Who is eligible?

All Jewish students between the age of 18 and 26 who have at least one Jewish parent and have not been to Israel on an organized trip after age 18, can go on the FREE 10-day Birthright Israel trip together with other UMass Jewish students! (To clarify... even if you have been on a high school trip to Israel, you are still eligible to go on this trip!)

What is it?

Birthright is a totally free 10 day trip to Israel. Tour around this fascinating tiny country, see the heights of the desert fortress of Masada, float in the Dead Sea, be inspired at the Western Wall, and remember the tragedy of the holocaust at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. Hike and swim in the beautiful north, go kayaking in the Jordan River, and see the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee). We also get a chance to spend a night under the stars in Bedouin tents in the desert. Discover Israel, connect with Judaism in whatever way feels right, and make friends who will last you a lifetime!

How do I sign up?

Registration for the Winter trips typically opens in September. Registration for the Summer trip typically opens in February. You can pre-register today at umass2israel.com.

Need more info? Contact Yael.

What do past trip participants say?

"This was my first time in Israel, and I could not ask to spend it any other way. I went and experienced everything I wanted to and more. I developed life long friendships with people from home and Israel. There was a great balance of planned activities and free time to explore. I 100% recommend going on this trip to show your support for Israel and to gain a better understanding and connection with Israel."
- Zoe Guttenberger

"Birthright was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. Although it wasn't a "traditional" campus trip since we had people from many different campuses all over the country, we all still instantly became friends and I knew I had made connections that would last long beyond our time in Israel together. I was surrounded by the most kind, adventurous, fun-loving people the entire time who encouraged me to deepen my sense of Judaisim by providing an immediate sense of community. We all got to see and experience everything Israel had to offer hands-on, making memories that would last a lifetime. Going to Israel at a time of war and struggle for the Jewish community worldwide was the best decision I could have made, because at a time when it seems easy to push away my connection to Israel or hide my Judaism, this trip showed me just how important it is to prioritize both those things. Getting to meet Israelis and discuss how life has changed for us since October 7th was so meaningful, and I learned a lot about how Israelis my age are living their lives. Birthright has inspired me to keep searching out ways to get involved with Israel and the greater Jewish community, and I can't wait to see what I find on campus this coming semester!"
- Gaby Raydo