Birthright Israel - Itinerary

Itinerary

Registration is conducted twice a year, in the winter and summer, and during each round there are thousands more applicants than spaces available. Trips are conducted throughout most of the year.

A Taglit-Birthright Israel trip includes airfare from major cities, hotel accommodation, most meals, security, all transportation within Israel, and other costs associated with touring the country during the ten-day trip.

Tours travel throughout the country to religious and cultural sites, including in Jerusalem, the Western Wall, and the Dead Sea. Trips also often include a Mega Event, which unites thousands of participants from around the world together with Israelis for a celebration featuring speeches by dignitaries and musical performances.

A major feature of the tours is a 5-10 day mifgash (Hebrew for encounter) with Israeli peers, usually soldiers serving in the Israel Defense Forces, who join the tour. The purpose for the mifgash is for the participants and the soldiers to get to know each other and to better understand each other's world view and Jewish identity. Guided discussion sessions aim to explore such topics as the Jewish tradition in the modern world, how Jewish life in Israel differs from Jewish life abroad, and how mandatory military service impacts young Israelis' perceptions of service and commitment to their country. More than 50,000 Israelis have participated in the program since 2000.