"I felt really safe the whole time," said Lonnie Monka of Morristown. "And it was an amazing experience to be in Israel. There was a much more defined sense of connection among Jews. It feels like you're at home wherever you go."

Lonnie is among more than of the 110,000 young adults from 51 countries to have traveled to Israel for the first time on Taglit-birthright israel since the program began in 2000. A unique partnership of the people of Israel through their government, United Jewish Communities, the Jewish Agency for Israel, and leading Jewish philanthropists, Taglit-birthright israel provides free first-time, peer group, educational trips to Israel for Jewish young adults ages 18 to 26.

The Taglit-birthright israel gift covers roundtrip airfare, hotel, transportations, most meals, and other land costs for the approved 10-day trips to Israel offered by approved trip organizers. More than 20 accredited trip organizers in North America provide programs for a wide variety of interests.

If you're interested in a Taglit-birthright israel trip, you can find out all about it at the Legow Family Israel Program Center (IPC), which brings Israel to MetroWest and MetroWest to Israel to strengthen the "living bridge" between Israelis and our Jewish community. IPC brings a diversified sampling of Israeli culture to MetroWest throughout the year, providing opportunities to meet Israeli teens, college students, and professionals.

High school and college students, singles, and families can choose from extensive Israel programs available through IPC. You can tour the country, study, volunteer in an Israeli day camp or on an Army base, work on a kibbutz – and even more.

To receive more information from the Legow Family Israel Program Center,  or call (973) 929-3054.