Birthright Israel Foundation Blog

When Jennifer Gruber first heard of Birthright Israel, the only words she could say to her daughter were, "you have to do this." Earlier that evening, Jennifer and her husband Brad attended a UJA event where they heard an alumnus of Birthright Israel speak. They were stunned that they had only just heard of the trip. Jennifer was then gung-ho… Read More 

The Jewish festival of Shavuot initially marked the beginning of the harvest and now commemorates when the Israelites received the ten commandments and the Torah. In modern times, Jews began to eat dairy during Shavuot to celebrate the land of Israel flowing with milk and honey. Therefore, blintzes and cheesecakes have become all the rage. Birthright Israel Fellow and artist… 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 

For over two decades, young Jewish adults have built a stronger connection to the Jewish people and the State of Israel thanks to the Birthright Israel trip. Many participants attend with hopes of meeting new friends and learning more about themselves... And, sometimes, to their surprise, they find their bashert. In Hebrew, bashert means destiny and is often used to… 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 

Rachelle and Max both attended the University of Maryland, College Park where they unknowingly both signed up for the same Birthright Israel trip in January of 2015. It was on their trip, they connected and the sparks started to fly! Once Birthright Israel was over, they graduated from college and moved to Johnson City, TN so Rachelle could attend a… Read More 

Birthright Israel was, by far, one of the most incredible experiences we have ever had as individuals and, of course, as a couple. What you see and learn is unimaginable and priceless. For us, it was truly life-changing. We both always wanted to go to Israel, and, at the time, the age cut-off for our trip was 27-years-old. Mark had just turned 27,… 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 

Halley and Joe Lipsky's love story began at JFK Airport on January 1, 2014, waiting to board a flight to Israel. As the entire Birthright Israel group made their way through El Al security, Halley and Joe were held back for a minute. This was when they started chatting and never stopped getting to know each other for the remainder… Read More 

Hummus has become the dip of all dips thanks to foodies everywhere and certainly Birthright Israel alumni who return home craving it. The creamy, tangy texture pairs well with anything from fresh veggies to pita. In the last few years, it has become so popular in the US that it was named the official dip of the NFL. However, as… 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