ZFA NEWSLETTER JUNE 27 2014

Through the Zionist Federation of Australia, Gandel Philanthropy gifts 160 young adults with the trip of a lifetime

Taglit-Birthright Israel is a visionary program that provides a gift of a 10-day educational tour of Israel for young Jewish adults aged 18-26. The Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) is proud to represent the Australian Jewish community as the local partner in this unique project.

160 Australian participants will be leaving for Israel next month on Taglit-Birthright Israel trips. Hagshama, the ZFA's young adult department will be sending two buses for young adults aged 22-26. These two buses have been generously supported by Gandel Philanthropy, the principal Australian supporter, and will enable young adults, many of whom are largely unaffiliated with the Australian Jewish community and have never visited Israel to experience this life-changing program.

We also have one AUJS bus for university aged students and one KangaRusski bus which is for young Jewish adults from Russian speaking backgrounds. This trip provides all involved with an opportunity to learn about our heritage, connects them to Israel in a real and meaningful way and fosters their Jewish identity and connection to their own communities.

Mr John Gandel AO, Chairman of Gandel Philanthropy together with Mrs Pauline Gandel attended the pre-departure session on Thursday 26^th June in Melbourne for the Hagshama trip, which was held at the Lamm Jewish Library of Australia. It was a great opportunity for Mr and Mrs Gandel to meet the participants personally and farewell them.

“My family strongly believes in supporting programs that foster and enhance Jewish continuity and identity, and help develop the future leaders in our community. Evidence shows that Taglit-Birthright Israel program has been a major contributor to strengthening Jewish continuity around the world. We are very proud to be associated with it,” said Mr John Gandel AO, Chairman of Gandel Philanthropy.

In the multiple studies conducted by the Cohen Center of Brandies University, it was indicated that 71% of participants marry Jewish as opposed to 49% of non-participants, Taglit participants are also 35% more likely than non-participants to feel confident in explaining the situation in Israel. It is remarkable that a 10 day trip to Israel can change not only a person’s future but that of the Jewish people.

The lead up to the trip saw participants meet, interact and engage in pre-departure activities, which also included Hebrew Café, and allowed for everyone to brush up on their Hebrew skills and learn all the important words – Hello, Felafel Please and How much does it cost?
 
“Gandel Philanthropy has underpinned our Australian Taglit-Birthright program thus affording 120 young Australian adults the unique opportunity of visiting Israel and seeing what Israel has to offer. We are delighted that Gandel Philanthropy see this as the marque program for both encouraging the support of Israel and Jewish education. They have distinguished themselves as leaders of Jewish philanthropy,” said ZFA President Dr Danny Lamm.

Since its inception in 2000, more than 400,000 young Jews from 67 countries around the world have taken part in the Taglit-Birthright Israel program.

The ZFA works together with several local program organisers to operate Taglit-Birthright Israel. By the end of 2014, more than 3,920 Australians will have participated in this program. In 2014-15, the ZFA will be sending 320 young Jewish adults to Israel on Taglit-Birthright Israel trip.

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