Taglit Birthright Israel’s latest YouTube video is a fun-filled romp across the country in celebration of Israel’s 60th anniversary on May 8th. Starring Tasha and Dishka, two Israelis from Ramle and early YouTube sensations with their Hey! clip (22 million views!), these two lip synch to the Carsitters “All Eyes on Me” as they make their way across Israel. The lead singer of the Carsitters is none other than Noa Margalit who I met at last year’s ROI120 Summit and this video was produced by Leah Stern, another ROI2007 alum and, well, me. The point of the video was to show an image of a fun and vibrant Israel - said image being more ...

In an article in this morning's Jerusalem Post, McGill professor Gil Troy, writes about the Birthright 2.0 challenge: "The best way to say "thank you" for the Birthright gift is to "pay it forward," giving something of yourself to other Jews. Charles Bronfman and Michael Steinhardt started this visionary festival of philanthropy which the latest gifts continue. Each of us, whether connected to Birthright or not, should imitate these guerrilla philanthropists. Rather than waiting for permission from the Jewish establishment to lead, they pushed the Jewish establishment to follow. They and their partners have invested their time, money, passion, and souls into this program. In the process, they not only transformed the ...

The Birthright Israel Foundation will be the recipient of the largest grant ever provided by the Jim Joseph Foundation. The $17.5 million gift, to be distributed over the next five years, will provide $5 million in trip support, and an additional $12.5 million as a matching grant for building community initiatives among young adults after the trip. The program’s success has been remarkable, and that success has generated unprecedented demand from young Jewish adults to travel to Israel. Over 160,000 young Jews worldwide—110,000 of them from the North America—have participated in the Taglit-Birthright Israel trips since the program’s inception in 2000. “It is our goal, and our hope, to allow every qualified young person who applies to have the ...

Celebrate Israel's 60th anniversary with a new dance from Moses. Brought to you by Birthright Israel.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH3crBQyyhY[/youtube]

Chag Pesach Sameach

Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem

Breaking News as reported by Jewlicious: Michael Steinhardt, a breadwinnerist, philanthropist, aspiring zoologist, and out of the box thinker-ist has just unveiled a new plan to his Jewish posse while out on business in California: a network of kosher Cannabis clubs to be developed, managed, and operated by Jewish young adults, ages 18-26. The new venture, called 'Project Greenright' (don’t get too creative here Mikey) has plans to open its first club in Los Angeles on April 20th 2008, near the Pico/Robertson district, and after a 3 day evaluation period, has plans to expand all over the West Coast, East Coast, and eventually Israel. read the complete post here

At the 2008 Summit in Washington, D.C., last night, Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life announced a $10.7 million grant from The Jim Joseph Foundation to expand the Experiential Educator Exemplar (E³) Program and to support the Campus Entrepreneurs Initiative.

This is the largest single grant in Hillel's history.

"This generation of students, the Millennials, learn through their hands, their hearts and their minds," says Hillel President Wayne L. Firestone. "By providing them with immersive experiences in which they are exposed to Jewish history and tradition, such as Taglit-Birthright Israel and social justice alternative breaks, they are beginning Jewish journeys that will continue back on campus with E³ educators and CEI students."...

Last month we brought you news of Birthright's newest innovation, The Israelity Tour, bringing the best of contemporary Israeli music to the West Coast. It ended with a bang Sunday night in Las Vegas. Here you can enjoy just a glimpse of the great performers... [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u5vu0o1WGU[/youtube]

Taking a completely different approach, and utilizing the world of music and Israeli artists to promote Israel, we have Oleh!Records. With initial funding from The Pratt Foundation, The Bronfman Family Foundation and the Orion Fund, young Jeremy Hulsh launched the label thirteen months ago. A recent Oleh, Jeremy was inspired by what he perceived as shortcomings in the Israeli music scene. "I noticed that the entire music industry in Israel is based on white hype, and that there needs to be a credible institution that nurtures indie and alternative music if this scene is going to be taken seriously." And so was born Oleh!, a nonprofit with the goal of creating sustainable careers for all their artists. Now, in year two, ...

Attention Birthright Israel alumni: Do you wish your parents could experience Israel the way you did? Now is your chance. Enter the Taglit-Birthright Israel "Let My Parents Go" video contest, and your parents might win a free trip to Israel!

• The Contest is open to all North American alumni participants of Taglit-Birthright Israel programs.
• Entries will be accepted until March 14, 2008.
• Finalists will be selected by independent judges and will be posted for public, online voting on or around March 28, 2008.
• The winning parents will travel to Israel as a group in July 2008

For FAQs about the Video Contest along with the complete contest rules, click here what will they think of ...

Describing Taglit participants as such, Israeli Minister Isaac Herzog, led off a session early this afternoon at the Herzliya Conference. Joined by Gideon Mark of Birthright, Professor Leonard Saxe of Brandeis University and Knesset member Professor Menahem Ben-Sasson for a session titled, 'Trends in the Connection of the Diaspora's Young Generation to Israel', the focus was on the young demographic being called, the Birthright Israel Generation. We did learn a few facts. While 3/4 of all participants to date are from North America, a total of 44 countries have been represented since 1999. Bringing 160,000 to Israel so far, an additional 100,000 have been left behind due to lack of space. According to Professor ...