Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., December 17, 2007 Tevet 8, 5768 | | Israel Time: 04:22 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File Hanukkah

A Birthright participant standing with two IDF soldiers at an event at Jerusalem's Sultan's Pool. (Kobi Gideon / Bau Bau) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 23:32 24/07/2007 Young Diaspora Jews to visit Israel in record numbers in 2007 By Amiram Barkat, Haaretz Correspondent A record number of young Diaspora Jews are expected to visit Israel in 2007 after Jewish-American billionaire Sheldon Adelson donated $25 million to the Birthright program, which provides free trips to Israel. According to Jewish Agency officials, some 60,000 Jewish youths are expected to visit Israel during 2007 on organized trips. This is a significant increase from the 30,000 people who took part in such trips in 2005, and the 35,000 who visited in 2006. The visits range in length from ten days to a full academic year. They are all within the framework of the Birthright, Masa and Israel Experience programs funded by the Jewish Agency, Jewish communities abroad and philanthropists. Advertisement Jewish Agency Youth Department Chairman Amos Hermon told Haaretz that the rise in the number of young Jews visiting Israel was completely unexpected in light of the Second Lebanon War last summer, rumors of another war this summer and the decrease in aliya - Jewish immigration to Israel - over the past few years. Hermon noted that the Birthright program registered the sharpest growth in numbers as a result of the $25 million donation from Sheldon Adelson, which allowed 35,000 Jews raging in age from 18 to 26, to join the free 10-day trip. The Jewish Agency's Masa program - aimed for students wishing to study in Israel for a semester or a year - is expected to grow from 5,000 participants in 2006 to 8,000 participants in 2007. The Israel Experience program for teenagers visiting Israel over the summer is expected to grow from some 13,000 participants to 17,000. Bookmark to del.icio.us No rights The gov't won't grant rights to Palestinians west of fence, according to a report. Right to a child The Welfare Min. is launching a policy that would allow single-sex families to adopt.   1.   Recommendation 22:37  |  MichaelF 24/07/07   2.   Adelson = A Real Jewish Hero 23:08  |  Tod Zuckerman 24/07/07   3.   Birthright? 23:23  |  Mark 24/07/07   4.   MASA, Lies, Lies, nothing but lies 23:38  |  tax payer 24/07/07   5.   Birthright 23:52  |  Yonatan 24/07/07   6.   Best Chinese Restaurant in the World in Jerusalem 23:54  |  Eater 24/07/07   7.   The brain-washing tour 23:55  |  Hannah 24/07/07   8.   3 cheers for Masa, Adelson and birthright 00:11  |  BB 25/07/07   9.   "Birthright" 01:09  |  Maureen Ann 25/07/07   10.   congratulations 01:10  |  J 25/07/07   11.   Believe It! 01:19  |  Eli 25/07/07   12.   Maureen Ann 01:30  |  Ryan 25/07/07   13.   Birthright changes lives 01:35  |  Gili 25/07/07   14.   Once the Zionists decided to flood historic Palestine with jews 01:40  |  lakshmi 25/07/07   15.   people unhappy with happy jews 01:55  |  yehoshua 25/07/07   16.   GO TO SUPREME COURT:RACIST BIRTHRIGHT MUST INCLUDE PALESTINIANS:) 02:27  |  VOICE:)))) 25/07/07   17.   #13, Gili 02:45  |  Hannah 25/07/07   18.   #11, Eli 02:57  |  Silvienne 25/07/07   19.   Hannah&Maureen Ann greetings! I have recommended that sincere 03:08  |  lakshmi 25/07/07   20.   LAKSHMI: IT`S A SIGHT TO BEHOLD 03:29  |  Brant 25/07/07   21.   MARK : Here`s the Birthright 03:32  |  Brant 25/07/07   22.   Only in Israel 03:44  |  Labhras 25/07/07   23.   To Israel-haters: 1 million Jewish refugees 03:47  |  Jewish Refugee 25/07/07   24.   #11, Silvienne 03:55  |  Eli 25/07/07   25.   It is Aborigines birthright to kick settler Maureen Ann out AU 04:31  |  Genuine Tosefta 25/07/07   26.   #24, Eli.... 08:24  |  Silvienne 25/07/07   27.   If Maureen Ann is honest explain your right to settle AU more ... 09:13  |  Genuine Tosefta 25/07/07   28.   Hannah&Maureen Ann greetings! I have recommended that sincere 12:59  |  lakshmi 25/07/07   29.   #28 Trees? Pals burned 16,500 acres in Israel in 2006 17:41  |  Gershon 25/07/07   30.   Maureen Ann, your birthright has to be Ireland or UK 20:17  |  Nicole 25/07/07   31.   That`s it I`m leaving 20:43  |  David 25/07/07   32.   Young Diaspora Jews to visit Israel in record numbers in 2007 03:49  |  Greg 30/07/07   33.   What other country? Well, Armenia... 04:16  |  Serge 17/12/07

Today Online Haniyeh tells Hamas rally: We will never recognize Israel Responses: 305 Zvi Barel: In the end, the IDF will go into the Gaza Strip Responses: 148 Qassam strikes Negev home; toddler lightly hurt Responses: 88 Ehud Asheri: Israeli Arabs are right to skip Israel's 60th Responses: 80 Was Hollywood's most famous censor an anti-Semite? Responses: 52 Rosner's Domain Without the Reform movement in Israel, there's no Reform movement Guest: Americans say there's no need nor point in creating Palestinian state Who believes in intelligence reports? So, Should American Jews have a voice in shaping Israel's policies? More Headlines 03:04 U.S. weighs plan to help Egypt block arms smuggling to Gaza 04:08 Senior U.S. official visits Israel to hold high-level talks on Iran 22:20 Report: Gov't won't grant rights to Palestinians west of fence 02:26 States attending PA donors' summit to urge Israel to remove W. Bank roadblocks 01:14 Top yeshivas sever ties with Jewish Agency program MASA 03:31 Shas says will block plan to allow gay couples adopt children 23:50 Prosecutors to charge Moshe Katsav's brother with sexual harassment 03:05 Qassam strikes Negev home; two-year-old toddler lightly hurt 20:30 2 years after appointment, Israel okays Greek Orthodox Patriarch 19:42 Beilin drops out of Meretz leadership race, throws support to MK Oron Previous Editions Select Day 16 dec 14 dec 13 dec 12 dec 11 dec 10 dec 09 dec 07 dec 06 dec 05 dec 04 dec 03 dec

Special Offers Advertisement Inbal Jerusalem Hotel Unbeatable rates at the finest hotel in Jerusalem Invest in Macedonia New Business Heaven in Europe Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt. Holiday Inn and Crown Plaza Israel Lowest internet rate Guaranteed at ichotelsgroup.com !

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved