<p>I’m not going to get into the ethics of whether you should apply to Birthright. I will, however, strongly urge you to do NOTHING until you are in college.</p>
<p>Many students go on a Birthright trip when they are in college, with other students from their college. I believe you apply through the college Hillel. Typically the groups are composed of students from two or three colleges. This way you are interacting not only with kids from your college, but from other colleges, too.</p>
<p>When you go to college, I suggest you connect with your college’s Hillel.</p>
<p>What you may have the most problem with is actually being allowed on the airplane, assuming you fly El Al (which most Birthright trips use). El Al is incredibly suspicious of everyone, and will definitely see through you if you lie at all about your Jewish/Catholic heritage. Being accepted into Birthright is not the same thing as making it through El Al security. If they are suspicious of your motives, they won’t let you on the plane.</p>
<p>Hey early_college. So I’m not gonna try and pose as a parent because I am in fact a 2nd year undergrad. That being said, I couldn’t help but notice this thread. Here is my opinion as someone who has been through the Birthright application process and who has many friends who have been on it and are currently experiencing it. </p>
<p>1) You aren’t applicable for Birthright if you consider yourself Catholic. Because you say “I consider myself Catholic”, and later, “I still consider myself Catholic,” there doesn’t seem to be much uncertainty about that.</p>
<p>2) The application process is NOT a walk in the park. Even after you get through the pages of application and essays, uploading passport photos, etc., you then have to go through an intense phone interview, where they ask you tons of questions in rapid succession. It made even me nervous, and I was raised by two Jewish parents in a Conservative congregation. So, as an identifying Catholic, they’ll be able to pick up on your uncertainty and you won’t be considered. With the tight funding they are running on, they have been trained very highly to weed out applicants who don’t identify as Jewish, and they can figure all this out without even asking directly what you identify with. </p>
<p>3) Regardless of what your friend said, 18 is far too young to be on the trip. It truly is for college kids, that’s why 18 happens to be in the age limit. Especially as someone who is uncomfortable identifying with Judaism, even in the long shot that you were accepted, you will feel isolated and out-of-the-loop when you’re on a trip with students who have known about this trip for far longer than you have and have been dying to go on it since they were in elementary school. </p>
<p>So, as honest student-to-student advice, I would not waste your time with the application and putting down the deposit; it just won’t be worth it for you. The trip is available to you as you grow up, so if you become comfortable with observing Judaism as you get older and want to apply then, then I’d say go ahead, but don’t until, if ever, you get to the point.</p>
<p>I just posed the OP’s dilemma to high school sophomores D2 and her BFF. D2 is heavily involved in our synagogue’s youth group, and is going on a group trip to Israel this summer. The BFF is a practicing Catholic who attends a catholic private high school. So they are both ineligible for Birthright. :)</p>
<p>Their verdict: sure, the OP is definitely eligible. But, both girls concluded, he probably won’t have a very good time on the trip, because he just won’t feel comfortable. So he shouldn’t go.</p>
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<p>No. The point is to encourage young Jews to identify with Israel and support the country. Believe it or not, that can be done without supporting terrorism or the Pricetag movement. How incredibly condescending, insulting, and flat out wrong to suggest that everyone who goes on a Birthright trip, or who supports Israel, will blindly follow one political stream of thought.</p>
<p>I was interested in this, because my kids also have one Jewish parent, and practice a different religion.</p>
<p>It seems to me that you should only consider applying for this if you are genuinely willing to consider adopting and practicing Judaism. If you aren’t, your ties to Judaism just aren’t strong enough to justify allowing this organization to use a space for you. You’ve never practiced Judaism, and you father doesn’t practice it, either. Several varieties of Judaism wouldn’t consider you Jewish at all, since your mother isn’t Jewish. In those sects, you’d have to go through conversion to be recognized as a Jew.</p>
<p>But if you are willing to consider becoming a practicing Jew, you can apply and answer interview questions truthfully. It will then be up to the organization whether they’d like to try to influence you, either on behalf of Israel or on behalf of Judaism. Just don’t lie.</p>
<p>On the other hand, some “jewish” kids have really never been exposed to Judaism. I think the trip is good for D because it will certainly give her more of a glimpse into Jewish life than I could (born into a family of secular Jews). I doubt she intends to become a practicing Jew, since we are hardcore rationalists, and I don’t think that is a requirement. But its does give her more of an opportunity to make that decision on her own, independent from my (lack of) influence. One doesn’t necessarily know in advance if there is a possibility they will be drawn to Judaism if they have never experienced or studied it.</p>
<p>Technically, the OP may qualify under the rules as written. Morally is another story. IMO, an identified Catholic going on a Birthright trip is misappropriation of funds, if not outright theft.</p>
<p>I think it’s pretty clear that the OP is wrestling with the ethical dilemma here. The OP knows that what he’s considering is wrong or he wouldn’t have posted.</p>
<p>Both Judaism and Catholicism have ethical requirements. OP, ask your priest if you qualify.</p>
<p>doughmom, OP’s case is different than your daughter’s. Your daughter is a Jew by any definition, and Judaism as a “secular” ethnic group has been recognized throughout history. Your daughter is eligible for aliyah and automatic citizenship in Israel; the OP is not.</p>
<p>It’s not personal Slithey Tove, and I didn’t say that the students who participate believe in the Pricetag movement, but the intention of the sponsors is to get Jews to identify with Israel no matter what. People who go on the trip should know that. The treatment that Thomas Friedman just received by the Israeli government kind of goes to the heart of the matter, and his recent controversial column strikes a pretty good chord with me. </p>
<p>I would still suggest that my kids go on this trip. I know that THEY would still be pretty open-minded.</p>
