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Sep 5, 2018, 5:58 PM

Making Aliyah: What it takes, the gains and losses, and the expected unexpected

Part One: What does it take? Here you go. You decided to take the plunge and move to the Land of Milk and Honey. The Holy Land. Sounds promising, right? Well, it definitely can be for some. But it can...

Aug 30, 2018, 9:46 AM

My Birthright Israel frame

Photo credit: Jason Harris

I just read Rabbi Philip Graubart’s excellent eJP essay, "Their Birthright Problem, and Ours" on honesty and thoughtfulness in Jewish and Israel education. He writes about a recent experience leading an Israel trip for his students in which complex...

Aug 28, 2018, 5:12 PM

My Birthright Israel trip was all about complexity

After participating on a Birthright Israel trip this past summer with Canada Israel Experience, I am taken aback by some of the commentary and criticism that has recently been directed towards the program. There are always going to be critics...

Stephen M. Flatow

Aug 23, 2018, 11:57 PM

It’s not Birthright that’s in need of repair, it’s American Judaism

In recent days and weeks, much ink has been used and many electrons have been generated to bemoan the status of Taglit-Birthright Israel trips. The current kerfuffle is the result of the walkout from their Birthright trip of students...

Aug 21, 2018, 2:52 PM

The Nation-State Law Waves the Flag of Hypocrisy

Israel's legislators hide behind self-righteous statements and demand an immediate ban on waving the Palestinian flag, not to mention diminishing the importance of the Arabic language, while they, and proponents of the Nation-State law attempt to hide the flag...

Rachel Shenhav-Goldberg

Aug 17, 2018, 8:05 AM

Birthright walkouts: Spoiled brats or principled protesters?

What is the definition of true love? It’s commitment. Real commitment is to be there to help in good times and in bad times. Anyone can love the fairy tale version of Israel. The genuine test of one’s commitment...

Aug 10, 2018, 9:15 PM

Leading a Birthright Israel trip is both this and that

We all know that first impressions are essential. Which is why I have a particular complication. I frequently lead Birthright Israel trips, and my participants first encounter me at three in the morning at the airport in San Francisco....

Harold Goldmeier

Aug 8, 2018, 11:20 AM

Israelis and Diaspora Jews: A Dysfunctional Family

My wife kicks my leg under the dinner table whenever guests rail against opponents of Netanyahu and critics of Israel. The U.N. and college students are also favorite targets. "Save your contrarian opinions for your articles, not the dinner table," she...

Jul 30, 2018, 6:58 AM

We need political supplements outside Birthright

I fell in love with Israel when I lived there after college, but the deepest love for my land, people and history came, and remains, when helping others establish their own relationship with it. Birthright offered that when I staffed...

Jul 25, 2018, 1:45 PM

Our Israel education needs diversifying – a rebuttal to Neil Lazarus

Dear Neil Lazarus You probably don’t remember me, but we met during my gap year programme in Israel a few years ago when you educated on a Masa seminar for English-speaking youth movements. I’m someone who, judging by your recent article on...

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