<p>My kids want to go to Israel on a Birthright trip this summer with a group of friends. As the kids all go to different colleges, they can not go on a Hillel trip. We have check out the tour groups on the Birthright site and have found several that suit the kids needs. The problem they are having is which trip to pick. When you register, you can only select one tour company and most only have tenative dates for the trip or no dates at all. As these kids all have other summer commitments, we would like to pinpoint a date that works for all. Some of the tour groups only have one date and others have several trips thoughout the summer. When you register you can only select one tour group, so my feeling is to go with a group that offers several dates. Another problem is trying to get these kids on the same trip; they want to go together.</p>
<p>Any thoughts or experience as to whether they would increase their chances by registering with a company with several date vs. the ones with only one date? The company they like has a tenative date that is good for all; but if they shift that date by a few days or a week, a few couldn’t attend. It is my understanding that the date will become final about 30 day before departure. </p>
<p>The tour groups they are interested in are: JCC Maccabi, Israel Experts, Shorashim, Oranim and Stand With Us. If your child has been on any of these trips I would love to hear your thoughts.</p>
<p>Anyone familiar with Birthright will know what this thread’s about.</p>
<p>Sorry, Pokey, I can’t help you with your logistical problem, but I can tell you that my D did a Birthright trip through Shoreshim in 2005. It was absolutely excellent – well-run, well-paced, terrific leaders. Highly recommended.</p>
<p>You could call the thread “Birthright Israel”. Anyone who has participated will know what you’re talking about. My daughter just went on the birthright trip at the end of December through first week of January. She went through her school, Wash U in St. Louis and they signed up for the Mayanot Israel trip. They knew pretty far in advance what the exact date would be. Most kids on the trip were from Wash U but she also had several which were added from random locations. They will fit individuals in where space permits. Most trips in winter and summer take place within a few days of each other so your kids should be able to schedule a trip that works for all of them. I have not heard of the other trips you mentioned. Hope this helps.</p>
<p>My oldest son took a Birthright trip through Oranim after his freshman year. While he really enjoyed it he did feel it was a little bit high-schoolish in the way it was run. For example, one of his college professors was in Israel for the summer and was living in an apartment nearby the hotel the group stayed at in Tel Aviv, and he was invited to Shabbat lunch at the professor’s apartment. He was not allowed to go. Not that the group was doing anything, because it was Shabbat/downtime–but members of the group must remain with the group at all times and cannot go exploring on their own. I’m sure it probably has to do with concern for security/safety but to him he felt more constrained than he did on a high school trip to Italy and a lot more constrained than when he travelled to England with his soccer team. </p>
<p>Otherwise he felt the trip was well run.</p>
<p>He has since been to Israel 5 more times. Actually, this summer he will be in Israel as a TA on a course that Emory is offering in Israel (8 hours undergrad credit, I believe) He will be leading some tours and assisting the professor who wil be running the course.</p>
<p>One more thing - are you sure they can’t all sign up through Hillel even though they go to different schools? I have friends whose kids all signed up through Univ. of DE so they would be on the same trip and not all of them are students at UD. It’s probably worth a call.</p>
<p>I am not sure they can not go on a Hillel trip, although I don’t think they would want to be among just a few that did not attend that university. My daughter’s school had a December trip, but she really wants to go in the summer. I will have them check to see if maybe there is a summer Hillel trip that maybe combines a few schools.</p>
<p>My son is in grad school and likes the idea of the trips that are for 22-26 year olds, but is willing to go with his sister. This was their idea to go together, not mine!</p>
<p>Boys3x- it looks like none of the programs will let the kids leave the group. There is a section on FAQ’s about that on most of the sites. </p>
<p>Sorry about the title, I guess I assumed those that wanted to respond would know what Birthright was. I didn’t think about those that did not know it was an Israel trip. Too late now, I can’t change the title; If a moderator wants to change it, feel free. I think I did have Israel in the original title, but my computer froze and I had to start the post over I can not wait for that new Macbook!!!</p>
<p>pokey318,
