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Birthright Israel Foundation Blog

August 20, 2026

My Birthright Israel Journey Sparked My Life's Work

by Jared Stone
If my journey has taught me anything, it is that Birthright Israel is not just about where you go or who you meet over the course of ten days. It is about what those ten days make possible.
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August 7, 2026

On Nantucket, One Story Reflects Nearly a Million More

by Birthright Israel Foundation
At the evening hosted by Danielle and Gregg Darish on July 30, Gregg opened to a growing community of Birthright Israel Foundation supporters on the island, a room full of...
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A Night to Remember: Birthright Israel Foundation in Aspen

July 22, 2026

A Night to Remember: Birthright Israel Foundation in Aspen

by Birthright Israel Foundation

On July 14, Birthright Israel Foundation brought together 150 supporters in Aspen for an unforgettable evening of community, conversation, and commitment to the next generation. Event Chairs Jodie & Steven J. Fishman and Leslie & Russ Robinson set the tone for the evening, joined by Birthright Israel Foundation President & CEO Elias Saratovsky for a night centered on Israel's resilience...

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Picking Up My Own Sword for Birthright Israel

July 20, 2026

Picking Up My Own Sword for Birthright Israel

by Maya Ohcana , Birthright Israel Madricha

I was born and raised in Highland Park, on Chicago's North Shore. My dad was Israeli, so Israel and Judaism were a huge part of my upbringing. I went to private Jewish school from kindergarten through fourth grade — I spoke Hebrew, I read Torah, I did it all. But I don't do my best learning in a classroom —...

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Reclaiming My Nigerian Jewish Heritage with Birthright Israel

July 15, 2026

Reclaiming My Nigerian Jewish Heritage with Birthright Israel

by Ike Amadi , 2026 Birthright Israel Alumnus

I was born in East Hollywood and grew up in LA. I'm studying communications at Cal State University, Northridge. My interests are finance, art, music, and film, and my hope is to build a career as a financial advisor. I didn't grow up Jewish. My family is from Nigeria, specifically Igbo. Four years ago, I began to get curious about...

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From a Queens Housing Project to Jewish Leadership with Birthright Israel 

June 23, 2026

From a Queens Housing Project to Jewish Leadership with Birthright Israel 

by Michelle Rojas-Tal , 2004 Birthright Israel Alumna

It was January of 2004, and I was nineteen years old, rolling my luggage out of Ben Gurion Airport for the first time. Something tumbled off the top. A young Israeli security guard bent down to pick it up. Our eyes locked, and the bells rang — at least for me. I looked at him and said, with all the...

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A Historic Night for Birthright Israel on Long Island

June 16, 2026

A Historic Night for Birthright Israel on Long Island

by Birthright Israel Foundation

The Long Island Jewish community gathered on June 11 for an evening of celebration, inspiration, and commitment to the Jewish future. The event was held to honor Jon Held, whose advocacy, leadership, and philanthropic investments have helped send thousands of young people on Birthright Israel trips. National Board Member and event co-chair Scott Jaffee opened the program alongside Long Island...

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Birthright Israel Is the Greatest Gift of All

June 11, 2026

Birthright Israel Is the Greatest Gift of All

by Michael Benzadon , 2026 Birthright Israel Alumnus and Onward Participant

I'm from Miami, and a biochemistry pre-med student at the University of Florida. My dream is to become a cardiovascular surgeon. My parents are Orthodox and Sephardic, so I grew up passionate about our traditions and customs. I had been hearing about Birthright Israel my whole life. My friends and I had been talking about it since we were in...

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Birthright Israel Showed I Have Another Home

June 11, 2026

Birthright Israel Showed I Have Another Home

by Drew Tovin , 2024 Birthright Israel Alumnus, 2026 Birthright Israel Onward Participant

I'm from Atlanta, Georgia, and a junior at the University of Florida. I attended Jewish day school through eighth grade, where we learned in both Hebrew and English. That's where I got my first real sense of Jewish identity. But at a public high school, that faded into the background. In college, I joined a Jewish fraternity. My new friends...

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