but do you want me to transcribe the debate? Israel chose expansion over security and began in 1946. If only the war turned out differently

You have no idea about how contributions to political discourse or his books or his repeated references to Israeli scholars. You can't win so you turn away lmao

Okay so you admit you can’t find any literature explaining your viewpoint that I’m interested in reading? I want to see it from your point of view.

To me expansion isn’t a bad thing, both Arabs and Jews have a right to do it, peacefully and with respect to their environment (mindful of water usage mostly).

So controlling the water resources and shrinking the banterstands, so Palestinians slowly are eradicated? That's a good thing? How can I just link you a book while you refuse an actual deep debate? You're blind as fuck. I can quote alot of shit but it would be more useful for you to watch the fucking you conniving shitbag

“Eradicated.” They eradicate themselves when they wage war and commit terrorist attacks. If Jews are so impossible to live with there’s a bunch of countries bordering Israel that are all like-minded (that’s if they haven’t been pounded into submission and embarrassment). I’m done with you. All you do is insult instead of trying to add to the conversation.

Try this video if you fucking love videos so much.

https://youtu.be/VyDNXAqJf2k

Israel is not going anywhere kid. And visiting here for the first time has actually made me more proud to be part of a nation than all my years in the United States where oranges are president, cops can’t wait to kill dark skinned people (and will sit idly by when kids are getting killed), and having more things determines a persons worth.

Have fun with it all, I’ll be here doing science with a society that actually values education.

And hopefully one day the rest of the arabs will learn the same lesson in modesty that Egypt had to get hit in the head with.

The geneva accords happened and were agreed upon by the entire world except for US and Israel, and then Israel called it off. You are the one eating up propaganda. Take a trip down the Palestinian paths you hateful fuckhead.

Wait, how do you call off something you don’t agree to? Any source on this. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneva_Initiative_(2003) doesn’t mention any of what you just mentioned.

You might be confused about the two state solution proposed pre-1948. That was completely untenable as neither side had a contiguous area to call their home.

Hateful is a strong word. You might be surprised to learn that I don’t support borders or states. In fact, I’d prefer that humanity be united and on it’s way to expanding across the stars. With that in mind, I think the Jewish cause is more conducive to that goal than the Palestinian one.

I wanna see you take a trip down some Palestinian paths. Let’s see how long it takes for them to hold you ransom for the release of a 1000 jailed terrorists.

Non-Mobile link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneva_Initiative_(2003)

^{HelperBot v1.1 /r/HelperBot_ I am a bot. Please message /u/swim1929 with any feedback and/or hate. Counter: 194025}

" I never could understand why Zionists destroyed my life and that of millions of other Palestinians or how this crime was portrayed as a victory of civilization and the fulfilment of Divine Will. "

It's free, as long as you're half jewish, but I applaud you for not buying into it. It's a disgusting practice to protect their "identity" and Israel is currently breaking geneva conventions and committing and long-term genocide of Palestinians since the late 1940s. Just look at Noam Chomsky vs Alan Dershowitz

Well, My husband and I have never felt drawn to Israel, like other Jews seem to be. So not so much "buying into it", but just don't feel a connection. We don't have any relatives from there. Our families have been in America since the 1800s. So we are American.

Good. If you like to know more about why it's imperative to not support Israel please watch this debate, but it's heady so I understand if you don't https://youtu.be/3ux4JU_sbB0?t=221

Great the last thing we need is more Ashkenazi Jews. Is Israel going to provide the 20% of them that go nuts mental health support?

I’m 50% Japanese 25% Irish and 25% Ashkenazi Jewish and 25% of me is a menacing cunt and I can’t help but know why until I learned about my heritage later in life lol

I'm truly sorry that you hate yourself so much?

Not sure what else you can say to a statement like that.

lol I don’t hate myself it’s just that there’s a part of me that is a manipulative, greedy kike.. the majority of me is a loving human who wants nothing but the best for his neighbors and I have to consciously make an effort not to be a snakey jay E double u

Please go see a doctor. You’re thinking is delusional.

You actually have a pretty interesting mix.

It actually is pretty awesome lol not gonna lie the gains in the gym make me a natural born lifter lol

My old college roommate went on the trip in the early 2000’s. They also had mossad security guards that went with them everywhere . She was a non practicing Jew who wanted to reconnect with her roots after her dad died. She didn’t like the security guards touring with them though .

Ethan and Hila from H3H3 productions on youtube and twitch talk about this a lot. They met when he was on birthright. They joke about how they paraded all these young military ladies aroind them in hopes of snagging them amd having them move.

Hasn't anyone called out this clear agenda to make Israel more populous with Jews from the USA and Europe (usually Ashkenazi)?

I don't really see your question? They are open that their entire goal is to get Jews to live in Israel. This post is like calling out Mormons who send their kids to knock on people's doors.

Love it or hate it, it's not subversive tactics. They're open about their agenda.

Also, hedonism is not promoted by the organizations, it's actually discouraged. Overt drinking/sex/drugs will get you kicked off the trip with no help on getting home.

The kids are the ones who naturally are psyched to party hard as it's a free vacation in a new country where the legal drinking age is 18.

Agreed. It's like Mormons paying for schooling if you go to the Mormon schools.

How is this a conspiracy? They say outright that they want more Jews in Israel! One way of gaining more Jews in Israel is to have more kids. That's just common sense, not a conspiracy.

Of course they do.

Yeah, of course they do, what's your point? LMAO

Because its based on religion, which gets a pass. Israel is fucked up. I tell Jews not to go, even if it is free, because Israel needs to be held accountable and forced to STOP settlements and give land BACK to Palestine, and they will only be forced if we stop giving them 3 BILLION a year for NOTHING.

you know what a condom is right? wanna share a stat on how many children have been conceived on a birthright trip? Your premise is pretty absurd.

remember when they called germany's economic revolution the worst thing to ever happen on earth? it's the same people

Pretty sure it’s legit. I’ve read about it before.

The catch is that Birthrate trips are flooded with pro-Israel/anti-Palestine propaganda. It's a free trip to you, but they're getting more support for Israel in countries like the US.

Please go see a doctor. You’re thinking is delusional.