I knew exactly what the title referred to. My S was on a trip in January and was told that in order for a family friend to visit with him, the family friend had to come to where the group was. It is totally for security reasons. When the kids are in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, there are times when they are given the “freedom” to eat dinner or hang out in an area of a few blocks, but I believe that they have to report in to the tour leaders periodically. There certainly is some discrepancy in the times when the trips leave in Dec/Jan, because I know of some trips on the way back just when my son’s trip was leaving. He went with an organization called “Sachlav,” and the very interesting thing is that they had an “extended” trip which didn’t cost anything extra. They had 2 extra days where they went down to Eilat. I thought that if he was traveling as far as Israel, why not be able to stay a bit longer? Sachlav mixed kids from all different religious backgrounds. I think that’s part of their focus. As for all of them getting on the same trip, I must caution you that the trips are wildly popular, and many students just will not be successful in the trip lottery. They will have to wait to make the trip at another time. Urge them to get their applications in as soon as registration opens, and to follow up if they haven’t heard anything back within 2-3 weeks.</p>
<p>Well my daughter and I just finished with registration for birthright this summer; I registered for her brother as he was in class this morning and work this afternoon. We got online at 9:00 and my daughter finished around 1:00 and I finished around 2:00. I am so worn out!! I knew the site would be slow, but I never figured it would take 4+ hours!</p>
<p>Now we just sit and wait to see if they get on the trip they want!</p>
<p>A lot of my friends were on their Birthright trip when the attacks in Israel began last summer. Apparantly, the group handled the situation really well, took them out of the areas of intense action, but continued to show them Israel. </p>
<p>Just so you know that most of the companies know how to handle these situations, so you probably shouldn’t worry.</p>
<p>^^They must have been there the same time as me. I was there with my advocacy group (Write on for Israel) and we coincidentally left the day they started.</p>
<p>I did Birthright in summer 2005. I went through Hillel and it was during my transition period of transferring from Smith to Colgate so effectively, I was “homeless.” So I gave birthright a call to see what my options were as I didn’t really want to go with Boston area schools (the nearest location for 5-College students if they wanted to go in that summer). So they said I could either do the group for small colleges or go with my hometown (Rochester)'s birthright trip. I chose the latter as I figure that I’d have more things in common with them. It worked out all wonderful and I still stay in touch and visit some of the kids, two years later!</p>
<p>I’m sure that any of the birthright organizations would be more than happy to accomdate your kids’ needs as ultimately, they want everyone to have a wonderful time in Israel.</p>
<p>Of course, no one is allowed to wander off or be more than 500 feet away from the guide and The Gun My group was very fortunate to be allowed to wander up and down Ben Yehuda on ouer own for 2 hours on our second to last night in Jerusalem because we were very well-behaved. I am studying in Israel right now and I have to tell you that I went through major cultural shock due to heavy sheltering from birthright from the reality in Israel. It’s a huge marketing scheme but totally worth it. I recommend for anyone who’s ambivalent about Israel’s security and wants to see the country and would feel better about having The Gun protecting them nearly 24/7.</p>
<p>Oh, the Army soldiers themselves… that’s a different story :)</p>
<p>Did you know that if kids who meet on a Birthright trip end up getting married - Birthright will give them a free trip to Israel?<br>
Ticklemepink - my daughter echoed your seniments about the Army soldiers - (she did say they were gorgeous though)</p>
<p>D went on Birthright just this past January with Shorashim. This was orgnanized thru Tufts Hillel, so there were 2 full Tufts groups on the trip. D loved everything about the trip. Great itinerary, great leaders.<br>
I have not heard anyone complain about the Birthright trips. I suggest your kids get on it quick. Trips fill up very fast!!! And, D loved the soldiers and even hosted a few when they visited Boston in February. Definitely have them try to sign up thru a Hillel at one of their colleges. It’s good to tie in with a college organization as well as trip organizer.</p>
<p>My kids heard last week that they got the trip they wanted. I have a feeling my son will be the oldest as there is a 22-26 year old trip with the same organizer that leaves a day before their trip. He really wanted to go with his sister and her friends and says he is ok with the younger kids. I hope he isn’t disappointed.</p>
<p>It would be nice if my kids found someone on the trip to marry!</p>
I can not wait for that new Macbook!!!</p>
My group was very fortunate to be allowed to wander up and down Ben Yehuda on ouer own for 2 hours on our second to last night in Jerusalem because we were very well-behaved. I am studying in Israel right now and I have to tell you that I went through major cultural shock due to heavy sheltering from birthright from the reality in Israel. It’s a huge marketing scheme but totally worth it. I recommend for anyone who’s ambivalent about Israel’s security and wants to see the country and would feel better about having The Gun protecting them nearly 24/7.</p>