Birthright is an amazing experience offered to anyone between the ages of 18 and 26 who is Jewish enough to have at least one Jewish grandparent. It is basically a free trip to Israel for 10 days with a tour guide and other staff included. On its website, Birthright states that the intention of the trip is to "strengthen Jewish identity, Jewish communities and solidarity with Israel by providing a 10-day trip to Israel for young Jewish people."
Sounds amazing, right? It is. And because it is so amazing most eligible people take advantage of it. Thus, there is a wide variety of people you will meet on Birthright. Here are 10 types of people (out of the 48 on each trip) that you are bound to meet.
1. The Loud One.
There's that one person or group that overpowers the other people on your trip. At first, this is really intimidating, but there are 48 people (including the Israeli soldiers) on your trip, so do not be afraid to seek out the quiet(er) ones.
2. The NJB.
Everyone on your trip is Jewish (or at least had one Jewish grandparent), so you are bound to meet some nice Jewish boys. This may come as a shock, at first, because you are used to meeting asshole frat stars in college, but some of the NJB really are that nice.
3. The Jokester.
Whether this comes in the form of bad puns or a ten minute joke that never has a punch line -- there will be at least one jokester on your trip. In the end, you'll be happy to have this person because they provide entertainment on a long bus ride.
4. The Matchmakers, a.k.a. your trip staff.
Your trip staff will continuously tell you, "Don't be lazies, make Jewish babies." They will forcefully try and make people couple up, but if you do marry someone you met on Birthright, then Birthright will pay for your honeymoon, so that's a plus. (If you're confused by this watch this clip from Fiddler on the Roof.)
5. The "Couple."
Between the matchmaking trip staff, being in very close quarters for 10 days, and the drinking age being 18, people are going to couple up. A few may even take couple pictures on the beach.
6. The Gorgeous Israelis.
There is something in the water of Israel because the people there are beautiful.
7. The Party Goer.
The drinking age is 18 and some trip members will certainly take advantage. You have 10 days of legality, so live life to its fullest!
8. The Anit-Party Goer.
They don't want to hear others partying outside when they are trying to sleep. To be fair, you get about four hours of sleep a night, so sleep is precious, but you also have a 12-hour plane ride back to America -- just sleep then!
9. The Israeli Friends.
You have eight Israeli soldiers who join your group, and then you have their friends who come hangout at night.
10. Your Newest Best Friends.
You may only be with these people for 10 days, but you will make friendships that don't end when you get off the plane. The withdrawal from these people when you get back to America is intense, and FaceTime, Snapchat, texting, Facebooking, and visits will be crucial to keeping your sanity.
