[Birthright] isn’t a neutral trip to see a new country. It’s a government’s political project. And we, young American Jews, are on the agenda.
Birthright trips are marketed as opportunities for young American Jews to explore Judaism on our own terms. Many of us have seen advertisements for trips designed to appeal to our unique interests and identities – outdoors trips, spiritual trips, and LGBTQ trips abound.
But the parameters and goals of the trip are set by the funders and stakeholders, like far-right American billionaire Sheldon Adelson and the Israeli government. While they may not determine Birthright’s itineraries, donors have a stated agenda of tying Jewish identity to Israel, enlisting young Jews in defense of the government’s unjust policies. The Israeli government and its American Jewish backers know that, historically, securing American Jewish support for Israeli occupation and discrimination requires an aggressive propaganda strategy. They have found one for the next generation of American Jews in Birthright.
This decision [to discontinue meeting Israeli Arabs and Palestinians on Birthright] ultimately betrays a deep anxiety held by Birthright’s supporters – that young Jews, if exposed to nuance, would pose a great threat to Israel’s current policies. Birthright does not want young Jews to critically engage with Israel and its realities. Birthright’s Israel is an Israel of outdoor adventures and wild parties, devoid of Palestinians. They want us to take selfies on top of a camel and not ask questions. Birthright’s backers know that the inclusion of even a few Palestinian voices could expose Birthright’s work for what it is, propaganda. So, they cut them out. But we, young Jewish Americans, have voices, too, voices we can use to challenge the lies we are fed about Birthright’s Israel.
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