WEST HARTFORD – A new social group has formed to connect former participants in the Taglit-Birthright Israel program, which offers free trips to Israel for young Jewish adults ages 18 to 26. A joint effort of the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford and the Mandell Jewish Community Center, the Hartford Birthright Alumni Network aims to help them meet new friends, strengthen their connection to Israel and explore Greater Hartford’s Jewish community.

The network’s first public event will be a bowling party on Thursday, Feb. 9, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Ducks on the Ave, 572 Farmington Ave. in Hartford.

“The Birthright trip to Israel is really a life-changing trip for so many Jewish young adults – it definitely was for me,” says Abbey Cohn, director of Young Adults and Special Affinities at Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford. “The Hartford Birthright Alumni Network will give us an opportunity to build on those amazing experiences and connect with Birthright alumni locally.”

All Birthright alumni are invited to the Feb. 9 event. Admission is $18, a portion of which will be donated back to Birthright Israel. A cash bar will also be available.

For more on the Feb. 9 event visit bit.ly/BirthrightBowling.

To learn more about Taglit-Birthright Israel, visit www.jewishhartford.org/taglit-birthright-israel, or contact Abbey Cohn at acohn@jewishhartford.org or (860) 727-6131.