Despite the dramatic voyage, it appears that during their journey to Cyprus, Taglit passengers seized the opportunity to decompress with a spectacular party that many Israelis cannot enjoy these days, while under fire.

Video: Taglit evacuated approximately 1,500 program participants Tuesday night in an emergency sea operation / Credit: Mano Maritime

The organization evacuated approximately 1,500 program participants Tuesday night in an emergency sea operation, utilizing the Israeli luxury vessel "Crown Iris" from Mano Maritime, which departed from Ashdod Port bound for Cyprus. The voyage, lasting roughly 13 hours, proceeded under tight escort from Israeli Navy vessels that safeguarded the participants throughout their journey amid heightened regional security tensions.

The vessel was chartered specifically as part of Taglit's swift initiative to begin repatriating the approximately 2,800 program participants who had been staying in Israel, following the escalation with Iran. Boarding priority was granted to groups that had completed their ten-day programs in the country.

Following their Cyprus arrival, all participants are scheduled to continue via chartered flights to their home countries – the United States, Britain, Australia, and beyond. Taglit covers all expenses for this operation, both maritime and aerial. Separately, American participants are expected to return on chartered flights financed by Florida state.

The post WATCH: Taglit participants party their way to safety on luxury cruise appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

The evacuation operation utilized a 13-hour cruise from Ashdod port, with the vessel escorted by the Israeli Navy for security protection. The luxury cruise ship, operated by Mano Maritime, carried participants who had been unable to leave Israel through regular commercial flights.

From Cyprus, American participants will board four wide-body aircraft chartered by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for transport to Tampa, Florida, according to a statement released by Birthright Israel. Once participants arrive in Tampa, they will be able to continue their journeys to their respective hometowns across the United States.

Birthright Israel, which sponsors free 10-day educational trips to Israel for Jewish young adults aged 18-32, organized the emergency evacuation as commercial flight options became limited. The program, founded in 1999, has brought over 800,000 participants to Israel since its inception.

The post Birthright Israel evacuates 1,500 via ship to Cyprus appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

The annual solidarity and recognition event of Birthright Israel was held yesterday at Mini Israel, symbolizing Jewish unity during wartime. Over 2,000 participants, alumni, and volunteers of Birthright, who serve as "ambassadors" for Israel in their home countries, attended the event, highlighting the organization's contribution to strengthening Israel and its connection with diaspora Jews.

Video: The annual solidarity and recognition event of Birthright Israel was held yesterday at Mini Israel Credit: Moshe Ben Simchon

Birthright Israel, the primary organization connecting young Jews worldwide to Israel with the aim of building a strategic Zionist "Iron Dome," has brought approximately 850,000 young people to the country to date.

The celebratory event drew many prominent figures from Israeli society, including Israel Hayom publisher Dr. Miriam Adelson, who the main donor to Birthright Israel; Meir Shamir, controlling shareholder of Mivtach Shamir and chairman of Birthright Israel's Israeli Steering Committee; Brigadier General Ophir Levios, IDF chief education officer; Eylon Levy, former spokesperson for the National Public Diplomacy Directorate; Lt. Col. Or Livni-Ben Yehuda, commander of the Caracal Battalion; Yuval Sharabi, daughter of the murdered hostage Yossi Sharabi, who also performed at the event; Eden Golan, Israel's Eurovision representative; the band Hatikva 6; Hagit Yaso; and others.

Gidi Mark, CEO of Birthright Israel, opened his remarks by asking attendees to observe a moment of silence in memory of 13 young Birthright alumni who were killed at the Nova music festival on Oct. 7.

"Almost every young Jew who has come to Israel since October has come through Birthright," he said. "Some 15,000 young Jews will come here this summer, and that's not to be taken for granted. Being surrounded by Jewish friends, taking pride in Judaism, learning more about Israel and yourselves, and creating lifelong connections – this is Birthright's vision. We will never give up on our unity and mutual support."

Dr. Miriam Adelson began her speech by saying, "I prepared a speech – but decided to speak from the heart. Seventeen years ago, my husband Sheldon said to me, 'Birthright has a long waiting list, how can this be? I remember my parents wanted to come to Israel but didn't have the money.' He came from a poor family, and later, when he had money, he offered to bring them to Israel, but they said they were too old. 'I don't want Jewish children to be old and miss coming to Israel, so we will help bring all those waiting.'

"I always told Birthright participants: You will be our soldiers in the world when something happens to Israel. We need people who know our history, who know what happened to us for thousands of years, who know the truth about Israel. We need these people all over the world. To be in the White House, to vote, to influence. Today, our soldiers are Birthright participants. You fight antisemitism, fight on college campuses, wave Israeli flags on every corner.

"I want to pray for the return of the hostages, for the safe return of our soldiers, for our people around the world. I thank all Israeli soldiers of all religions. I will continue to say: You are our soldiers in the world. You came here with great courage during a war for Israel's existence, and I salute you for that.

"Soon you will need to be called upon bravely to fight for world public opinion, where antisemitic lies and libels have taken root. And like the soldiers, you too are welcomed here as heroes because of your battle on this front."

The post Birthright Israel's annual event touts Jewish unity amid conflict appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Two former members of the board of the Taglit-Birthright have recently sent a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning that the government's inaction could jeopardize the initiative.

The two – Aviad Hacohen and Yonatan Bassi – said in the letter that the project – which brings young Jews from around the world on a 10-day trip to get to know Israel free of charge – might suffer a deadly blow without the government tapping a cabinet minister to oversee it and finalize the agreements between the state and its operators. They noted that the contract with the government agencies expired at the end of 2022, putting things in limbo.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

"One cannot overestimate the importance of the project, which has often been described as the flagship initiative of the Jewish world for having brought to Israel more than 800,000 (!) young Jews from all over the world," they wrote. "For the vast majority of them, such a first encounter with the state often results in bolstering their Jewish identity, their familiarity with the history of the Jewish people and its heritage, and their ties with the state and the Jewish community."

They noted that the government's role is no trivial matter since it funds a great share of the project, potentially making the difference between its survival and collapse. "In the current state of affairs, there is a real and immediate danger to the entire initiative," they wrote. "As we all know, creating such a project requires many years of hard work; the past 25 years could be destroyed in one fell swoop." They added that even "pausing the project for a short period would create irreparable harm, not to mention possible lawsuits from providers and an indelible damage to the project's reputation – and God forbid, to Israel." The two asked in the letter that Netanyahu get personally involved in the project. "With great pain and concern, we ask that you get fully engaged on this matter by immediately tapping a cabinet minister to oversee the project and renew the agreements with the state," they concluded."

The Adelson Family Foundation has been the largest donor to Birthright-Israel. Dr. Miriam Adelson is the publisher of Israel Hayom. 

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

The post Former Birthright board members: Inaction could end project appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.