Hop aboard the Kangarusski Taglit-Birthright Bus!
Birthright trips are a regular occurrence in Australia. The Zionist Federation of Australia provides the opportunity for Jewish young adults to visit Israel in the summer or winter and explore the country as well as their Jewish identity and heritage.Kangarusski Taglit-Birthright is a new addition to the palette of trips available, sponsored by the Zionist Federation of Australia. This free, 10 day immersive trip is specially organised for Jewish young adults with a Russian background, aged 18-26. Kangarusski Birthright has only ever been offered twice, with the most recent trip in the winter of 2014.
Rami Teplitskiy and Shailee Mendelevich
Many of the Kangarusski Taglit-Birthright past participants have become an integral part of the Jewish community in Australia. Participants like Eman Banakh, Gabi Hodge and Ariel Singer are currently opening the first Russian Speaking Moishe House in Australia – Kangarusski Moishe House Melbourne. Other participants like Boris Knizhnik and Sagie Shaposhnikov are in the organising committees for the coming Limmud FSU 2016 in Sydney. Tatiana Shvartsman the past Madricha (leader) of Kangarusski Taglit-Birthright is the project manager of Limmud FSU Australia.
Ginette Searle, Executive Director of the ZFA Says: – “Taglit-Birthright Israel is well known to have a profound impact on participants – providing them with the opportunity to experience Israel with their peers, building their relationship with Israel, their community and with their own Jewish identity. It really is, in every sense, a gift of a program for the 40 very lucky young adults who’ll go. Like their predecessors, we expect participants to return to Australia with new-found enthusiasm, motivation and a group of lifelong friends from Israel and Australia”
Shailee Mendelevich, the co-leader of the Kangarusski Birthright trips says “it’s fantastic to see the importance being placed on the traditionally underserved Russian-Jewish community. The impact of Kangarusski Birthright will be profound on the community to re-engage disconnected Jewish-Russian young adults.”
Rami Teplitskiy, Jewish Agency Shaliach to the Zionist Federation of Australia and the co-leader of the Kangarusski Birthright says: “There is no bigger project with a larger impact than Birthright. The Russian Speaking Community has an unbelievable opportunity to enjoy a once in a lifetime experience and for me personally as a past IDF soldier joining birthright on “the other side” many years ago is a great pride to be able to facilitate young Australian Jews to be part of this. I am sure this will not only be good for the 40 Kangarusski’s but also for the general Jewish community in Australia.”
It is anticipated that 40 Jewish-Russian young adults will depart for Israel on Thursday 15th December from all around Australia and stay until the 25th December, the first day of Channukah.
Registration is now open http://www.kangarusski.org.au/birthright or email Rami Teplitskiy on [email protected]
ZFA Kangarusski hold regular events and activities for children, adults, young adults and families. The ZFA is the key partner of Limmud FSU, a festival of culture and learning taking place in Sydney on 17 – 18 September. See http://limmudfsu.org.au/en for more details.
