Penn Hillel Birthright
Birthright Israel is an amazing, FREE, ten day trip to Israel for Jewish young adults between 18 and 26
- who have one Jewish parent and,
- who have not been on an organized program to Israel for longer than 4 months.
Birthright Registration
Registration for our Winter Birthright trip is first come-first serve at https://www.hillel.org/trip/penn/. Our Winter Birthright trip registration is open September 6th-13th (after that, students will be on the waitlist)! Trip dates are December 25, 2023 -January 5, 2024.
Experience the vibrance of Tel Aviv, the markets of Jerusalem, and so much more, all with fellow Penn students. Registration is first come, first serve, so don’t miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime trip!
To register:
- Complete Part 1 by submitting your application and $360 refundable deposit.
- After you complete the registration, you’ll receive a confirmation email from Birthright Israel. Make sure to click the link to confirm your email address.
- Within 24-48 hours, you’ll receive an email from Hillel International with a link to Part 2 of the application. In this section, you’ll submit your health and medical info, request a roommate, and submit a JPG of your passport.
- After you’ve completed your application, watch your inbox for an email to sign up for a 30-minute interview. This allows us to get to know you, determine your eligibility, and gives you a chance to ask questions.
If you have any questions, please email Gabrielle Peck gpeck@pennhillel.org.
Interested? Find out more
Fill out this Penn Hillel Interest Form if you want to get more info.
FAQ
If you aren’t sure about your plans, but you are interested in the trip, we encourage you to register and pay the refundable deposit. There will be plenty of time to withdraw; however, if you do not register before registration closes, we unfortunately will not be able to get you into the system.
When you register, you are required to pay a deposit to be considered for admission. If you decide you cannot go, you can withdraw and receive your deposit back if you do so before the withdrawal deadline (45 days before the trip departs). If you withdraw after this deadline, you will lose the deposit. The deadline will be communicated to all students who register, so that there is no confusion.
The short answer is, unfortunately, no. Registration is a bit of a numbers game because we cannot predict how many students will register; however, we truly work very hard to accommodate everyone who registers. The sooner you register, the higher a chance you will have to get a spot on the bus.
Non-Penn students can sign up for the Penn trip. Penn students get priority, and then if there are additional spots available, we will be happy to consider other applicants.
Yes, that is correct! Birthright Israel changed their eligibility rules, and now any student who went on a peer trip at any age for less than 4 months are eligible for this trip. If you have any questions about your specific situation, please contact Steven Fields.
Participants will receive their $360 deposit back upon completion of the trip, but the deposit must be paid upfront in order to secure your seat on the bus. Participants are responsible for transportation to and from the airport, and for the cost of one meal a day on their own. Participants are also asked to bring $70 in tip money for tour providers in Israel. Any shopping or additional spending money is at your discretion.
Someone who does not identify as Jewish, or doesn’t have a Jewish parent, who has lived in Israel after their 13th birthday for longer than 4 months, has been on an organized trip to Israel after the age of 18, or who has begun but not completed the conversion process.
Someone who is 18-26 who identifies as a member of the Jewish people with at least one Jewish parent or a formal conversion, and who has not been on a peer trip to Israel for longer than 4 months.
About Birthright Israel
Birthright Israel is an innovative partnership between the people of Israel through the Government of Israel, private philanthropists through the Birthright Israel Foundation and Jewish communities around the world (North American Jewish Federations, Keren Hayesod, and The Jewish Agency for Israel).
This trip is a gift from Birthright Israel.
