Calling all Jewish students: Have you ever wanted to travel to Israel to experience the beautiful land and people, but were never able to afford it? Well, now, through the Taglit Birthright Israel program, Jewish students ages of 18 to 26 can travel to Israel during their winter and summer vacations for 10 days. The best part is: it’s completely free! All airline tickets, meals, and places to stay will be paid for. All you’ll need is yourself, your camera and your friends. According to Taglit Birthright’s Web site (http://www.birthrightisrael.com): “Taglit-Birthright Israel’s founders created this program to send thousands of young Jewish adults from all over the world to Israel as a gift in order to diminish the growing division between Israel and Jewish communities around the world.” Over 160,000 young adults from all over the world have been on Taglit Birthright. Many Hofstra students attend the trip every year. These students come back and share their experiences of traveling in the Old City of Jerusalem, hiking in the Golan Heights, snorkeling in the Red Sea, floating in the Dead Sea, riding camels in the Negev Desert and meeting other Jews from all over the country and all corners of the world. A fellow classmate, Scott Minchello, a junior, went on Birthright this past winter break, and when asked to sum up his personal experience he said, “The trip really puts a new and higher meaning to the term home, sweet home.” If you are a student who is interested in a life changing experience, stop by the Hofstra Hillel office (Student Center Room 213) for more information.

Robb Friedlander is a freshman political science student.