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Carly Rosenberg of Manalapan recently became one of more than 200,000 young adults from 52 countries who have visited Israel as part of the Taglit-Birthright Israel program.

"From the second we landed at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel-Aviv, I immediately felt like I had taken a step into Jewish history," said Rosenberg, 19, who is a sophomore at the University of Rhode Island. "I had arrived in a country in which Jews are not a minority, and I couldn't wait to explore places that are rich in Jewish culture. I felt very much at home."

The Taglit program, which was created 10 years ago, sends young adults between 18-26 years of age on a free, 10-day trip to Israel. The mission of the organization is to enhance the bonds between Israel and Jewish communities around the world, while strengthening the participants' personal Jewish identity and connection to the Jewish people.

The program's name stems from the belief that it's every Jewish person's birthright to visit Israel, according to program members at Taglit's U.S. headquarters in New York City. Eligible travelers must be between the ages of 18-26 who have not previously traveled to Israel on a peer, educational, or study program.

Funding for the Taglit-Birthright trips comes from the Israeli government; North American Jewish Federations, including the Jewish Federation of Monmouth County, which facilitated Rosenberg's trip; and private philanthropists. The cost of a trip is approximately $2,400 per person and covers roundtrip airfare, hotels, most meals, and other associated land costs.

Participating in the Birthright trips has become something of a tradition in her family (they are members of Temple Beth Shalom in Manalapan), Rosenberg said. Her brother, Daniel, took a Birthright trip in 2006, and her other sibling, Steven, hopes to participate this summer. It was Daniel's trip-related enthusiasm that inspired her to make the journey, and her own trip encouraged Steven to begin making his own travel plans, she said.

Rosenberg, who was part of a Birthright travel group that consisted of 40 young adults, left for Israel Dec. 31, 2009 and returned to the U.S. Jan. 10. While in Israel, she visited historical, religious, and cultural sites throughout the country, including Jerusalem; the Negev; the Dead Sea; a Bedouin camp, where she took her first camel ride; a kibbutz in the Golan Heights; and Tel-Aviv.

"Tel-Aviv is a modern city that could be any city in the United States," said Rosenberg. "Sometimes it doesn't seem connected to the rest of Israel. The people there seemed less worried that those in other parts of the country."

While in Tel-Aviv, Rosenberg visited Independence Hall, which proved to be a moving experience, she said.

"Learning how Israel became a state was very emotional," said Rosenberg. "You could see how the struggles and determination of the Jewish people led to the formation of the Jewish state. There was so much to learn, and seeing the evidence of how Israel became the Jewish homeland increased my pride in my Jewish heritage."

She also visited Safed, near Tel-Aviv.

"It's an old city with three small synagogues that were built in the 1500s," she said. "They're not used now because of their historical value, but these synagogues are full of Jewish history. You can imagine how people worshiped there long ago."

In Jerusalem, she visited the Western Wall, which made a strong impression, Rosenberg said.

"It was interesting to get a sense of the history of this sacred place," Rosenberg said. "The mood there was more somber than I expected. People of all ages came to pray and it was interesting to observe how others reacted to being there."

While at Masada, she saw the sun rise over Jordan, and, as her travel group worked its way south, camped in the Negev, spent a night in a Bedouin tent city, and swam in the Dead Sea.

"The Bedouins were very hospitable," she said. "We had dinner with them and they made sure we had use of an electric heater; the temperature at night can drop to 10 degrees, but in the morning, you walk outside into the warm sunshine."

Her excursion to Israel has increased her desire to learn more about Jewish history and culture.

"I think I'm more observant now because I feel more connected to Judaism," said Rosenberg, who wants to return to Israel to explore some of the sites that weren't on the recent itinerary. "By the end of the trip, I felt like a different person because I knew more about my Jewish heritage. The people there were so welcoming. It's a great country."