<p>Ever since I can remember, my D has been planning to go to Israel with the “Birthright” program once she started college. Well, she just asked to go with one of the Boston/Tufts groups over Winter break. I have heard that these trips are incredibly well organized and very safe. I know there is never a perfect time to travel to the middle east but now seems to be really risky. When I expressed my worries to my D, her response was “if not now, when?” That’s the same thing H said. I would love to hear from others whose kids have gone within the past year or two.</p>
<p>Now is as safe as any time up there. If you’re not going to listen to me it’s going to take a lot to convince you, I’ve lived in Israel most of my life. I had a lot of friends who even went during the recent “war” if you want to call it that. I’m sure you can guess none of them got shelled.</p>
<p>blucroo,
While my own child has not gone, he did call me yesterday to get my approval to add a 5 day trip to the 10 day Taglit program. He wants to go on the March of the Living, which begins in Poland and ends in Israel. We are encouraging him to go based on the stories of close friends children who have been to Israel on the Taglit trips this past summer. They all raved about the trip and said that they would not have known about the “war” if not for the occasional news story or contact from the U.S. In places other than Haifa and other parts north, life went on as usual. Taglit’s priority is the safety of the students and if need be, they modify the itinerary.</p>
<p>Our temple sent a large contingent of students from our youth group, who spent five weeks in Israel this summer. The war broke out after the kids got there, and only a very small percentage of them came home. Everyone we know had kids who opted to stay. They stayed further south, closer to Tel Aviv, and everything was fine.</p>
<p>I have lots of relatives in Haifa, and even they were safe (though exhausted) through the month long war.</p>
<p>Although there are always risks, visiting Israel is actually safer than people think, due to superb security.</p>
<p>My daughter went on the Birthright program early this summer. It was before the war though still scary enough for various reasons. I did get the feeling, though, that security concerns were paramount in the minds of the organizers. I was also glad that they arranged for each kid to rent a combination cell phone/walkie talkie so that they could easily communicate both with members of their group and their parents at home.</p>
<p>momof3sons,
I have heard of others going on the March of the Living. Is your son doing this over winter break and do you know any of the details on how he is coordinating the two trips?</p>
<p>My S tried to apply last spring because his then-gf was going, and he was interested in learning about his roots. Turns out that quarter-Jewish doesn’t cut it, which I could have told him! (Well, I did, but he tried anyway.) I know she had a fabulous time.</p>
<p>My son went on the Birthright trip about 2 years ago–he had a wonderful time and met kids from all over. He purposely did not want to go on a trip sponsored by the Hillel at his school (even though he was on the Hillel board at the time) because he wanted to meet more people. The trip was well organized, perhaps too well organized–he felt that the participants were given no freedom to explore on their own, maybe because of security concerns, participants had to remain with their group at all times. he was not able to break off from the group to visit friends living in Israel, not even during Shabbat to visit a friend living 2 blocks from their hotel (the friend came to the hotel instead). But that was his only complaiont.</p>
<p>My older daughter went this past January. My friend’s D was there in June. Both reported that it is a highly organized, secure, and oh yes, fabulous experience. I’m hoping that my younger daughter takes advantage of it.</p>
<p>blucroo,
Yes, he is trying to do this over the winter break, assuming he gets accepted. The March of the Living Program starts in Poland (5 days) and then you continue on with that same group to Israel (10 days.) Taglit does all the coordinating.</p>
<p>Our S does not qualify for Birthright because he had previously been on a Federation-sponsored trip to Israel. That group spent a month in the south for security reasons and had a great time.</p>
<p>All of these trips have excellent security and take possible problems into account in the planning, making any adjustments necessary. As far as I know there have not been problems with any sponsored or organized trips or programs. My DW and S usually visit Israel at least once a year each; me, every couple of years.</p>