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February 20, 2004/Shevat 28 5764, Vol. 56, No. 22
Birthright gets $7 million lifeline
DINA KRAFT
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
TEL AVIV - A new grant of $7 million to Birthright Israel is breathing new life into the cash-strapped program, allowing Birthright to double the number of slots available for this summer's tours.
The future of Birthright - which provides free trips to Israel for Diaspora young adults - was thrown into question recently as it became clear that its sponsors were not going to meet their financial com-mitments to the organization for 2004.
The major drop in funding came from the Israeli government, which reduced its funding for Birthright to a token amount for 2004 due to budget constraints. That prompted Birthright to reduce its available slots this summer to 3,500.
Now, with a new "challenge grant" of $7 million from the Avi Chai Foundation, Birthright and Avi Chai are hoping the group of 14 Jewish philanthropists who helped launch birthright will match the Avi Chai grant.
Already, the group has notified its trip providers that it will now be able to bring 8,200 young Jews to Israel this summer.
Avi Chai officials said foundation members felt compelled to contribute the money to make up for the Israeli government's drastic slash in Birthright funding.
We "believed it was unfortunate for the program to have to suffer a significant reduction in the number of participants just as Birthright was reaching full strength," the foundation said in a news statement.
Birthright officials reacted to the announcement with delight.
"We are extraordinarily grateful to Avi Chai, in whom we have great respect," said philanthropist Michael Steinhardt, one of Birth-right's founders and principal funders.
JTA staff writer Rachel Pomerance in New York contributed to this report.
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