Imagine going about your everyday life. Then someone tells you something fascinating, for instance, like being told about an opportunity to go to a new country completely free with this organization called Birthright Israel. It almost sounds too good to be true, right? However, after doing some research, I realized it was good and true! Most of all, I realized… Read More
Melissa and Dor Flayshman met on January 9, 2009, a few days into their Birthright Israel trip. Dor was one of the Mifgash (Israeli soldiers) and Melissa remembers he spoke fluent English and was very funny. She specifically remembers being instantly drawn to him and by that first evening, the pair was inseparable. It was hard saying goodbye once their… Read More
Israel is a young country with a flourishing modern culture. You probably already knew that, but it comes as a surprise to some Birthright Israel participants. Many of these Jewish young adults, aged 18-32, don’t give much thought to life in Israel or Jewish living. After the educational and experiential Birthright Israel journey, they enthusiastically embrace their Jewish roots. “Unless… Read More
For nearly all 20-plus years of Birthright Israel, Palm Beach area philanthropists and alumni have played a significant role in the organization. Nestled in Florida's Gold Coast, Palm Beach is home to one of America's largest Jewish communities making it an ideal place for nonprofits, such as Birthright Israel to thrive. Since the program's founding, over 4,000 young Jews from our Palm… Read More
My name is Matthew Labkovski, and I currently live in Boca Raton, Florida. I'm a 2019 alumnus of Birthright Israel, currently in a Post-Bacc program, preparing to go to med school (Jewish doctor, am I right?) and working at overnight camps during the summer. I love anything to do with kids (I want to be a pediatrician), sports and exercise,… Read More
Brady Crane is a 2018 Birthright Israel alumnus originally from Boca Raton, FL. After Brady's Birthright Israel trip he decided to make Aliyah and join the Israel Defense Forces. He now serves in the Nahal unit, one of the IDF's main infantry brigades, and lives at Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak in the Negev. Here is a little bit about Brady and… Read More
We both fell in love with Israel from our first trips, me at 15 and Matthew at 20. As we got older, we wanted to share that love with others and both began staffing travel programs to Israel, including Birthright Israel trips and we are both Birthright Israel Fellows (from different cohorts). In December of 2016, we were both staffing… Read More
Risa Cohn is a 2007 Birthright Israel alumna from New York City. She is the Founder of Resume Maven, a company dedicated to working with college students and young professionals on resume design and interview preparation. When she isn't helping college students she is the Director of Student Activities in Higher Education. She also enjoys coaching student startups from New… Read More
Growing up, my Jewish identity was important to my family, so it was important to me. However, as a young adult, I decided that I wanted to discover what Judaism meant to me. More so, I wanted to define what role Judaism would play in my life as an adult. This longing, combined with my sense of wanderlust, inspired me… Read More
As a philanthropist with a passion for learning and educating, Gene Hoffman is a strong supporter of Birthright Israel Foundation. Though he and other Jews of his generation faced harsh antisemitism and restrictions against Jews while growing up, he believes it made them feel even more connected to their Jewish heritage. Jews of his era, he said, “understood our people… Read More
Alumni
Love Stories
Trip Highlights
How Loren Brovarnik of 90 Day Fiancé Found Love on Birthright Israel
Are you a fan of the hit reality TV show 90 Day Fiancé? Well, if you are, then you're probably familiar with the most famous Birthright Israel love story ever - Loren and Alexei Brovarnik. In 2013, when Loren (Goldstone) Brovarnik, a Birthright Israel alumna, volunteered to be a madricha (trip staff) and boarded a plane bound for Israel, she… Read More
