A staff member observes how Birthright's Special Needs trips...aren't especially different from any other. Ben Gurion Airport, early in the morning, a group of young Canadian or American Jews get off the air-conditioned airplane straight into the hot Mediterranean climate, tired after a long flight, on their faces a mixture of pressure and excitement is evident. They place their suitcases… Read More
At Adath Israel, a typical day doesn’t really exist, Julia Campbell said. Campbell has worked as the program and marketing coordinator at Adath Israel for just over a year. At the Merion Station synagogue, you can find the 25-year-old organizing events, meeting with staff, communicating with congregants and, right now, planning for the High Holidays, in addition to many other… Read More
During my time at Tufts University, I spent months considering whether or not to participate in a Birthright Israel trip. In weighing my decision, I decided that if I were ever to do Birthright I wanted my trip to be through an institution I knew would respect all sides of the geopolitical issue at play. As a recent graduate, the… Read More
Leadership & Supporters
Birthright at 30? Organization Pilots Travel Experience for Older (Young) Adults
Some 2,000 young adults who thought they had missed the chance to travel on Taglit-Birthright Israel when they turned 27 – the regular program is for individuals 18 to 26 – are getting a chance to experience the touted 10-day free trip to Israel. This summer, and again in October and November, Birthright is piloting a series of trips for… Read More
A year and a half ago I joined Birthright Israel Foundation as President & CEO. With me I brought a lifetime of business experience and an intense passion for the Jewish people and the State of Israel. In Israel, I saw the Birthright Israel program all over the country as buses drove by on the highway, logos were placed in… Read More
Four years ago, I boarded a plane to take a journey with Birthright Israel. I had very few expectations. As a senior in college, the past President of a national Jewish sorority, and a member of the Chabad Student Board, I was confident in my Jewish identity. I was raised in a strong Jewish community, attended Hebrew School twice a… Read More
Leadership & Supporters
Millennial Jews are not Distancing Themselves from Israel, Quite the Contrary
News stories have warned us of an unprecedented distancing between Israeli and North American Jewry. The recent decision of actress Natalie Portman to turn down the Genesis Prize – an award that celebrates Jewish achievement and contributions to humanity – has only exacerbated these fears. It seems that each side doesn’t fully grasp the difficulties the other is facing, and… Read More
When I turned 16, my father told me I was Jewish. This isn’t uncommon in Russia, where I was born and raised. Many people discover their Jewish roots later in life. But I just didn’t think I’d be one of them. I spent the next few weeks poring over family documents – birth certificates, passports, letters. They reaffirmed the story… Read More
On the evening of Sunday, April 15, 2018, in the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City, we celebrated the extraordinary philanthropy of Dr. Miriam & Sheldon G. Adelson, recipients of the Guardians of the Jewish Future Award. On this very special occasion, we also heard from our Founders and leaders from the Birthright Israel family, all who beautifully articulated the incredible impact of… Read More
In a conversation guided by Dr. Zohar Raviv, Birthright Israel’s International Vice President of Education, we invite you to discover why this year is different from all other years. We encourage you to look deeper at the meaning of the Passover story, the incredible 10-day journey of a Birthright Israel trip and discover why 2018 is one of the most… Read More
Here at Birthright Israel Foundation, we love connecting young Jewish adults with all aspects of Jewish culture – especially ones that involve silly costumes, noisy groggers, and delicious food like hamantaschen. Hamantaschen are triangle-shaped cookies filled with preserved fruits, nuts, or chocolate usually eaten on Purim. The history of the cookie is just as exciting as the flavors it’s filled with. So, if you’ve… Read More
