Birthright Israel Foundation Blog

The Birthright Israel experience is very different for an Israeli young adult than our American counterparts. When I was asked to join a Birthright Israel group in Tel Aviv for three days, I said, "of course, it's a free vacation." Most of all, I was excited to have time off from the army. I was very excited about this "free… Read More 

I was incredibly fortunate to go on a Birthright Israel trip in July 2021 when Israel opened its borders during the pandemic. I was eager to have this experience and am grateful to share more about it with you. Growing up, I was raised in a home that was a mix of reform, conservative and orthodox, from my parents and… Read More 

While I was in high school in the summer of 2012, I took my first trip to Israel with BBYO, the Jewish youth movement I was involved in. I was thrilled to be spending three weeks on a trip to Israel, but part of me was also a little sad — I knew that by going on this trip, I… Read More 

Going on Birthright Israel in the middle of a pandemic in the winter seemed like an intimidating trip. Although my trip was canceled and rescheduled many times due to COVID, the excitement of participating never left me. Once in Israel, I knew I was in for a fantastic jam-packed 10-day adventure. I could speak to many aspects of what Birthright… Read More 

I grew up on the North Side of Chicago but commuted to the south side to go to Akiba Schechter Jewish Day School for preschool and elementary school. My grandma was a teacher at the preschool and had all of my cousins and me as students. At Akiba, I came to value and love my Judaism. I would eagerly await… Read More 

Growing up in a Jewish household, I always heard about the Birthright Israel trips that my friends and family members took part in. What always shocked me was realizing the immense connections people would describe after the trip. When choosing where to study abroad as a Junior in college, I decided on Tel Aviv. I wanted to feel that same… Read More 

Joshua Mitchell‑Arbital was born in Tulsa, OK, and participated in Birthright Israel in 2021. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Central Oklahoma and is currently getting his Master's in International Studies focusing on Culture, Power, and Social Movements at the University of San Francisco. At the same time, Joshua is also the event and programming intern for… Read More 

Each February Jewish organizations worldwide unite to raise awareness and promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with disabilities and mental health conditions. In 2009, the Jewish Special Education International Consortium announced that February would officially be Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance & Inclusion Month (JDAIM). Birthright Israel Foundation is proud to celebrate JDAIM and its endeavors. How to Take Part… Read More 

You may have signed up for your Birthright Israel trip to have fun but probably quickly realized you were learning more than you'd ever thought. The goal of Birthright Israel is to help young Jews, like you, elicit an inner journey to discover what your Jewish identity and Israel means to you. We hope that when you arrive back in… Read More 

Ethan Frank, a 26-year-old Atlanta native who graduated from the University of Texas in Austin, has a passion for Israel and the Jewish people. In 2015, he participated in a campus Birthright Israel trip. Ethan fell in love with the program and has since volunteered to staff numerous trips. Outside of his involvement with Birthright Israel, he's busy with his… Read More 

Two organizations that provide Israel experiences for Jewish young adults, Birthright Israel and Onward Israel, are announcing their merger this week with the goal of strengthening the relationship between Diaspora Jews worldwide and the Jewish state. “Since its inception, Birthright has evolved from solely the traditional 10-day trip to cater to the growing needs and interests of our participants, such… Read More