Spring has sprung. Passover is here and you’re already thirsting for the four promises of redemption. Although it’s tempting to think about reclining, everything will fall flatter than the bread of affliction without a little Passover planning. On Passover, we like to mingle the holiday’s greatest hits with a few contemporary recipes. Bubbe’s Matzah Ball Soup is a keeper, of… Read More
For centuries the Jewish people have been dressing up to celebrate Purim and pay tribute to the bravery of Queen Esther. The festivities of the holiday include reading of the Megillah, shaking our groggers, and eating delicious hamantaschen. Are you ready for some Purim fun? Take our quiz below to see how much you know about the Jewish holiday of… Read More
The one thing everybody looks forward to on Purim is eating hamantaschen. This is why we're partnering with Birthright Israel alumna and chef Alexis Sicklick to bring you unique and easy hamantaschen recipes. Keep scrolling for Chef Sicklick's Blackberry Mojito and Delicata Squash hamantaschen recipes. History of Hamantaschen Hamantaschen are known for their unique triangle shape representing the 3-corners of… Read More
Since we are in the month of giving thanks, we want to share a message of gratitude. Thank you for believing in Birthright Israel through these uncertain times. Thank you for your unwavering support of what this educational trip can do for young Jews worldwide. In the video below, you'll hear why 10 Birthright Israel alumni are thankful to you!… Read More
Holidays
Leadership & Supporters
A Message from Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks to the Supporters of Birthright Israel
Dear Friends, In decades to come, we will look back on 2020 as a watershed moment. The COVID-19 pandemic has already changed so much. We are in the midst of a public health crisis, an economic crisis, a race crisis, a law and order crisis, the ripples of which have been felt around the world. To rebuild what we have… Read More
A dangerous misconception exists; the Jewish people are oriented to the past. Our collective age, deep connection to ancient traditions, our lived memory of events centuries before our time, the image of Tevye singing, “Tradition!” and more sometimes belie the truth: We are not a people of the past. We are a people of the future. In our tradition, we count up. Whether it… Read More
The Jewish High Holy Days, also known as the 10 Days of Repentance or Awe, are approaching faster than three blasts of a ram’s horn. It’s time for us to let go of the old as we embrace the Jewish New Year. A time of reflection and renewal, the High Holy Days kick off with Rosh Hashanah, Hebrew for “head… Read More
Each year as the summer winds down, the Jewish community prepares to observe the High Holy Days. The evening breeze, the anticipation of fall, are all part of the build-up to Rosh Hashanah. We enjoy the last minutes of summer, we prepare our children and grandchildren to return to school, we shop for dresses, ties, and shoes to add to… Read More
Rosh Hashanah is first referred to in our texts as Yom HaZikaron - the Day of Remembrance. It is not until the Talmud that the idea of the “new year” is even associated with the day, and liturgically speaking, many of our prayers describe Rosh Hashanah as one of memory - a reflection on the past rather than an aspiration for the… Read More
Whether you haven’t pulled an all-nighter since studying for your college exams or you stay up studying Torah every year, the Jewish festival of Shavuot is a smorgasbord of delicious food. The holiday is known, after all, as the Feast of Weeks. While blintzes and cheesecake are often the stars of the show, they’re far from the only Shavuot recipes… Read More
Every year Jews in Israel and around the world celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israel Independence Day. Yom Haatzmaut marks the establishment of the modern State of Israel. Today, in Western Jewish communities, Yom Haatzmaut is incorporated into Jewish calendars and a public celebration follows. This all marks and of course remembers the original date when Israel's Declaration of Independence was signed… Read More
