Last update - 00:00 04/04/2007
Birthright program uses Adelson money to expand program
By Amiram Barkat, Haaretz Correspondent
Billionaire Sheldon Adelson donated $25 million to birthright Israel, a program that offers young Jews aged 18-26 an opportunity to visit Israel for 10 days for free. The contribution will enable another 23,500 young people to visit Israel. So far, as part of the program, 120,000 young Jews from 53 countries have visited Israel.
Two thirds of those participating in the program are from North America.
Sheldon and Miryam Adelson, whose net worth is estimated at $20 billion, announced the donation to birthright Israel in January, several weeks after making a similar donation to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial.
Sources at birthright Israel said that notwithstanding Adelson's contribution they are still missing funding that would allow thousands of young Jews to visit Israel.