<p>Wow, my D’s experience at A.Muss was not the same as mike89. She certainly did observe Shabbat, and while it wasn’t Orthodox, we aren’t either. She went on 3 host family Shabbat weekends, (loved all 3 of her host families), and 2 special Shabbat weekends in Jerusalem, complete with the boys wearing tefilin (if they chose to), and participating in the Havdalah (one of my D’s favorite rituals), as well as singing and dancing at the Wall.</p>
<p>The computers are slow on campus but she was kept so busy she didn’t have time for computers.</p>
<p>She was taught in English, but that was due to the way thay A. Muss chooses to teach.</p>
<p>She and the 20 other students (male & female) she travelled and stayed with fell so in love with the staff that they all chipped in and bought airfare for one of them to come here to visit over winter break (someone’s parents also kicked in some mileage!). The kids and the staff still remain in contact often, and the experience my D says was one of the best of her life. I asked her and she said, “YES I would do it again!”</p>
<p>Back to Taglit/Birthright. Anyone know if the grandchild of a non observant couple, wife converted back in the 40s would be eligible? The kids have a Jewish last name, if that matters.</p>
<p>Yes- as long one of the parent is Jewish… but the child is still Jewish, even if the mother converted. As Ben-Gurion said, if anyone was Jewish enough for Hitler, then he was Jewish enough for the State of Israel (referring to Hitler’s race ideology in whch a person only needs one Jewish grandparent to be considered Jewish).</p>
<p>Thanks! Had never heard this quote, which certainly describes the situation. I’m the one with no Jewish heritage, though have always been interested in Jewish culture and history. Hope my kids choose to go on a Birthright trip at some point, to learn more about what it means to be Jewish, as well as understand the history of Israel.</p>
<p>Mike89, I don’t know specificially when the boys wore tefillin, I only know it was during trips to Jerusalem and at the Kotel. Since they were being shown how to wear it properly by older men at the Kotel, I am certain it was NOT on Shabbat. When they did their weekends, they would go on Thursday and leave on Sunday.</p>
<p>I think I mish-mashed what I was writing, and wasn’t clear.</p>
<p>I think some of the disconnect in this discussion is coming from a failure to acknowledge fundamental distinctions among Israel programs and the institutions that sponsor those programs. The Reform movement (the most liberal stream of Judaism) and the Conservative movement (a more traditional stream) sponsor a number of programs mentioned in this thread, and many other programs are pluralistic – no affiliated with any one movement. There are also many programs – typically at sex-segregated yeshivot – that are fully traditional, and the best choice for families who self-describe as Orthodox. The Muss program, I think, is pluralistic – but on the liberal end of the spectrum. If Mike89 comes from an Orthodox background or if he is Baal T’shuvah (in the process of adopting Orthodoxy), the fit will simply not be there at Muss – or probably at any of the programs that have been mentioned in this thread, all of which are run by the Reform and Conservative movements or which are pluralistic. If an Orthodox student goes on a Reform program, of course he’s going to be deeply dissatisfied with the level of ritual observance. He’s going to think he landed on the Planet Purple.</p>
<p>It’s not unlike college admissions: There are many, many options out there. Each kid has to find his or her fit!</p>
<p>OK, I thought you said they put on Teffilin on Shabbat…Im glad they were give the oppurtunity to do so at the Kotel. </p>
<p>I went to a pluralistic Jewish school my whole life. Muss was less than pluralistic in my opinion. Atleast at school Davening was mandatory. At Muss it was an option and the Orthodox Minyan had a very hard time on shabbat and even on weekdays. </p>
<p>Granted I enjoyed my several months in Israel, I loved my counselors, I would rather go back, live on my own in Israel using the language and feel like an Israeli.</p>
<p>Muss made me feel to much like an American tourist.</p>
<p>Go for it. Most of Israelis are secular, and so are most of the college and university programs (the only exception might be Bar Ilan, but even that I am not sure about).</p>
<p>As far as I know, only Hebrew University offers programs that fit in American college students’ schedules since they have several programs running during the month of July including Ulpan, Middle Eastern Studies, Israeli Studies… and that’s open to everyone… they wouldn’t care less what religion you’re from. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, Tel Aviv doesn’t have anything that works… so we have to make the trek to the beach :)</p>
<p>echoing ngmm - Non-Jewish kids can enjoy any program in Israel, as long as it isn’t run by the ultra-orthodox or is called “yeshiva” which means studying Biblical texts as its primary focus. There are a few programs such as NFTY or BBYO that key off of synagogue affiliation, so those might not be right for you. Other than that, many choices!</p>
<p>If you look, for example, at a list of “MASA” programs, you’ll see some have the designation “religious” (which in Israeli terms generally means orthodox). Others are silent, so assume those are more secular. They’ll never say “non-religious” or “open to non-Jews” in other words, just avoid the programs designated “religious.” I’ve heard that kibbutzim, for example, have plenty of non-Jews as well as Jews from around the globe.</p>
<p>THere are also social action (“tikkun olam”, fix the world) programs, for example, to repair apartments damaged by rockets in Northern Lebanon. Maybe they’re all fixed by now, it’s been a year, but you get the idea. My guess is that your hammering hands are also very welcome. Keep an eye open for those kinds of programs.</p>
<p>Great lakes mom - specific encouragement for you:</p>
<p>My dearest friend from college had a Jewish mother who turned sharply away from Judaism, so the friend was raised in an atheist kind of upbringing. My friend married a Christian, and raised their kids Unitarians.</p>
<p>A long time ago, I mentioned to her that if her newborn kids ever wanted to pursue it, the Jewish community would still consider them Jewish since she was the mom. </p>
<p>“How might it apply?” she asked. At the time, I said, well if the kids ever wanted to marry Jews, they might be able to do so without a formal conversion process, for example. (I know all about intermarrying clergy so let’s not unleash that flood, please. I’m trying to stay focussed on a specific topic to help in a specific situation.)</p>
<p>Twenty years after this conversation, she writes that her D is going on the Taglit-birthright tour. </p>
<p>So that sounds like a comparable situation to the one you ask about. Good luck! Check it out!</p>
<p>paying3 – great info, thanks. DD has become interested in religion from a kind of historical/philosophical point of view (she’s neither Jewish nor religious, in fact is an avowed agnostic.) I can’t think of a better place than Israel for her to explore that interest, Israel being the birthplace of 3 major religions on the planet… And if she goes, I will just HAVE to visit, won’t I – as any responsible parent would, right? ;)</p>
<p>My S’s good friend went this past year, his GF went a few years back, so he is well aware, though was unsure whether he was really connected sufficently to be accepted. He’s almost too old, so needs to go next summer if ever. But good info for my 2 Ds. With those precious college summers coming up, should be kept in mind. </p>
<p>My ex is the one with Jewish dad, converted mom post WWII. My background is birthright Unitarian, no Jewish blood of any sort, with an affection for many faith traditions. So they’d have to convert, should the subject come up! The ex has no interest in Judism, and I have thought as they are identified by name as Jewish, some awareness would be good. But they have little interest themselves in any sort of religion, is more my initiative, though travel with learning is always appealing.</p>