fbpx

American man commits suicide on Birthright trip

An American man on a Birthright Israel trip killed himself, the Birthright Israel organization said.
[additional-authors]
May 19, 2016

An American man on a Birthright Israel trip killed himself, the Birthright Israel organization said.

The visitor to Israel was found dead in a hotel room Wednesday morning, Birthright Israel said. The group was preparing to spend the day at Masada.

A Birthright spokeswoman said it would not provide details about the dead man out of respect for his family.

“The Birthright Israel family and fellow participants extend our heartfelt condolences to the family at this sad time,” a statement from Taglit said.

It is the first time in the group’s 17-year history that a participant has killed himself, according to the spokeswoman.

His family and the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv reportedly were notified of the death.

The trip reportedly will go on as scheduled.

Taglit-Birthright Israel provides a free 10-day trip to Israel for Jews aged 18 to 26.

In 2012, an American participant in the Oranim internship program shot and killed an Eilat hotel employee before taking his own life.

Did you enjoy this article?
You'll love our roundtable.

Editor's Picks

Latest Articles

It Didn’t Start with Auschwitz

Jews today do have a voice. For the moment. But we have not used it where it counts – in the mainstream media, the halls of power, on campuses, on school boards, in the public square.

Regime Humiliation: No, You Won’t Destroy Israel

After years of terrorizing Israelis with existential threats, the Islamic regime is now worried about its own existence. In a region where the projection of power is everything, that is humiliation.

The War in Iran and the Long-Term Relationship with America

There is a golden opportunity to expose the intellectual bankruptcy of antisemitism based on current identity politics discourse, and to credibly argue that the current struggle is a global confrontation between the forces of terror and oppression and the Free World.

Ladino Shabbat at Sinai

On a recent Shabbat, Sinai celebrated the Ladino tradition and invited me to tell my story.

A Short Fuse

At 73, I know I am on a slippery slope that’s getting slipperier.

Newsom’s Machinations

Newsom’s machinations are a warning that the current difficulties for American politicians facing rising voter unhappiness with Israel will only become harder.

How Antisemites Can Save the Jews

American Jews have always understood a key lesson of life: even if your victimhood is justified, if you wear it it will kill you.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.