Birthright Israel Foundation Blog

I get asked this question all the time: "what is tahini?" My answer is usually, "if you've had hummus, then you've had tahini. If you've had falafel (it tends to be a bit dry, so you add a sauce), that's tahini." At farmer's markets and while doing food demos at Whole Foods around New England, I often tell people that "Tahini… 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 

It is hard to believe that a year has passed since we lost Sheldon (z’l).  As we observe the yahrzeit (anniversary) of his death, while we are saddened by his absence, we must celebrate his life and the impact he has had on the Jewish people and the State of Israel. Nothing would make Sheldon Adelson prouder than watching the next… Read More 

In June 2019, when Mike and Lindsay departed for Israel, they hoped to meet new friends. They each had chosen a Miami-based Birthright Israel trip, hoping to connect with young Jews in their community. However, they each got much more than friendship. Read our interview to learn more about their Birthright Israel love story! Q&A with Mike and Lindsay  What… Read More 

The year 2021 came with its highs and lows, but for young Jewish adults, Birthright Israel was the peak. Despite a global pandemic, the trip prevailed and ensured the gift was there when young adults needed it most. Many signed up with a desire to reconnect with each other after long periods of isolation, while others were looking to see… Read More 

Alana Wortsman is a summer 2021 Birthright Israel alum originally from Long Island, NY and today lives in South Florida. She's a lover of all things food, Pitbulls, horses, travel, broadway, and serving her community. She's worked for amazing organizations such as March of Dimes, the American Cancer Society, and Feeding South Florida. Currently, Alana is the Business Development Manager… Read More 

On Tuesday, December 7, 2021 Birthright Israel Foundation supporters joined us for our first event at The Polo Club in Boca Raton, FL. The evening was generously hosted by South Palm Beach County Leadership Cabinet Member Roz August. Those in attendance had the pleasure of hearing remarks from Dr. Zohar Raviv, International Vice President of Educational Strategy at Birthright  Israel, as… Read More 

Hailey Desser is a 2015 Birthright Israel alumna originally from Baltimore, MD who now resides in Boca Raton, FL. She's a full-time real estate agent who is passionate about pickleball, real estate, and fitness. Upon moving to Boca Raton, Hailey founded a Jewish Social Networking group on Facebook to help connect Jews of all ages to each other. In our… Read More 

For me to share more about my Birthright Israel experience, I need to start with one of my favorite stories. Here we go:  Once upon a time, there was a man who was walking along the beach early one morning after a big storm and found the shore covered with starfish as far as the eye could see.   Off in the distance, the… Read More 

Israel has always been a bit of a mystery to me, and I know I am not alone in that. Israel is often misunderstood, even controversial. I’ve long wanted to answer the questions and share what I know, but first, I needed to learn, experience, and understand the answers myself.   I grew up in a home where we celebrated… Read More 

#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving that helps people and organizations transform their communities and worlds. That is why I'm partnering with Birthright Israel Foundation to help transform our Jewish world and the future of our people this Giving Tuesday. As many of you know, eight years ago, when I volunteered to lead a Birthright Israel trip, I met… Read More