Birthright Israel Foundation Blog

When Lisa Philipson was growing up in Atlanta, GA involvement in the Jewish community was seamless. She recalls the JCC being a center point of her childhood and BBYO the thing that every kid did. Plus, synagogues were always bustling with the young and the old. However, as the years went on the Jewish community evolved and the younger generations… Read More 

Colin Daly is a 2014 Birthright Israel alumnus who lives in Brookline, MA. He is one of the only hummus makers in New England, his profession and passion. Colin believes hummus is the best food globally because of the nutritional content and the low environmental impact chickpeas, tahini, and lemon juice have on the world. He shared, "I only see… Read More 

Happy birthday, trees! Tu Bishvat falls on January 17, 2022, which is the 15th of the Hebrew month of Shevat. Rabbis long ago established the 15th of Shevat as the official birthday of all trees regardless of when they were planted. The 15th of Shevat marks the season when the trees in Israel begin to bloom and bear new fruits.… Read More 

Many of the names below may surprise you but, with 750,000+ trip participants, several of them have risen to fame, and with fame comes a podcast. The Birthright Israel alumni below cover various topics from entrepreneurship to art and comedy. We also have a roundup of the best Jewish and Israel-themed podcasts on the planet if you're looking for even… Read More 

I get asked this question all the time: "what is tahini?" My answer is usually, "if you've had hummus, then you've had tahini. If you've had falafel (it tends to be a bit dry, so you add a sauce), that's tahini." At farmer's markets and while doing food demos at Whole Foods around New England, I often tell people that "Tahini… Read More 

Two organizations that provide Israel experiences for Jewish young adults, Birthright Israel and Onward Israel, are announcing their merger this week with the goal of strengthening the relationship between Diaspora Jews worldwide and the Jewish state. “Since its inception, Birthright has evolved from solely the traditional 10-day trip to cater to the growing needs and interests of our participants, such… Read More 

It is hard to believe that a year has passed since we lost Sheldon (z’l).  As we observe the yahrzeit (anniversary) of his death, while we are saddened by his absence, we must celebrate his life and the impact he has had on the Jewish people and the State of Israel. Nothing would make Sheldon Adelson prouder than watching the next… Read More 

In June 2019, when Mike and Lindsay departed for Israel, they hoped to meet new friends. They each had chosen a Miami-based Birthright Israel trip, hoping to connect with young Jews in their community. However, they each got much more than friendship. Read our interview to learn more about their Birthright Israel love story! Q&A with Mike and Lindsay  What… Read More 

The year 2021 came with its highs and lows, but for young Jewish adults, Birthright Israel was the peak. Despite a global pandemic, the trip prevailed and ensured the gift was there when young adults needed it most. Many signed up with a desire to reconnect with each other after long periods of isolation, while others were looking to see… Read More 

Alana Wortsman is a summer 2021 Birthright Israel alumna currently living in Hollywood, FL. She's a lover of all things food, Pitbulls, horses, travel, broadway, and serving her community. She's worked for amazing organizations such as March of Dimes, American Cancer Society and Feeding South Florida. Currently, Alana is the Business Development Manager at the Jack & Jill Center of… Read More 

On Tuesday, December 7, 2021 Birthright Israel Foundation supporters joined us for our first event at The Polo Club in Boca Raton, FL. The evening was generously hosted by South Palm Beach County Leadership Cabinet Member Roz August. Those in attendance had the pleasure of hearing remarks from Dr. Zohar Raviv, International Vice President of Educational Strategy at Birthright  Israel, as… Read More