Sheldon Adelson, one of the richest people in the world, deployed his wealth on behalf of Israel. His Israeli wife, reportedly the driver of his actions, is even richer… (contains video of Adelson saying he regretted serving in US Army instead of IDF…)
As more and more young American Jews recognize Israel’s unethical policies, Birthright Israel is becoming a moment of truth. Those who speak up and/or walk away are prioritizing the value of justice. These are future leaders in the struggle for justice for Palestinians.
A former Birthright trip coordinator and leader’s bold opinion: young Jews on Birthright trips are aware of world events, and shouldn’t have to feel like they’re engaging with a sanitized and whitewashed version of Israel. When tour organizers don’t show them realities like the occupation, they are painting an incomplete and dishonest picture of what’s happening on the ground. Showing and telling the truth will make birthrighters more likely to engage and take action.
Israeli minister says Israel is the nation state for all Jews around the world… it has invested “unprecedented resources into creating an infrastructure” to keep Jews in other countries connected to Israel and openly embracing Zionism…
Every year, Birthright lies about the occupation to 50,000 young Jews visiting Israel. Telling the truth would simply add to the growing dissent against Israel’s policies.
100s, if not 1000s of young Americans have extended their Birthright visits to do “service projects” in settlements and outposts that are illegal even under Israeli law…
Repuglican Sheldon Adelson’s Maccabee Task Force is working creatively on college campuses to woo progressive students and groups; funding per campus is in the “low six figures.” The group is working with Hillel.
Brandeis University Professor Len Saxe says he has fifteen years’ worth of research data showing that the vast majority of Jewish students feel some connection to Israel…