Still decide: we are going to Israel in 2017
Israel is an amazing country that has long sunk into the soul of our editorial staff. Therefore, we could not pass by the free ten-day educational trip to Israel "Taglit". We explain on our fingers what kind of journey it is and how to become a participant in it.
(11 photos in total)
What is Taglit and who will they take with them
This is a free educational ten-day trip to Israel. Representatives of Jewish youth from all over the world are taken on the trip. Young people aged 18-26 who have at least a quarter of Jewish roots can apply for participation.
Translated from Hebrew, the name means "discovery". In fact, the program was created precisely for this — the participants experience a complete immersion in the culture, geography and history of the country.
A deposit must be paid for participation in the program, which changes every year (in 2016 — $ 55). The participant receives the money back when he returns from the Promised Land.
What does "Jewish roots" mean and how to understand if you have them
Among the mandatory conditions is compliance with the Law on Return, that is, it is necessary to have a direct relationship to Jewry. If your grandmother was Jewish, then, according to the rules, you have the right to apply for a place in the group.
What do the participants get
In 10 days, the guys manage to travel the country literally up and down: they go to the desert to the Bedouins, come to prayer at the Wailing Wall, go to the border with Syria, swim in the sea. One of the mandatory parts of the program is a visit to the Holocaust Museum and the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve.
Along with historical culture, they learn about modern culture. Participants will definitely get into the night bars of Tel Aviv, in those places where sleeping and being sad is almost a crime.
For a few days, local guys who have been living or born in Israel for a long time join the group. Some of them serve in the army. So the "newcomers" have the opportunity to better explore the country and its unique people.
During the trip, participants will learn about other programs for young Jews. After Taglit, they often radically change their lives: they open their own business or finally allow themselves to do more creative work. According to the organizers, many trips lead to weddings and, without exception, to a strong friendship between the guys.
How will the trip help your career?
In recent years, participants can choose a program based on their interests:
Taglit for doctors is focused on the professional activities of young doctors and students of medical universities.
Taglit Start-UP is for young professionals in the field of IT, exact sciences, management and business.
Taglit Extreme is ideal for athletes and lovers of an active lifestyle.
Taglit Art Mix — photographers, designers and in general everyone who is interested in art should go on such a trip.
When is the next "Taglit"?
Participants are sent to Israel twice a year — in summer and in winter. The next shift will take place this summer. You can register by following the link. In fact, summer and winter programs differ only in temperature. In summer it is hot and you need to drink a lot of water, the temperature is from 30 to 50, in winter — from 10 to 30. There are seven climatic zones in Israel, and during the trip it is felt. There are practically no differences in the program.
Israel is the only State whose people have survived two thousand years of exile. In 1947, the UN announced the division of western Palestine into two independent states — Jewish and Arab. The modern democratic state appeared in 1948, when David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the creation of the independent State of Israel. After that, the country's borders were opened for immigration. In four years, they were crossed by a million Jews from all over the world, who finally returned to their state.
Taglit was invented by Jewish philanthropists Michael Steinhardt and Charles Bronfman in 1999. Later, they involved other partners in the project, including the Jewish Agency ("Dry"), many Jewish communities around the world and private investors.
The program provides an opportunity for young Jews living outside Israel to join their history and heritage. Michael and Charles wanted to support and develop their Jewish identity, introduce them to the life of their native country.
The first Taglit groups arrived in 1999 from the USA. The Russians went to Israel a few months later.
What do the participants of the trip think
"In addition to unforgettable positive emotions, I received a huge amount of knowledge, inexhaustible experience and the opportunity to feel part of Jewish history, people, nation" (Ksenia Abramova, participant of the program).
"It was a journey that can be safely included in my personal book of the best adventures in life" (Leonid Orlov, participant of the program).
"Before Taglit, I never thought that I would do charity work. I have always admired those who are involved, but I did not relate myself to them in any way. And something happens on the trip. You come across the right people who say the right words and offer projects that you would not have thought of before. Upon returning from Israel, my newly acquired friend and I began to actively engage in a Jewish orphanage, put on performances with children, do lessons, conduct master classes. And it was amazing. Ten days filled with sunshine and emotions, discoveries, acquaintances and important realizations" (Evgenia Kuzmina, participant of the program).
Keywords: Jews | Israel | Summer | Youth | Partner post | Trip