What is the most effective philanthropic program the Jewish community has initiated in the last few decades? Without question, according to our cover story on Israel travel, the answer has to be Birthright.

Last week, another concerted attempt to repress dissent washed up on American shores. Im Tirtzu, an Israeli group infamous for its attacks on human rights organizations, Arab Israelis and Ben-Gurion University, placed an advertisement in some American Jewish papers condemning the New Israel Fund and the human rights organizations we support.