Birthright Israel Foundation Blog

For over two decades, young Jewish adults have built a stronger connection to the Jewish people and the State of Israel thanks to the Birthright Israel trip. Many participants attend with hopes of meeting new friends and learning more about themselves... And, sometimes, to their surprise, they find their bashert. In Hebrew, bashert means destiny and is often used to… Read More 

Each February Jewish organizations worldwide unite to raise awareness and promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with disabilities and mental health conditions. In 2009, the Jewish Special Education International Consortium announced that February would officially be Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance & Inclusion Month (JDAIM). Birthright Israel Foundation is proud to celebrate JDAIM and its endeavors. How to Take Part… Read More 

Birthright Israel was, by far, one of the most incredible experiences we have ever had as individuals and, of course, as a couple. What you see and learn is unimaginable and priceless. For us, it was truly life-changing. We both always wanted to go to Israel, and, at the time, the age cut-off for our trip was 27-years-old. Mark had just turned 27,… Read More 

You may have signed up for your Birthright Israel trip to have fun but probably quickly realized you were learning more than you'd ever thought. The goal of Birthright Israel is to help young Jews, like you, elicit an inner journey to discover what your Jewish identity and Israel means to you. We hope that when you arrive back in… Read More 

Halley and Joe Lipsky's love story began at JFK Airport on January 1, 2014, waiting to board a flight to Israel. As the entire Birthright Israel group made their way through El Al security, Halley and Joe were held back for a minute. This was when they started chatting and never stopped getting to know each other for the remainder… Read More 

Ethan Frank, a 26-year-old Atlanta native who graduated from the University of Texas in Austin, has a passion for Israel and the Jewish people. In 2015, he participated in a campus Birthright Israel trip. Ethan fell in love with the program and has since volunteered to staff numerous trips. Outside of his involvement with Birthright Israel, he's busy with his… 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 

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 

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 alum originally from Long Island, NY and today lives in South Florida. 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, the American Cancer Society, and Feeding South Florida. Currently, Alana is the Business Development Manager… Read More