A burnt forest is not a pleasant sight to see, but that is exactly what greeted a Taglit-Birthright Israel: Shorashim/JNF group from the U.S. on Tuesday, July 6, when they went to work in a forest near Beit Shemesh in the Lower Judean Plain where a major forest fire broke out during the last week of June, destroying 300,000 trees in over 3,000 dunams (750 acres) of man-planted forests and natural woodlands.
General registration for Summer 2010 trips will open February 17 at noon EST (February 16 for previously-registered applicants). By entering your information on our mailing list, you can now sign up to receive advance notification as well as tips on how to increase your chances to recieve a space on a program Taglit-Birthright Israel trip this summer.
Spaces fill quickly, be sure to register as soon as possible.
At its semi-annual trip organizer's meeting on September 2, 2009, Taglit-Birthright Israel recognized Shorashim's outstanding acheivement in the area of mifgash, encounter between North American Jews and Israeli peers. The award is part of a new program initiated by Taglit-Birthright Israel to identify trip organizers who show outstanding quality in their programs.
You know how every job has its busy times and slow times? After Labor Day, one of Shorashim’s two busiest times of the year begins. Our phones ring off the hook and our necks stiffen as we answer them. We swim through our inboxes racing to answer emails. Our fingers sprint to chat with 18 to 26 year olds across the country (and their parents).
Attention alumni and friends: Over the years, Shorashim has sent thousands of participants on the Taglit-Birthright Israel program. Now we need your help to pass the gift forward!
We want you to be a Shaliach (that's Hebrew for Ambassador) because only you know the importance of traveling with Israeli peers. With Shorashim, Israeli peers participate for the full length of the program. Do not let your friends travel on trips where the Israelis that "show you Israel" are the hired tour guides. Shorashim is truly "Israel with Israelis!"
Shorashim is proud to announce that in cooperation with the Combined Philanthropies of Boston (CJP), we will be the select provider for Brandeis University, Tufts University, Harvard University, University of Massachusetts/Amherst, Northeastern University, and M.I.T. Students at these campuses will be given preferential preferential access to programs that travel during their winter breaks.
Registration for Winter 2009/10 trips will open at the beginning on September 9 (September 8 for previously-registered applicants). By entering your information on our mailing list, you can now sign up to receive advance notification of the opening of registration, and details on how to secure your space on a program this summer.
Spaces will fill very quickly, be sure to register very early.
For the first time, Shorashim will be offering a Taglit-Birthright Israel Trip in October. The trip will be a JNF Israel Adventure - Graduate/Professional program with a tentative departure of October 12.
Noah Bronfeld participated in one of Shorashim’s Chicago Community Taglit-Birthright Israel trip this past winter. Below is a letter from his parents which is excerpted from the latest print issue of JUF News and is also available online.
This trip is a gift from Taglit-Birthright Israel and covers round-trip airfare plus ten days of educational programming in Israel. Any Jewish youth, 18-26 (post high-school), who has never been to Israel on a peer-group program is eligible to apply.