Birthright Israel Foundation Blog

Something magical happens when Jewish young adults decide to claim their birthright. They journey to Israel with few or no ties to their Jewishness, yet return with a powerful connection to their homeland and heritage. Most U.S. alumni end up embracing Jewish American culture in their daily lives. The cultural landscape of American Jewry looks different today than it did…   Read More 

Close your eyes. Imagine you are in Israel. Breathe in the smell of the spices in Machne Yehuda. Hear the Hebrew chatter coming from the crowded streets. In the hustle and bustle you can’t help but notice the dozens and dozens of young adults walking together, smiling, laughing, taking photos and wearing Birthright Israel name tags and t-shirts. As they…   Read More 

Over the past two decades, Birthright Israel Foundation has helped send more than 750,000 Jewish young adults to Israel. The vast majority returned with a newfound connection to their homeland and a lifelong commitment to their Jewish heritage. That’s why we call Birthright Israel a gift that keeps on giving. The trip itself is a gift, but it also gives…   Read More 

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 

As a child in Madison, Wisconsin, Bob Schuckit grew up in a Conservadox household where his Jewish heritage was extremely important. His parents were immigrants and valued the strength and support of their local Jewish community. Eventually, he left Wisconsin and attended Brandeis University. Here, he had a wonderful time and credits the school for keeping his passion for Judaism…   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 

Like hundreds of thousands of other Jewish parents, Rob Clarfeld first learned of Birthright Israel when his son went on a trip. He remembers his son Larry, then a student at the University of Vermont, informing him: “I’m going to Israel with a group called Birthright Israel.” Within a few weeks, Larry and his girlfriend (now wife) were in Israel;…   Read More 

Staffing Birthright Israel trips are the most rewarding aspect of my job. My desire to pursue Hillel work stems from prodigious positive memories formulated during 13 years of attending a Yeshiva day school. Over the course of ten days Birthright Israel trips are able to successfully create more positive memories and enable growth for students in ways in which Jewish…   Read More 

As a mom, it is important that my son Jonah achieve special milestones throughout his life. When Jonah was diagnosed with high functioning autism at a young age, I wasn’t sure if he would have the same opportunities as other kids. This included the chance to experience Jewish milestones.  Our family belongs to Temple Sinai in Atlanta, Georgia. Jonah went to preschool and Sunday school there, he became a Bar Mitzvah and he was confirmed. As a teenager, he was a madrich in the Sunday…   Read More 

Throughout the last twenty years, Birthright Israel Foundation has changed tens of thousands of young Jewish lives in Philadelphia. This is in large part due to the incredible local lay leadership, proving Philadelphia is truly the City of Brotherly Love. We must thank our local lay leaders Margie Honickman, Gail Norry, Susan Schwartz and the late Madlyn Abramson z'l who have worked…   Read More 

We are excited to announce Amy Jaffee as the new Co-Chair of Birthright Israel Foundation’s Long Island Leadership Cabinet. Amy is on a mission to ensure young Jewish adults worldwide receive the gift of Birthright Israel. It sounds like a massive project to undertake, right? For Amy, it’s personal.   Two decades ago, Amy heard of Birthright Israel before trips even began, when the project was in its infancy. She could…   Read More