Gandel grant fosters Jewish birthright
LAST week, Gandel Philanthropy announced significant grants to the Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA), for the Taglit Birthright Israel program, of which the ZFA is a local partner.
LAST week, Gandel Philanthropy announced significant grants to the Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA), for the Taglit Birthright Israel program, of which the ZFA is a local partner.
The grant will send three groups on the 10-day tour of Israel over the coming year — 120 young adults aged 18-26, most of whom have never been to Israel.
The aim of the grant is to help foster Jewish identity and continuity, as many of the participants are largely unaffiliated with their community. John Gandel AO, Chairman of Gandel Philanthropy said, “The evidence shows that Taglit-Birthright Israel program has been a major contributor to strengthening Jewish continuity right around the world and we are very proud to be associated with it”.
According to ZFA president Phillip Chester, the program “has the direct ability to engage many young Jewish adults with the powerful connection to Israel, Judaism and other young Jews they meet during and after the program”.
The Birthright program has, since 2000, succeeded in bringing over 340,000 people from 62 different countries to Israel. By the end of this year, over 3600 Australians will have participated.
One such participant, Jemma Podem, said her experiences in the Taglit Birthright program were life-changing: “Taglit has proved to be an experience so rich in its content and something which has impacted on me so greatly. I have not only learned more about my heritage, Israel and its surrounding countries, but a lot about myself.”
Gandel expressed his hope that others “join us and support this innovative program”.
“Together we can help shape and increase the sense of Jewish identity and connectedness for our younger generations right around Australia,” he said.
LITAL WEIZMAN
Participants on the Birthright program earlier this year.
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