Eligibility Rules
Eligibility for the Taglit-Birthright Israel gift depends mostly on the following three factors...
Age 18-26
Summer Trips: Applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time of the trip and must have already graduated from high school. Applicants can also be no older than 26 years old to still qualify for the program. However, anyone who is still 26 as of May 1, 2012 is eligible for ANY trip in May, June, July, or August, even if they have already turned 27 by the time of the actual trip. For example, if you turn 27 in June 2012, you are still eligible to take part in any July or August 2012 trip. Special Note: It is the policy of Israel Free Spirit to give automatic priority status to applicants who are either 25 or 26 since we know that your eligibility window is closing!!
Winter Trips: Applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time of the trip and must have already graduated from high school. Applicants can also be no older than 26 years old to still qualify for the program. However, anyone who is still 26 as of December 1, 2012 is eligible for ANY trip in December, January, February, or March 2013, even if they have already turned 27 by the time of the actual trip. For example, if you turn 27 in January 2013, you are still eligible to take part in any February or March 2013 trip. Special Note: It is the policy of Israel Free Spirit to give automatic priority status to applicants who are either 25 or 26 since we know that your eligibility window is closing!!
Jewish
Applicants must be Jewish to qualify for the gift. According to Birthright rules, being Jewish does not mean that you need to be religious. Being Jewish also means having at least one Jewish parent. Of course, we know that religious identity is always a complicated question, and if you have any questions about your eligibility status in this area, the smart thing to do is to contact us today by email or by phone at 845-290-9778, and we will sort it out with you!
1st Time in Israel on a Peer Program
Finally, this must be your first time in Israel on a Jewish peer educational program since you were 12 years old. A peer educational program includes any program organized by a Jewish organization for Jewish youth. If you have already been to Israel with your family or on some kind of a family group trip, you are most likely still eligible for the Taglit-Birthright Israel gift. If you have been to Israel as part of the Maccabi Games, you are eligible to return on a Taglit-Birthright Israel trip. And if you have already been to Israel on the March of the Living, you are eligible to return to Israel only if you are currently 22 years of age or older. Finally, if you have been to Israel to study or to volunteer through a program, you are most likely not eligible for the gift, however, we encourage you to contact us directly to clarify your particular situation.
IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT THE ELIGIBILITY RULES
Israel Free Spirit takes the eligibility rules of the Taglit-Birthright Israel gift extremely seriously. We expect you to do the same. In large part, we rely on your honesty and personal integrity to ensure that you are actually eligible. Please understand that lying to get on a trip is no different than theft and will be dealt with accordingly.
