Join us for a special discussion with Professor Shaul Kelner from Vanderbuilt University. He will lead us in a discussion of the impact of Birthright Israel on American Jewish identity.
Since 1999, hundreds of thousands of young American Jews have visited Israel on the Taglit/Birthright Israel program, an all expense paid 10-day pilgrimage tour. The Birthright program seeks to foster a lifelong sense of attachemnet to Israel amongst its participants, young Jews living in the diaspora.
But is it successful? And how does Birthright Israel adopt and adapt the practice of tourism to form trans-national ties, and to shape religious, ethnic and political identities? What contradictions emerge in the effort? What are the implications?
Drawing on ethnographic research, this talk will address these and other questions.
Date: Monday, March 7
Time: 7:00pm-9:00pm
