An interesting question, and (in addition to any security concerns the Taglit-Birthright Israel management may have, which plays a role as well) I think theres a difference between being permitted to and being banned from. On the Birthright trip I led, we arrived at Har Herzl and one of the girls stayed at the back of the bus, refusing to get off. I told her it was an important part of the tour, to give honor to those who had died so that Israel could be the amazing place that she had been experiencing. Her response: I dont know those people, and I dont care. I explained to her that even if she didnt know them, the soldiers on our bus probably did, and if she cared about them, she should go to support them. She went, but I remember a lot of eye-rolling and looking at her watch. So I think this shouldnt be about requiring the participants to go, but rather about permitting them to be there, if they want to, and if they have the proper respect for the place and what is happening there.
Posted on: Mon, 04 Aug 2014 19:16:48 +0000
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