Birthright Israel Foundation Blog

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 

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 

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 

The majority of Americans polled in a recent study by Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) believe that the Holocaust, or something like it, could happen again. Even so, 72 years after Israel was declared a state, many in the Diaspora still confront falsehoods and misinformation about the Jewish homeland. With assimilation and the changing times, some… Read More 

Growing up hearing stories about my Zayde who fought in the War of Independence in the Haganah, I always had a deep appreciation for the state of Israel and a strong desire to see this land for myself. After my Bar Mitzvah, I took my first trip to Israel where I explored the land of my ancestors. As I finished… Read More 

In 2004 I moved from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn to a small suburban town in New Jersey where I became the “token Jew.” Here, I could count on one hand how many other Jewish people there were. For me, it made growing up Jewish and accepting my faith hard. I am also “half Jewish” so some people described me as not being a… Read More 

As the leading educational project of the Jewish world, our mission is to help young Jews form unbreakable bonds with Israel and their Jewish heritage. So, even though Birthright Israel trips are paused, the team has been quite busy. Watch the short video below to see how they are engaging young Jews throughout the world. Birthright Israel's 'Community Features' Secondly,… Read More 

For countless Birthright Israel participants, the return flight home can be an overwhelming experience. After ten days of exploring the culture and history of your ancestors with 40 new friends, the thought of separation, and a return to normal life is daunting. With a new perspective on life, Birthright Israel alumni often find themselves asking, "what now?" On my trip, meeting Chen,… Read More 

Though more and more young Jews these days are conflicted about their heritage and faith, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z’’l was optimistic about the future of the Jewish people. “We are super-resilient people,” said the respected spiritual leader. “The more pressure we’ve been under, the stronger we’ve become.” Take Israel, for example. The Jewish State has faced unrelenting threats to… Read More 

I am a Jewish Inclusion Fellow at RespectAbility, but I’ve always had a complicated relationship with my Jewish identity. I have always enjoyed eating potato latkes at Hanukkah, and appreciated the ritual of reevaluating oneself during the time between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, but I know very little about Judaism, beyond these cultural touchstones. Some of this is because… Read More 

There were many years when Judaism was not a priority for Mark and Renee Kaufman’s daughter, Desiree. She had no interest in going to temple, following Jewish customs and traditions, or marrying a Jew. Then Desiree received the gift of a Birthright Israel trip, traveling for free along with a group of her peers. In Israel, she experienced what one… Read More