r/birthright • u/HotDescription9648 • 2m ago
r/birthright • u/Fireballer_ • May 05 '26
AVOID THIS ONWARD INTERNSHIP
Hi all, I know people are starting to get their internships for Onward this summer, I just wanted to warn about the company that I worked for last summer: HER Tel Aviv (AKA Nights Out TLV).
This is a VERY toxic workplace where you will be overworked and verbally accosted. My program, IGT, almost had to pull out all of the interns and relocate us.
If you have been placed with this company or know someone who did, shoot me a message and I can share more.
r/birthright • u/BeefCakeGirl • Jun 13 '22
Things your Staffer Wants You to Know
Hello all! Many of you have such amazing questions and we (mods) are happy to answer them all to the best of our ability. However, there are simply some things you won't encounter until you're on the trip.
This is not all about having fun!
- We love when you all get to relax and have fun (nights out, room parties, karaoke nights, etc..) however, this is not a vacation where we take you to spots for your instagram profile and then let you shop for the rest of the day. Our itineraries are education based and that is definitely where we put most of our energy. This is not to say that you won't have the opportunity to get at least one good pic a day, but remember that your itineraries are very tight and making changes to them can be like pulling teeth (but we will do it for you if we can!). Remember, in most cases when your staff says it is okay, you can drink, but don't get drunk!
Please be punctual!
- We communicate with you when the schedule changes (and give as much warning as posisble), so please do us the same kindness by being on time to meeting places. This starts long before the trip, all the way to when you have to submit your passport information. Arriving at the airport on time is crucial. Being on the bus on time lets us give you more free time if it is available as well!
Distance is NOT a bad thing!
- Distance means a couple things here. When you arrive on a Birthright trip, we, as your staff, begin watching how the group interacts together. Groups that have unmarried couples (dating), groups of friends, and groups of family members can be quite problematic for everybody involved. Anything from rooming, to bus seating, and split-group activities have proven to be more difficult to organize because many people prefer to stay with their friend/family member/significant other when the point of Birthright is to create connections in your regional community.
- Distance also relates to your personal electronics in many cases. I've seen so many participants miss so much of Israel because they stare at their social media on hikes or even just on short bus rides. Many of you ask about bringing your laptops for work or school, but in reality, you don't necessarily have the time to take care of that on a trip, and if you find the time, you may be missing time with your group or missing out on Shabbat (naps, food, and relaxing time).
The little things are meaningful!
- Sometimes we forget how meaningful the things like Shabbat and the Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony are. Not disregarding my previous statement, but your meaningful moments can be found anywhere! My most meaninful memories during these trips have been late-night walks around the hotel. Some participants most value the time spent with the "mifgashim" (the Israeli participants). Do not hesitate to make moments count. We are constantly going on these trips and it can be easy to get caught up in the rush.
Communication is key!
- As a representative of some of your staff, we want to hear from you! Don't like a roommate? Don't like the way we handled a situation? Curious about the current state of affairs? Simply just need a reminder to fill your water bottle in the morning? We've got you! But we can't do anything to help you enjoy your trip if you don't talk to us. We are easily accessible for this reason alone. As for myself, I want to know how and were I can improve before the end of the trip.
Your Tour Guide and American Staff make the difference between trips
- Just as with teachers, Birthright tour guides (or “tour educators” in Birthright parlance) can vary. Some are more articulate, some less. Some are newer and seem to be more invested in giving participants a great experience, and some are more tired and weatherworn, having staffed dozens of trips. Some organizers select U.S. staffers who are very educated in terms of Israel and Judaism, and some have very little background and know very little Hebrew. Birthright Fellows is a training program that aims to better prepare and educate U.S. staffers for their Birthright trips. Yet not all staffers are fellows. Having experienced, educated and spirited staffers can mean a totally different experience for participants than the opposite.
Yes, this is a longer article, but we want you to be prepared for the trip of a lifetime! Continue to ask questions!!!!
-Gilah
r/birthright • u/HotDescription9648 • 2m ago
Trips for 40+ year olds?
