Dear Friends:
Registration for Summer 2009 Taglit-Birthright Israel: Oranim trips closed within 20 hours. This is a new record even for Oranim! I am so excited that 12,000 people chose that they wanted to travel to Israel with the Israelis of Oranim. Unfortunately, due to the current economic situation, the number of people coming to Israel this summer on any Taglit-Birthright Israel trip will be limited.
Registration has been nothing less then overwhelming. Only approximately 1 of every 5 that applied will get the opportunity to travel on any Taglit-Birthright Israel trip this season.
Please read this information carefully: Over the course of the next week, all applications for Taglit-Birthright Israel: Oranim trips will receive an email informing them of where they are in the process. There will be three different categories one can fit into:
- Will be ticketed: Those who receive this email will be ticketed within the next month according to when they chose to travel (i.e.: those traveling in May will be notified before those traveling in August). The most flexibility you have will enable us to get you on a trip. Flexibility is in reference to dates and friend requests.
- Waitlisted: Those who receive this email are being offered to remain on a waitlist should we have a cancellation that becomes available at a later time that may fit with their availability. We are also hoping for some additional flights from Taglit-Birthright Israel and these people will be offered a spot on these additional flights.
- Sorry, there's not enough space: Those who receive this email will be encouraged to sign up for our Winter 2009-10 Mailing List early to be notified as soon as we start making announcements for next seasons' trips.
If you are unable to travel to Israel on a Taglit-Birthright Israel: Oranim trip this summer but are looking for a way to spend some time in Israel, check out Oranim's Long Term Israel Programs. We're offering 5-10 month opportunities for those interested in Volunteering, Internships or Masters studies. Click here for more information.
Thank you to all our friends and alumni who continue to support Oranim in their efforts to bring more young Jews to Israel each year.
Shalom from Israel,
Shlomo (Momo) Lifshitz
President, Oranim - Israel
