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
Dear Partners & Supporters, This year, instead of asking why this night is different from any other night, we may be asking ourselves, “why is this Passover different from any other in history?” The answer is that more people than ever before are sharing a “virtual” Seder with family and friends. In the true spirit of community and faith, we've… Read More
I went on my Birthright Israel trip in 2011 at the ripe age of 19. Like many participants in this demographic, I was excited about the experience (who doesn’t love the rare gift of free travel?) and eager to explore my Jewish identity more. My Jewish upbringing wasn’t atypical for an American Jew; I went to synagogue on the high… Read More
Let's add a little Israeli flare to Thanksgiving this year and serve a delicious Israeli salad. So many of our participants not only discover the history of Israel but the flavors as well, and we can almost guarantee that after their Birthright Israel trip, they love Israeli salad. What You Need 2 plum tomatoes, seeds removed and diced 1 bell… Read More
Latkes are a staple in Jewish households during Hanukkah, but have you thought of serving them on Thanksgiving? Many of us eat sweet potatoes on Thanksgiving, drizzled with melted marshmallows, in a casserole or in a sweet potato pie, but this year we encourage you to serve our Spiced Sweet Potato Latkes. Why? Because who does not love the goodness of a golden-fried potato pancake with a Turkey-Day twist. For a healthier twist,… Read More
How do we address our challenging world through a Jewish lens? As we live in a complicated world, we look to the ancient wisdom of Jewish texts for inspiration. Preparing for the Yamim Noraim—the upcoming Days of Awe—I opened my favorite Jewish text, Kohelet (Ecclesiastes). We read this text each year during Sukkot. It reminds us of the fragility of… Read More
Every once in awhile I am reminded of the power of miracles in the world. I have yet to witness a miracle as described in lore, like streams changing their currents for example, but every time I am in Israel and see a bus-load of young adults of all backgrounds and Jewish upbringings, wearing the easily recognizable Birthright Israel nametag,… Read More
Increasingly, and disturbingly, antisemitism and anti-Zionism can be found online and in particular, on university campuses around the world. That is what makes the work of Birthright Israel so important and inspiring. It is only by strengthening young Jews pride in, and connection to, their faith and ancient homeland that we will be able to defeat those who seek to… Read More
Dear Friends, The High Holidays are a special time for the Jewish people. Deep rooted in religious practices and tradition, these days are synonymous with community. It is during these holy days that the Jewish people unite together in many shapes and forms to welcome the New Year as one. As we sit in our respective synagogues, we can take… Read More
We are excited to share 2012 Birthright Israel alumna, Lindsay Morrison's favorite High Holiday recipe on the blog! Keep scrolling to learn how to make this delicious treat and read more about the impact Birthright Israel had on Lindsay. We promise her interview is just as sweet as the recipe! Ingredients (1) 8-9” pie dishpomegranate seeds, to top For the… Read More
Jake Cohen is a one-of-a-kind Birthright Israel alumnus and a nice Jewish boy. His recipes and words have been featured on Food 52, Huffington Post Taste, Food and Wine Magazine, and Saveur Magazine to name a few. Jake is also a NY Times best-selling author and recently published his first cookbook, Jew-Ish. Jake went on his Birthright Israel journey in… Read More
