Birthright breaks record

Taglit-birthright israel is bringing a record 23,500 participants to Israel this summer. The group received a record 32,500 applications from North America. Among the Jewish 18-to-26-year-olds taking the free, 10-day educational trip this summer are some 20,000 from North America – the largest birthright group from that continent. Some 12,000 young Jews made the birthright israel trip in the summer of 2006, and 10,000 participated in the winter of 2006-07.Registration has been closed for this summer’s trip – a birthright spokesman said that the group encourages those applicants that weren’t accepted this year to try again for future programs.