In December 1999, as the entire world was preparing for the impending doom of Y2K, I received a phone call that changed my life. A new, innovative idea had just launched with the goal of reversing the decades long trend of young Jews feeling less connected to their Jewish identity and to Israel. On the other end of the phone… Read More
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Birthright Israel Foundation Blog
Alums
Trip Highlights
September 26, 2023
Dear Donor: As a Person with a Physical Disability, I Never Thought a Trip Like This Was Possible
by
Alyssa Shangold • Naples, FL
Dear Birthright Israel Foundation Donor: Growing up, I was raised as a reformed Jew. I went to Sunday school and synagogue, celebrated the different holidays, and had a Bat Mitzvah when I came of age. As a Jewish teen, I knew I wanted to participate in a Birthright Israel trip to be able to explore the environment and culture of… Read More
Alums
Trip Highlights
September 21, 2023
Birthright Israel’s Impact on Israelis: Yael Fuks
by
Yael Fuks • Jerusalem, Israel
I heard about Birthright Israel from my friends in the army who participated in the program. They said it was their best experience during their military service and that it changed their entire view of the Jewish Diaspora. I thought they must be exaggerating. It's only a few days, how significant can the experience be? Anyway, I decided to try… Read More
Alums
Trip Highlights
September 7, 2023
Meet 2023 Las Vegas Alum Ben Khavkin
by
Birthright Israel Foundation
In the interview below, Birthright Israel alum Ben Khavkin from Las Vegas, NV, shares how his trip impacted his life. The 21-year-old participated in Birthright Israel in the summer of 2023 before starting medical school. Ben is now a student of medicine at Touro University in Nevada; his passions include medicine, science, and service. Q&A with Ben Khavkin What inspired… Read More
Alums
Trip Highlights
August 29, 2023
Take It from an Alum, Birthright Israel Is the Jewish People’s Greatest Asset
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Birthright Israel Foundation
The creation of my Jewish identity has been a rollercoaster of negative and positive experiences. I grew up at a reform temple in Indianapolis and always enjoyed dinner with my parents on Friday or Saturday nights. It wasn't a traditional Shabbat dinner, but it was a family dinner that reinforced the importance of togetherness, which is a critical component of… Read More
Alums
Trip Highlights
August 22, 2023
Birthright Israel Is My Blessing
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Alexa Summers • Kansas City, KS
It was March 2020. I had just gotten back from staffing my first Birthright Israel trip. I sat in the four walls of my room following posts on Secret Tel Aviv about the pandemic, wondering if I would ever go back. I had so much love for Israel, and nowhere to go with it. But, what were the odds that… Read More
Alums
Events
Leadership & Supporters
August 14, 2023
Allison Koffman & Jeff Lipsitz Host Birthright Israel Foundation’s Annual Hamptons Event
by
Birthright Israel Foundation
On Thursday, August 10, 2023, philanthropists Allison Koffman & Jeff Lipsitz hosted Birthright Israel Foundation's annual Hamptons event at their home. It was a spectacular evening celebrating and supporting Birthright Israel's programs. Guests enjoyed hearing from Jeff Lipsitz, who shared important updates regarding the classic 10-day trip and why his family has made the program a philanthropic priority. Jeff also… Read More
Alums
Trip Highlights
August 8, 2023
How Birthright Israel, Onward & Excel Shaped Who I Am Today
by
Birthright Israel Foundation
Birthright Israel is more than just a trip; it is a life-changing experience that has the power to connect young Jewish adults to their heritage, community, and identity in ways that few programs can match. As a participant of Birthright Israel, Birthright Israel Onward, and Birthright Excel, I can attest to the transformative nature of each of these programs. A… Read More
Alums
Trip Highlights
August 7, 2023
Dear Donor: Your Gift Changed My Life & Nourished My Jewish Soul
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Michael Valdes • New York, NY
Dear Birthright Israel Foundation Donor: It all started when I hopped onto Birthright Israel's site, and it felt like trying to get Taylor Swift tickets. I needed to book this once-in-a-lifetime trip (I'll explain why soon.) Thank God, I secured my spot, and my journey back to Israel began. First off, I want to say thank you. Your contributions have… Read More
Alums
Trip Highlights
July 24, 2023
How Birthright Israel Redefined My Life: A Personal Story
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Talia Escobedo • New York, NY
Birthright Israel was the impetus to stepping into Jewish life as a leader, not just a follower. Before I went on the trip, I did not have a strong sense of what it meant to belong in a Jewish community. But through my experiences on the trip and in the years since, I have found a strong sense of purpose… Read More
Alums
Trip Highlights
July 19, 2023
Disability Advocate Tours Israel on Segway as Part of Outdoor-Focused Birthright Trip
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Charlie Summers
Disability rights advocate Brandon Farbstein had just finished a tour of Jerusalem’s Old City when he rolled up to the Holyland Café on his Segway, a trusted mobility aid, on a warm Sunday afternoon earlier this month. He was in Israel for the first time as part of an outdoor-focused Birthright trip, which takes participants to explore the country on… Read More
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