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Last update - 22:38 28/05/2008 'We want the non-committed Jews' By Ruth Schuster Tags: Taglit-Birthright  Free trips to Israel? That's exactly what Taglit-Birthright Israel was born to provide, it appears. But program co-founder Charles R. Bronfman isn't dismayed by the hordes of kids who see the program as a vehicle for a free vacation. On the contrary. "I think that's great. That's our target market. We weren't after the committed Jews. Nobody needs to use public money on people who are already committed," he says gleefully. "The people we wanted were those who were not committed. The only thing that would get them to Israel is a free trip. Then Israel does its magic, and all of a sudden they change as human beings." That isn't just a gut feeling of an overly fond founder. Not only American but ? to the surprise of the program organizers - Israeli "graduates" of Taglit-Birthright Israel attest that, whether they expected it or not, after the mere ten-day experience, they were changed people. "I wanted to find a way to come to Israel as often as possible, and didn't have the budget," admits Kim Worly, an Ohioan who made aliya at age 28 and joined the army. An Israeli, Captain S. who married a woman he met through Taglit-Birthright Israel, feels that accompanying the groups of young Diaspora Jews brought him into touch with his own Zionism. Advertisement Bronfman has actual statistics, courtesy of a study by the Maurice and Marilyn Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University, attesting to the change that Taglit-Birthright Israel brings to its participants' lives: 92% of the respondents said it's the best trip they ever had in their life, he says. The study also found that before traveling, 38% of respondents said they felt "very much" of a connection to the Jewish people. Three months after the trip, that figure had nearly doubled to 64%, and remained largely unchanged a year later. The change was clearly more than skin-deep. "Their commitment to Israel and feelings of belonging to the Jewish people, which are two very important things, are astonishing. The numbers are astonishing," Bronfman says in conversation with Haaretz. The Bronfman clan made their fortune from the liquor and media business, but septuagenarian patriarch Charles isn't in business any more. Born in June 1931, he's retired and devotes his energies to philanthropy, much of which targets Israel and the Jewish community at large. Taglit-Birthright Israel, which he founded together with fellow business baron Michael Steinhardt in the year 2000, is explicitly not an engine for aliya, though that is a not-rare outcome for participants of the trips. It is primarily a program to connect young Jews, who are becoming increasingly assimilated into their Diaspora communities, to Israel and - no less, to their own Jewish communities. It all began when Israeli politician Yossi Beilin had the idea of giving a voucher to all 17-year olds to travel to Israel, Bronfman explains. "He talked to me about it and also talked to Mr. Steinhardt. I asked Mr. Beilin where he would get the money from. He said the Jewish Agency. I said it wouldn't happen. "So when Mr Steinhardt and I talked about it, I said, Michael, it won't happen that way. I said sending people to Israel was a great idea, let's see how we can do it. We started talking and a year later were ready to go together to the Government of Israel and philanthropists in other communities to try to get the funding." To date, all Israeli governments have supported the project, starting from then prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was willing to support the project financially, to his successor Ehud Barak, who was the first Israeli premier to publicly fund an educational program for Diaspora youth, and through prime ministers Sharon and Olmert who considered Birthright Israel the flagship of Zionist educational projects in the Jewish world. "It began with Beilin's dream and then Steinhardt and Bronfman took over the dream and made it something feasible. A lot of people didn't think it was possible. It had many naysayers. Ten days in Israel can't do anybody any good, they said. It would be just a drop in the ocean, they said, the day schools are the important thing." Does he feel that his initial goal was achieved? "Unbelievably surpassed," Bronfman laughs. "We said our aim was to have 50,000 over a very long period of time. This year alone we expect 42,000. It's been more successful than we could have imagined in our wildest dreams." Based on its stunning success ? 