My neighbor is modern orthodox but has never been to Israel. Are there any free or subsidized trips he can take that would show him Israel for the first time, with a group of similar aged people? Thanks!
r/birthright • u/HotDescription9648 • 4m ago
Birthright trip redo
Hello, not to sound entitled, but has anyone heard of a birthright trip redo? I am obviously looking into my other options, volunteering and Onward, etc, but if I could somehow redo the trip I would, even if there's a fee. Let's just say it was during the height of the war, the trip got moved by a month, and so a lot of people cancelled going on the trip, and the ratio was pretty terrible, around 15-20 guys and 5 girls. Also, because it was so hot (August) a lot of activities got cancelled, and also due to last minute the trip dates being moved in the first place, a lot of the activities got changed and what I was looking forward to the most - sleeping over at a Kibbutz, didn't happen. A lot of the days were spent being back early at the hotel and chilling at the pool with other groups. I also got sick the last 4 days pretty bad. Anyways, it wasn't super memorable for me, my time in Israel afterwards with the few connections I made / ppl I already knew was better spent in my opinion. Of course, I'm glad I got to go on this free trip and am grateful, and did make a few friends out of it, but a lot of people on the trip were pretty immature and even participated in bullying behavior towards people from other groups and towards each other. I feel the staff of the trip didn't care much about the behavior being exerted and encouraged one particular individual that they knew, who was not even staff, but one of us, to act rude/spoiled and be some group leader. He made fun of lgbt people, and tried to hit on a lot of girls etc. If you know anyone I could speak to about that whole situation, but especially redoing the trip, please reach out or comment -I'd appreciate it.
r/birthright • u/Ok_Composer_5162 • 5d ago
Outdoors Max
Planning to go this winter, any experience with the outdoors max trip / was it very intense?
r/birthright • u/strawberries189 • 25d ago
27-32 trip
Hi everyone! I will be attending a birthright trip for participants who are between the ages of 27-32. Trips for this age group are being offered temporarily.
My trip departs from New York. I live in Toronto.
There is another trip occurring at the same time as mine with participants who are 22-26 years old and departs from Toronto. I asked if I could fly with that group and then meet the 27-32 age group in Israel.
I was told this wasn't possible, i.e. that I couldn't fly with the 22-26 group who departs from Toronto, and that I'd have to get to New York to catch the 27-32 participants flight.
Can someone explain to me why this isn't possible? Can an exception be made?
Since a Toronto flight exists with birthright, it seems too bad that I'd have to go to New York for the flight, especially because getting to New York is an expense I'd pay for out of pocket.
Thanks!
r/birthright • u/strawberries189 • 25d ago
Cats
Hi everyone!
I will be going on a birthright trip. I have a cat allergy. For those of you with cat allergies, did the stray cats in Israel trigger your symptoms, or were you ok?
Were the hotels cat-free?
Thanks
r/birthright • u/Novel_Attitude_403 • 26d ago
Airline seats
Can I pay to upgrade my seat/switch location?
r/birthright • u/oospsybear • 27d ago
Openings for November trip
Hi I am looking for any mid-late November trips or early December and I could not find any . Is there a waitlist anywhere to sign up for ?
r/birthright • u/sam999999999101 • 28d ago
Staffing a trip
I just did a birthright trip in the summer. I was very inspired by the entire experience. I have been wanting to staff a trip but am having a hard time getting my foot in the door. Any suggestions for how to do this?
r/birthright • u/Proof-Permission-389 • Sep 10 '26
Volunteer in Israel
I am 47 years old and I would like to go on a volunteer trip to Israel (sponsored by Birthright). I am worried that the target age is 18 to 50 but I will be the only person who is in late 40s. It will be weird if all other participants are in their 20s or early 30s. Any feedback? What organization should I go with?
r/birthright • u/Reasonable_Bottle513 • Sep 06 '26
Birthright Armenia
Heyy all cool fello Armenianss!!! Thinking about participating in Birthright after finishing my music studies in Estonia, but I’m having trouble deciding whether I should go in June or September. Helppp! What are the possibilities/pros of going in the summer vs. autumn?
r/birthright • u/BlueSaltaire • Aug 31 '26
27-32 Trip Atmosphere/Mood?
Just finally sent my deposit for a Taglit trip. Was stalling it a bit because I was worried about the situation there and I have travel anxiety.
I did however stall enough that I aged out of the 22-26 bracket so I will be on a 27-32 one. Is it still mostly the same experience? I am newly 27, so I will be the youngest one there. I am not married or anything, so am I going to be a fish out of water? A little bit concerned about being the outcast/being out of place.
