Birthright Israel Foundation Blog

Gabriela Cohen is a Birthright Israel and Onward Israel alum born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. Throughout her childhood, she spent a lot of time in Israel but felt Birthright Israel gave her a deeper connection to the country. After her Birthright Israel trip, Gabriela participated in Onward Israel. Upon returning from her internship, Gabriela finished her Sustainability Science and… Read More 

At the beginning of 2022, Birthright Israel announced its merger with Onward Israel. Onward Israel is an immersive 6-10 week internship program in Israel that provides college students with a resume-building experience. The internship also allows participants to build relationships with their Israeli peers. What to Know About Onward Israel Onward Israel's Goal Onward Israel aims to provide its participants… Read More 

What do you get when three brothers claim their birthright and have the experience of a lifetime in Israel? You get triple the effect of what we at Birthright Israel Foundation like to call "the Birthright Israel bounce". The Birthright Israel bounce is when the trip's impact passes from the child to the parent and leaves an everlasting impression. And,… Read More 

Having attended Jewish day schools in the Atlanta area through high school, I learned all about Israel in the classroom — the history of the Western Wall, the wonders of the Dead Sea, and occasionally the complexities of Middle Eastern conflict. I even had the chance to visit the typical Israeli attractions during each of my two visits before summer… Read More 

Abbie Barkan was fortunate to participate in Onward Israel this past summer. Recently, Birthright Israel announced its merger with Onward Israel. Birthright Israel Foundation is lucky to make experiences like Abbie's possible for young Jews in Atlanta and around the country. Below you will learn more about Abbie's Onward Israel internship and time living in Israel. Q&A with Abbie Barkan… Read More 

Sarah Fels and Corey Dicker have an inspirational Birthright Israel love story that spans beyond the 10 days of the trip. It is because of connections the two made from prior Birthright Israel experiences that they are married today. More so, the young couple has made Birthright Israel Foundation one of their top philanthropic priorities. The article below, written by… Read More 

My name is Zoe Newman, and I am a Kindergarten teacher in Cincinnati, OH. I am originally from Cleveland, but I went to the University of Cincinnati for college, got a job after graduating, and decided to stay! Coming back from Birthright Israel, I would say without a doubt that I had the best ten days of my life. I… Read More 

Eric Kenyon is a 2022 Birthright Israel alum currently living in Columbus, Ohio, who wanted to take advantage of a free trip to Israel. However, like countless others, Eric quickly realized this trip was turning out to be life-changing. Eric’s wife and son convinced him that spending two weeks away was a good idea, and he is grateful that they… Read More 

How do you go from being a 19-year-old soldier in the IDF to becoming an international Jewish and Israel educator, an author, and a public speaker on some of the world's largest events within ten years? The answer is simple: You just go on a Birthright Israel trip, and sooner or later, your life will never be the same. Because… Read More 

It was always a question of "when," not "if" I were to go on Birthright Israel. As a Chinese, Jewish, autistic, adoptee, with a single Ashkenazi mom (a mouthful!), I'm constantly exploring my intersectional identity. Being Jewish was a core part of my identity, and I wanted to connect with the diverse, international Jewish tribe – and eat a lot… Read More 

Ted Rosner is a 2022 Birthright Israel alumnus from Westchester County, New York. He grew up in an interfaith family and was excited to participate in the program to learn more about his Jewish roots. Before his Birthright Israel trip, Ted worked at the Cato Institute as a Development intern, which he enjoyed very much. He graduated from Sacred Heart… Read More