American Jews Show Increasing Lack of Interest in Free Birthright Trips to Israel

There has been a sharp decline in the number of American Jews participating in the free “Birthright” trips to Israel this winter, reported Haaretz, describing “a downturn of this magnitude, unrelated to the security situation” as “unprecedented”:

Since its establishment in 1999, the Birthright organisation has brought some 500,000 young Jews from around the world on free trips to Israel.

According to the paper, citing some of Birthright’s key trip providers, the drop ranges from 20 per cent to 50 per cent – depending on the provider – in comparison with the last winter season (which extends from December through March).

One explanation for the downturn suggested by the trip providers is that the numbers “could reflect the well-documented fact that young American Jews are growing increasingly disengaged from Israel, and have less and less interest in visiting the country – even when the trips are free”.

Poll shows deep divisions between Israelis and American Jews

Haaretz noted how “recent studies have shown that Jewish millennials, who are largely progressive, feel less connected to Israel than their parents and grandparents because they perceive the country’s policies as antithetical to their values.”

“In particular,” the paper added, “they cite Israel’s treatment of Palestinians and of asylum seekers.”

Just last week, a petition “signed by 1,500 Jewish students – demanding that Birthright include in its itinerary Palestinian speakers able to address the realities of occupation – was delivered to Hillel directors at over 30 campuses across the United States.”

“The exclusion of voices of Palestinians and Palestinian citizens of Israel from Birthright runs counter to our core values,” the petition said.

“On a trip to Israel, we should experience the country’s history and culture, but we should also learn about the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and hear the voices of Palestinians living under occupation.”

Something must be completely valueless for a Jew to turn it down when it’s free, and it would seem that young American Jews don’t see any value in visiting their alleged homeland.  In reality, New York City, Los Angeles, and Miami Beach are much more legitimate “homelands” than Israel claims to be, but unlike Israel, these American cities, are under constant threat of attack by people they’ve illegally displaced.  What Jew in their right minds would go to Israel?

The Edomite Jews are historical wanderers ever since they migrated out of their homeland in Mount Seir, and ever since then they’ve had no permanent home base, and that includes Israel, which the vast majority of American and European Jews have no interest in living in.  Living high off the goyim in our highly civilized countries is far more preferable, despite its antisemitism, than living among themselves in an embattled piece of desert that was permanently laid waste 2,000 years ago.