The reason that this trip was conceived was to provide the gift of first time, peer group, educational trips to Israel for Jewish young adults ages 18 to 26. Taglit-Birthright Israel's founders created this program to send thousands of young Jewish adults from all over the world to Israel as a gift
This gift is open to all Jewish young adults, ages 18 to 26, post high-school, who have not traveled to Israel before on a peer educational trip or study program nor have lived in Israel past the age of 12. The gift is open to all Jewish young adults regardless of religious affiliation, community involvement or financial wherewithal.
We strongly believe in the value of the peer trip experience. Therefore, if you have been to Israel before but only with your family or on other personal business, you are still eligible. However, if you have been to Israel as part of a touring group, educational program, study program or an organized extended residential program since you were 12 years old, you are not eligible.
If you were born in Israel or are an Israeli citizen you are only eligible if you left Israel before the age of 12. If you were born in Israel or have ever held Israeli Citizenship or have held an Israeli passport you are not eligible unless you prove by official documentation that you have left Israel before the age of 12.
If you have served in the Israeli Army or volunteered on an Israel Army base, you are not eligible.
Students in exclusively Jewish Studies programs in any institute of higher learning, including Jewish Teacher Training Programs, Jewish Studies Programs (not including Jewish Studies major or minor candidates at secular institutions), Rabbinical Programs, Yeshivot/Seminaries, Jewish Communal Service Programs and the like are not eligible for the trip.
