As both the Pessah and Easter holidays wind to an end, we would like to thank the thousands of foreign visitors to Israel who are now making their way back home. It was heartening to witness the bustling economic activity and lively interaction as travelers of diverse backgrounds visited the cradle of monotheism now safeguarded by the world’s only Jewish state and the Middle East’s only democracy.Hotel managers in Jerusalem reported average occupancy rates of 75 percent, up slightly from last year. If not for cancellations due to the unrest in Egypt, a stop often included in travel packages to Israel, hotels would have been even more crowded, Jerusalem hotel managers said.Many potential tourists have been scared off by the misconception that Israel is directly affected by the upheavals in Libya, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen. Others might be wary in the wake of Palestinian terrorism: from the brutal massacre of the Fogel family in Itamar in March, to the Jerusalem bombing in the same month that killed 59-year-old Mary Jean Gardner, a Scottish Christian Bible translator, to the sporadic rocket fire from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip that terrorizes the South.The fatal shooting of Ben-Yosef Livnat by Palestinian Authority Police and the wounding of others who came to pray at Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus on Sunday might constitute an additional blow to tourism in coming months.In fact, travel agents are now forecasting a slowdown in tourism in 2011 compared to the record 3.45 million tourists who visited Israel in 2010. That’s why it was particularly encouraging to see an estimated quarter of a million tourists entering Israel for the Pessah-Easter holidays, many of them Christians, enjoying the unparalleled first-hand experience of scenes and sites resonant with profound historical and religious meaning. Lourdes, the village of Fatima, Santiago de Compostela cathedral – all these, and many others, are important Christian sites. But what can be compared to Nazareth, the Mount of Beatitudes, the Sea of Galilee, the Holy Sepulcher – the places where Jesus lived, preached, died and, according to Christian belief, was resurrected? SPECIFICALLY JEWISH tourism is not expected to be adversely impacted by recent developments. In fact, the opposite might be true, if Birthright-Taglit is any indicator. A record-breaking 40,108 North Americans aged 18 to 26 applied to take part in Birthright-Taglit’s free 10- day trips to Israel this summer – 1,334 more than last year, according to data released by Birthright last week. Demand far outpaced supply, with organizers able to fund just 15,000 young adults of the 40,000 due to budget limitations. As research conducted by Brandeis University’s Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies has shown, an activity-packed and carefully organized trip of just 10 days to Israel can have an enormous impact on Jewish identity. According to a study released by the center in February, participants, the majority coming from Reform or unaffiliated families, were 51% more likely to marry a Jew than their counterparts who applied to the program but were not chosen (by the random lottery system). Participants who did marry non-Jews were four times more likely to influence their spouses to convert to Judaism. It would be a shame if because of a lack of funds, tens of thousands of young American Jews are not exposed to Birthright’s transformative experience. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has already pledged to double Israel’s contribution to Birthright in the next few years to $100 million. But apparently more funds need to be raised. For the sake of Jewish continuity, private donors and Jewish federations in the Diaspora should step in to facilitate a free 10-day trip to Israel for every Jewish young man and woman interested in one. TOURISM TO Israel is a blessing for the Jewish state’s economy – and those who visit are more than paid back. Christians are free to safely visit their faith’s holiest sites and experience walking in the footsteps of Jesus and savoring places where, according to Christian tradition, miracles happened. Jews who visit Israel are inspired to strengthen their ties with the Jewish people and commit themselves to Jewish continuity. They return to the Diaspora with a better articulated understanding of their relationship to the Jewish people. Impressions in the Holy Land are profound and meaningful. Come and see for yourself!
