Seeking their birthright

Despite worrying violence, Md. students take free trip to Israel

Her father, Robert Matuzsan, who owns a beauty salon in Robbinsville, N.J., said he's been glued to the TV, watching for updates on the situation. Despite his unease, he said he thinks his children will be OK on the trip.

"If I thought there was any case of them being in danger, I'd say, 'Forget it, they're not going,' " he said. "It's a great experience that we really don't want them to pass up."

This year, canceling a Birthright trip is fraught with the real possibility that there might not be another chance to take one. The economic downturn has wreaked havoc on organization reserves, with philanthropists reducing their donations or canceling them altogether.

"As soon as the funding runs out," Cowley said, "then it's done."

While in Israel, Matuzsan planned to text her parents, maybe every other day, to let them know that she's doing OK. "I know they'll be worrying," she said.

She's right.

"My son says, 'We're not kids anymore, we'll be 19," Robert Matuzsan said. "I said, 'You are kids; we have to protect you.' ... Though we're Americans first, we're also Jews and we believe in the state of Israel. One way to support Israel is to go there and not ignore it in times like this."

Hamas called hurt but dan- gerous as Israel presses offensive in Gaza. PG 14