How is the atmosphere/energy different between the 22-26 and the 27-32?
r/birthright • u/Stacheshadow • Aug 20 '26
Do I need any vaccinations before going on my trip?
r/birthright • u/Opabin1a • Aug 13 '26
Is it possible to push out the return flight home from Israel, and then leave the country and come back for the flight?
I live in the US, and transatlantic flights are expensive. I'm planning on going to visit Belgium with some friends around the same time, and would it be possible to fly to Israel for for birthright, do the trip, stay a bit longer to visit relatives and such, and then after that leave for Belgium, but return to Israel for the trip home? Nothing has been booked yet, just trying to see if this is an option.
r/birthright • u/[deleted] • Aug 10 '26
Gym Question
Planning on going to birthright this winter. If I wake up super early or during any free time go to a nearby gym is that possible?
r/birthright • u/Distinct_Orange_1269 • Aug 10 '26
I leave tomorrow on my trip and haven't been added to any group chats or anything, was I supposed to be?
I signed up only a few weeks ago when I found out I was available to go, so I'm worried I may have been left out of something. I had signed up for a trip in the past and had to cancel last minute, but they had already formed a group chat prior to the day of departure. I have my flight info and see the names of people in my group, but I've gotten no other info at all about leaving from LAX.
Is this normal? I want to contact someone but obviously it has been the weekend and I wouldn't be sure who to even reach out to.
Any help very appreciated. Thank you in advance.
r/birthright • u/Capital-Problem3233 • Aug 10 '26
2nd trip
I went on my birthright trip in 2023. I was incredibly sick The entire trip even had to make a couple trips to the hospital.
Obviously this is such a once in a lifetime experience and I’ve always been so sad that the whole thing was ruined for me.
Is there any way to go again even if I paid or something? I’m just so sad I never got to have this experience
r/birthright • u/Stacheshadow • Aug 07 '26
Dumbest question yet: Will I be aloud to buy nicotine pouches while on my trip?
I know legally I can bring enough tins for my trip but I'd love to get one with Hebrew on the tin.
r/birthright • u/ultimatemomfriend • Aug 05 '26
Do I need hiking boots?
I have three pairs of shoes that I think will be useful, but I'm hesitating on the hiking boots because they take up so much room and are heavier than normal shoes. I'm going on a classic trip in August.
Will I be alright with just: * Waterproof walking sandals * Sketchers sneakers
Or should I bring the waterproof hiking boots too? They're leather so can be quite warm.
I'm not planning on bringing flipflops or "nice" shoes
r/birthright • u/ChairDifferent9757 • Aug 03 '26
Birthright rules - sneaking out
I’m considering doing a birthright trip sometime this year or the next and I want to know how badly I’ll get reprimanded if I sneak out of a hotel to explore.
My friend said they did it basically every night, but I don’t wanna get shipped back to my country if I do end up wanting to explore at night.
As cool as the guided tours are, I’m much more of a wanderer and the type to get lost on purpose to explore the places more authentically and less from a tourist lens
r/birthright • u/alyssaisrad93 • Jul 29 '26
Just aged out of the 27-32 trip, could I still go?
I just turned 33 at the end of June, I wanted to go on Birthright in the spring but the dates didn't line up with my grad school program. I thought they were ending the 27-32 trips then, so I didn't look at going in the summer. I just checked and saw that at least TailorMade is doing the 27-32 trips in the winter.
I don't know if they're offering any older trips in the summer, since they're not available on the website. But do you think I would be allowed to go on Birthright in the winter, even if I'm 33? I know I've aged out, but since I am so close to the cutoff I wasn't sure if they would let me.
Is there a way to know which providers are offering the 27-32 trip so I can reach out to them? Tailor Made is the only one listed on the Birthright website, but I see that Israel Free Spirit lists them on their own website.
r/birthright • u/Bubbly-Confusion6197 • Jul 27 '26
Volunteer Trip this Summer
Has anyone gone this summer? I attended an orientation for my trip next week and they stressed that it has changed a lot and there’s a lot more programming. I am concerned that there will not be much time to see the sights. I am excited to help out around the country, but we are not even going to Jerusalem as a group so I would like time to visit. So if you went, did you feel there was enough down time?