A few Temple Hillel Birthright members
display the Israeli flag on Masada.

Temple University
students participate in a
winter Birthright trip.

About 140 students will participate in the
MEOR Poland trip in January. Photos provided
Trip Opportunities For C
JON MARKS | JE FEATURE
J ust as cellphones, com-
puters, answering ma-
chines and microwaves
were mere figments
of the imagination for the baby
boom-generation growing up, so
was the concept of college students
using winter break for anything
more than a reprieve from school.

Maybe there would be a family vacation to Florida or a tropical
island. But those were usually costly and probably not all that ex-
citing for teenagers who’d rather be anywhere than with mom, dad
and their little brother and/or sister.

Going someplace meaningful, learning a bit of history while
simultaneously gaining a deeper understanding of your heritage
— that seldom happened.

It does now — and has for a while.

Programs like Birthright and Meor send thousands to Israel
and other lands at either a fraction of the cost or none at all, so
Jewish college students across the country are afforded the oppor-
tunity of their young lifetimes.

While summer is traditionally the busier time for these and
other organizations, which are primarily donor-supported, there
are plenty of winter trips, too.

Much has changed since Pamela Fertel Weinstein’s parents al-
lowed her to go where she’d always wanted — Israel — on one of
the first Birthright trips in 2000.

“I had no idea what to expect, but it was finally fulfilling a
dream of mine to go,” said Fertel Weinstein, now Birthright Israel’s
vice president of marketing and communications.

“It was still then very much word of mouth, and maybe 9,000
went that year. Now we’re sending 48,000, and it’s grown exponen-
tially. It’s becoming, in some circles, a rite of passage — something
for Jewish kids to do when they get to college.”
A Birthright participant
enjoys a camel ride.

Temple Hillel gathers at the Wall.

20 NOVEMBER 23, 2017
WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE
Birthright camel riders visit
the desert.

JEWISHEXPONENT.COM