Israel has reportedly granted several groups, including Birthright, exemptions from its tourist ban.
The groups provided exemptions will still have to enter quarantine for 3 days upon arrival and provide two negative test results before being allowed to begin touring the country.
Israeli Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked requested that groups considered to be “Jewish tourism” be allowed to enter the country despite the blanket ban, which will remain in effect until at least December 23rd.
Until now, the only exceptions to the ban allow for first-degree family members of those getting married or other simchos to apply for entry, which is still often denied.
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Either have a ban and enforce it as public health conditions warrant or don’t but these mindless exceptions for the families of a baal simcha, “Jewish Tourists”, etc. only increase the already high level of public skepticism and distrust of government mandates. Further, this new “Jewish tourist” exception immediately and legitimately denounced by all the goyishe leaders in EY and abroad as patently discriminatory.
It’s not a Jewish exception; it’s a Zionist exception.
In the Zionist faith, as it has been for a century, Zionism is above all else.
Birthright is a Zionist priority, which is why they allow it. It’s not difficult to understand.
>> Birthright is a Zionist priority,
Why is it a “Zionist” priority to bring kids to EY who never were there before? I know Rabbonim who go chaperone such trips and teach them along the way.