Birthright Israel Foundation Blog

Coming from a mixed family, with what many might call an unorthodox Jewish upbringing, I’m probably the last person you’d expect to dedicate my professional and much of my personal life to advocating for the Jewish people and Israel. I grew up with a very unaffiliated Jewish father, a Chinese-American mother, and an uber-liberal, atheist Jewish grandmother. I always knew… Read More 

On Tuesday, April 26, 2022, in Miami, Birthright Israel Foundation supporters came together for an insider's briefing. The event featured the editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post, Yaakov Katz. He updated the attendees on the latest developments in Israel and the importance of Birthright Israel as a strategic asset to the Jewish people. MAKE A GIFT NOW The event was generously hosted at the… Read More 

There are many lessons and sites young Jews on Birthright Israel will never forget, and perhaps the place that impacts participants the most is Yad Vashem. The museum, known as the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, was established in 1953 and is the globe's leader in Holocaust education. Tripadvisor ranks it as one of the Top 25 Museums in the World.… Read More 

To start, Birthright Israel changed my life. It has changed my life spiritually, mentally, romantically (which you will hear about later). I want to leave you with suspense! When I am asked to share my Birthright Israel story, it's difficult to decide where to begin because my experience has provided me with so many different outlets and avenues that impacted… Read More 

Ellen Voskoboynik was born in the United States to former Soviet immigrants. Her parents, who fled the former Soviet Union as refugees, raised her to have a strong respect for her Jewish heritage. Ellen participated in Birthright Israel through the Indiana University Hillel, where she became a Bat Mitzvah on the trip. Ellen is now a practicing emergency room nurse… Read More 

I went on Birthright after my second year of college in May 2019. Like many Birthright Israel trips, my journey started at the airport. My dad and stepmom dropped me off at the airport. Margot, my stepmom, wanted to come with me to the airport so she could see a Birthright Israel trip up close. After two goodbyes and many… Read More 

Passover 2022 begins the evening of Friday, April 15, and ends on Saturday, April 23, and there is no better main dish to serve than a beef brisket! For centuries, Ashkenazi Jews have been serving beef brisket on Passover, Rosh Hashanah, and Sukkot. Some say it is because it was an inexpensive cut of meat for the Jews living in… Read More 

Shani Levi is a recent Birthright Israel alumna from Johannesburg, South Africa. After her Birthright Israel trip, she went on to study midrasha in Jerusalem, Israel. Shani loves getting involved in her community and helping people — something her trip further inspired her to do. In our interview below, read how her trip impacted her life. Q&A with Shani Levi… Read More 

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 

Stephen Grand believed in Birthright Israel so much that he wanted to ensure its success and impact would live on after his lifetime. Stephen bequeathed $5 million to Birthright Israel Foundation, leaving his mark on the Jewish people, the State of Israel, and Birthright Israel, forever. Stephen spent significant time and resources dedicated to causes that strengthened Israel and the… Read More 

Levi Snow and Megan McKee do not have the traditional Birthright Israel love story. Before their trip in 2014, the two had already been dating and met through the Indiana University Hillel. Their journey helped solidify their love for her each other. They both signed up for Birthright Israel at the beginning of their relationship, not knowing what the future… Read More