<p>Chedva is right on the money. It isnt about whether one can qualify under a technicality. Its about whether or not they are a self identified Jew (practicing or not) wanting to learn more about Israel and to do so with other jewish youth.</p>
<p>I am still chuckling at the “I don’t know if you’ve ever heard about this program…” line. Seriously, most anyone of the jewish faith, especially those practicing, are quite familiar with this program. </p>
<p>I’m not sure whether or not the OP would be covered by the right of return or not. He’s definitely eligible by birth, because he’s the child (and presumably grandchild) of a Jew. The only way he wouldn’t be eligible is if he “voluntarily changed his religion.” I don’t know how that would apply to somebody who was raised in another religion.</p>
<p>But why not let Birthright decide if this is the kind of person they want to send to Israel? As long as the OP tells them the full truth, isn’t that their business?</p>
<p>OP, you might also want to consider a semester or summer on a Kibbutz. You may have to pay for airfare, but if you work on the Kibbutz, your room and board are free.</p>
<p>I know several people who have recently been in Israel, and there was no concern about terrorism. You mention it several times in your comments. You should get real facts about the safety issue, and decide your tolerance for risk before making your decision to go.</p>
<p>jym- You do not have to have a Jewish mother to be considered for Birthright.</p>
<p>My friends daughter has gone on Birthright. Her parents were raised Catholic and “left” the church. Children were not Christened. Have not attended Christian religious services. Father converted to Judaism about 5 years ago and daughter is very interested and involved in Jewish life. She is active in the Hillel at her U. </p>
<p>I don’t think Birthright is meant to give someone a free trip to Israel when they have no interest in Judaism and are another religion, just not religious.</p>
<p>“It may be too conservative for my taste and she did say the Catholic aspect played a big role and she isn’t Catholic. I am though, but a pretty liberal non religious one.”</p>
<p>OP–^This is a quote by you of something you posted recently regarding Holy Cross. You are Catholic.
Just because you have not attended church recently, it doesn’t mean you are non practicing.
Christmas is coming up. Are you going to celebrate? </p>
<p>According to another recent post, your parents are giving you a laptop for Christmas. IMO–it sounds as though you and your family will be celebrating Christmas. </p>
<p>I really don’t want to come across as mean, but it so irks me when people try to stretch or twist things to get something for free.</p>
<p>In your own words on CC, you identify yourself as Catholic.</p>
<p>I have to say though, that some birthright organizers don’t seem as strict as the folks here. I looked at the facebook group for the trip that D is on, and there are a fair number of pictures of the participants celebrating Christmas! And we do know of one participant who doesn’t have a Jewish parent. I’m not sure if the standards are pretty liberal or if there’s a bit of deceit going on.</p>
<p>Thanks, crazed. Yes, it seems that if a student has a demonstrated interest and track record thereof of interest and participation in Jewish life , then they may be considered for Birthright (of course its up to the Birthright folks ultimately, and their application/screening process)</p>
<p>I must admit that older s was wait-listed twice (after the financial impact of the Madoff mess) and was finally scheduled for a trip this month, but he had to postpone as he took a new job across country. So I would be skeeved if someone fudged their way onto a trip who didn’t truly have a commitment to Judaism at some basic level.</p>
<p>Younger s has not applied to go, but he still has several years that he could consider it, should he so choose.</p>
<p>What about committed Jews who support J Street, the Jewish organization pushing for the US to nudge Israel into a peace agreement. </p>
<p>Do you think such Jews would be welcome on Birthright if that fact were known? I do not. I think they would get the same treatment as Thomas Friedman just got. They would be called self-hating Jews. </p>
<p>Do you think such Jews would be scamming Birthright by not mentioning it ? I do not think so either. They are Jews and are committed to Israel, though not to the perpetual occupation of another people’s home. </p>
<p>I don’t have any problem with the OP going on a Birthright trip if HE thinks he’s eligible. I think he’d find it interesting.</p>
<p>That sounds like a political discussion that is best held elsewhere. </p>
<p>Whether or not they have the same political goals, they are Jews and entitled to participate in the Birthright program.</p>
<p><strong>edit</strong> I think lots of people would find the birthright program interesting. But they need to be qualified to participate. Otherwise they can travel to Israel on another program.</p>
<p>The OP said he attended church twice while in France this summer. He has applied to Holy Cross and has self- identified as Catholic (even if non-practicing). I don’t think he qualifies.</p>
<p>To clarify - Meant to say the examples of the jews proposed by CRD are entitled to be considered for participation in Birthright. No guarantee they will get a spot.</p>
<p>No it’s a question about what Birthright really is, and who is really eligible. I think the analogy with the OPs situation is pretty relevant to the topic. Is Birthright really about religion, or is it really, though covertly, about politics? I think the latter. I think that in practice, the OP would be more welcome than a Jewish supporter of J Street. </p>
<p>Birthright’s eligibility pretty much mirrors Israel’s current eligibility rules for “Right of Return”. The OP is free to argue that he’s Jewish under that loose definition.</p>
<p>While they might accept you based on your objective qualifications, they certainly would not if they know you identify yourself firmly as Catholic. I think you know that, and are mostly asking if it’s OK to fudge the point. However, your post is slightly confusing. On one hand you say you are open minded, but on the other that you strongly identify as a Catholic, would not feel comfortable with Jewish practice etc. I don’t think you can have it both ways. Only if you are honestly interested in exploring your heritage and open as to how you might identify in the future should you consider answering the way your parents are suggesting.</p>
because I am in fact a 2nd year undergrad. That being said, I couldn’t help but notice this thread. Here is my opinion as someone who has been through the Birthright application process and who has many friends who have been on it and are currently experiencing it. </p>