165,000 participants from 53 countries, and growing - Bronfman and the founders want to increase the program even further, and include more participants from around the world, including Israel. Taglit-birthright Israel is designed to nurture a sense of Zionism. But some people feel that Zionism is a relic of the past, and has lost its relevance, notably former Knesset member Avraham Burg, who stirred up storm-waves with that very thesis. "Well, you see, I have a very different view of the world," Bronfman delicately rejects that viewpoint. "To me, in order to be a complete Jew, one must have an emotional and physical attachment to Israel. You must have visited Israel, met Israelis, must feel kinship, must feel that Israel is part of your life. There is 'emotionally felt' and 'physically felt'. I don't know if that's called Zionism or not. I'm not interested in labels. If you're Jewish, Israel must play a significant role in your life, whether you think of Israel every day or whether you think of it once a week or once a month." And no, he doesn't think that virtual visits are any substitute. With all due respect to the age of Internet and mass communications, not to mention the purported effect of mass air travel on climate change, the visits must continue, in Bronfman's view. "The Internet isn't going to do it. You have to be on the ground," he stresses. "You have to go to the [Western] Wall, to Masada, the Galil, experience being with Israelis. The highlight now of all Taglit-birthright Israel trips is the Mifgash [meeting] between Israelis, largely IDF soldiers in t-shirts and jeans, and the Diaspora participants, also in t-shirts and jeans." The issue of the actual physical meeting between the Israelis and the foreign Jews is key, Bronfman explains. The two groups typically spend at least half the trip ? five of the ten days - together. "Some trip organizers have the entire trip with Israelis. They really get to know each other and form fast friendships. The Israelis and the Diaspora people learn that the stereotypes are totally untrue. They get to know that there is so much in common between one Jew and another ? that is worth its weight in gold." Israeli participation benefits more than the American or French or Russian Jews: it benefits the Israeli soldiers too. To drive home the point, Bronfman notes that the Israeli army has set up a special unit to manage the relationship with Taglit-Birthright Israel. Today, more than 50% of the program's funding comes from private philanthropists. In 2007, Sheldon Adelson, said to be the wealthiest Jew in the world, donated $30 million to the project. This year the Adelson Family Charitable Foundation is donating $36 million, Bronfman says. The Israeli government continues to pay its third of costs, he says, but the sudden influx or private funds enabled Taglit-Birthright Israel to double the number of trips it provides. Perhaps recognizing the contribution to Israel itself, not only to world Jewry, the Israeli business community is increasingly standing behind the plan too. Last year alone, Israeli donors provided close to a million dollars for the Israeli end of the Mifgash, Bronfman says. Opinions are mixed about the state of philanthropy in Israeli culture, he acknowledges. He personally has no complaints. "I said at the last Jewish Funders Network meeting in Jerusalem, on a panel on that very subject, that contrary to a lot of people I think Israeli philanthropy is making great gains. Israel was born as a socialist country, but they're now giving to the community. I'm very proud of my Israeli cousins who are now doing a good job of philanthropy and will go a lot further. "I do not decry Israeli philanthropists. I think they're certainly more than beginners at the game. All of us are Jews and part of our culture, part of our DNA, is to give to those who are less fortunate than yourself. It's happening and will increase," Bronfman optimistically predicts. In general Bronfman is an optimist, which can be a refreshing view in these frightening days of climbing temperatures and violent markets. No panic-monger this man: he does not advocate for the world's talented youth to make a beeline for a trendy career in saving the world. "There is no 'silver bullet'," he says. "Young entrepreneurs should go anywhere they feel comfortable and confident. If you feel you're good at IT stuff, fine, go to IT, If you're good at high-tech, go to high-tech. If you're good at selling chocolate bars, sell chocolate bars. "Yes, the world is difficult and yet I don't think the glass is half empty. I think the glass is half full. I think so many people care about the environment, global warming, the state of the world economy ? we'll straighten it out. Therefore I think people ought to pursue their dreams." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Scuba SMS Ultrasonic sound wave technology revolutionizes underwater communication. 'Hip-hop violinist' Israeli violinist participates in New York event, celebrating Israel's 60th anniversary.   1.   Bronfman Is Correct 07:13  |  Yishai Kohen 29/05/08

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