For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Aviva Sokolsky
 asokolsky@ujafed.org

CANADA ISRAEL EXPERIENCE HOSTS THE FIRST EVER LGBTQ BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL TRIP IN CANADA

Jan. 11, 2017 (Toronto, ON) - Canada Israel Experience (CIE), Jewish Federations of Canada – UIA, and Birthright Israel, are excited to announce the launch of the first Canadian LGBTQ Birthright Israel trip, a free 10-day trip to Israel departing June 4, 2017 to celebrate Tel Aviv’s Pride Week.

“Birthright Israel is an integral experience for all Jewish young adults and CIE is ensuring that every eligible Canadian participant feels that they have a place on these experiences,” says Dani Fine, Vice President of Canada Israel Experience. “We are reaching out to Jewish LGBTQ young adults because we want to express that they are welcomed on our trips, in Israel, and in our Canadian Jewish community”.

In the past 16 years, CIE has sent over 32,000 Jewish Canadian young adults on Birthright Israel and is proud to be the only Canadian trip organizer for Birthright Israel.

This unique trip will celebrate Israel’s diversity during Tel Aviv’s legendary Pride Parade; the largest event of its kind in the Middle East. This group will experience and see Israel through an LGBTQ lens, travel with LGBTQ identified Israeli peers, and explore all the classic sites and attractions. They will also learn about issues facing the LGBTQ community and take in the liveliness of Tel Aviv and its thriving LGBTQ population.

Registration for this free 10-day trip opens on Feb. 6, 2017, at Israelforfree.com, but applicants can go online today and sign up to receive priority status before full registration opens. This trip welcomes all eligible 21-26 year old LGBTQ applicants and their friends! Eligibility information and FAQ’s can be found at Israelforfree.com

For press & media maters regarding this trip, please contact:
Aviva Sokolsky at asokolsky@ujafed.org

For more information on the eligibility and logistics of this trip, please contact:
Ayelet Bercovich at abercovich@ujafed.org

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ABOUT JEWISH FEDERATIONS OF CANADA – UIA JEWISHCANADA.ORG 
Jewish Federations of Canada – UIA works with Canadian Jewish Federations and communities to strengthen Jewish life in Canada, Israel and overseas. It represents ten Canadian Federations and four regional councils, each of which raises and distributes funds annually for social welfare and educational needs in Canada and Israel.

ABOUT CANADA ISRAEL EXPERIENCE CANADAISRAELEXPERIENCE.COM
 Canada Israel Experience (CIE) is the leading Israel program organizer in Canada offering unforgettable trips to Israel for youth and young adults. CIE creates a meaningful Jewish journey with each trip, handcrafted by our team, to bring participants the most incredible moments of their lives. Since established 1996, CIE upholds a tradition of excellence in providing the highest standards of education, logistics, and safety. CIE programs include but not limited to Birthright Israel, March of the Living Canada, and March of Remembrance and Hope, Canadian school and camp travel initiatives. CIE also runs UJA Federation of Greater Toronto’s Onward Israel initiative and facilitates long term Israel experiences through MASA Israel Journey. CIE is a department of Jewish Federations Canada-UIA and is generously supported by local federations across Canada and the Education Department of the Jewish Agency for Israel.

ABOUT BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL BIRTHRIGHTISRAEL.COM
Birthright Israel provides the gift of free educational trips to Israel for thousands of Jewish young adults (ages 18 – 26) from all over the world.  Birthright Israel's founders created this program in order to strengthen the bond between Israel and Jewish communities around the world; to reinforce the sense of solidarity among world Jewry; and to enhance participants' personal Jewish identity and connection to the Jewish people. Birthright Israel is an innovative partnership between the Government of Israel, private philanthropists, and thousands of donors and Jewish communities around the world, including North American Jewish Federations through the Jewish Federations of North America, the Jewish Agency for Israel, and Keren Hayesod. Since 1999, more than 500,000 young adults from 60 countries have taken advantage of a Birthright Israel sponsored trip opportunity.

This trip is a gift from Birthright Israel.

READ THE ARTICLE IN THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS HERE