Birthright Israel Foundation Blog

In May 2015, neither Tori or Dylan thought when they signed up for Birthright Israel, they'd meet their soulmate. Now, a few years later, they're engaged and can't wait to start their life together. We had an opportunity to catch up with them and learn how their Birthright Israel love story played out! Did either of you think you'd meet… Read More 

On Monday, October 28 and Tuesday, October 29, 2019, the Atlanta Jewish community hosted a back-to-back cocktail reception at the home of Andrea and Mike Leven to benefit Birthright Israel Foundation for our major donors ($10,000+). We shared an exceptional program with you including remarks from Zohar Raviv, International Vice President of Educational Strategy at Birthright Israel, Arel Moodie, Birthright… Read More 

Birthright Israel consecrated an unrealized dream that seemed intangible for so long. I grew up as a reform Jew, a fourth-generation American, in a predominantly Irish Catholic community. Looking back, I think we were culturally Jewish out of respect for my grandmother. Both my sisters and I went to Hebrew school on Sundays and Wednesdays, which concluded with our B’nai… Read More 

In Israel, an outdoor market is referred to as a shuk. The two most popular shvakim (plural for shuk in Hebrew) in Israel are Shuk HaCarmel in Tel Aviv and Machne Yehuda in Jerusalem. Whether you visit the shuk in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem you will be amazed at the vibrancy and friendliness of the shop owners. Almost anything can… Read More 

How do we address our challenging world through a Jewish lens? As we live in a complicated world, we look to the ancient wisdom of Jewish texts for inspiration. Preparing for the Yamim Noraim—the upcoming Days of Awe—I opened my favorite Jewish text, Kohelet (Ecclesiastes). We read this text each year during Sukkot. It reminds us of the fragility of… Read More 

Every once in awhile I am reminded of the power of miracles in the world. I have yet to witness a miracle as described in lore, like streams changing their currents for example, but every time I am in Israel and see a bus-load of young adults of all backgrounds and Jewish upbringings, wearing the easily recognizable Birthright Israel nametag,… Read More 

Since today is October 16, 2019, David Ben-Gurion's birthday, we thought it only right to speak of how his visions for the Negev and Zionism impacts participants of Birthright Israel and how it plays out in our educational framework. To begin, Birthright Israel is an opportunity to discover one's Jewish roots in a place that has been the root of the Jewish story for… Read More 

Dear Mr. Charles Bronfman: Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to be a participant in the Birthright Israel 2000 experience. The trip has left an impression on me, which will last a lifetime. How can I summarize this experience to you in just a few short paragraphs? This challenge is impossible. However, I… Read More 

Increasingly, and disturbingly, antisemitism and anti-Zionism can be found online and in particular, on university campuses around the world. That is what makes the work of Birthright Israel so important and inspiring. It is only by strengthening young Jews pride in, and connection to, their faith and ancient homeland that we will be able to defeat those who seek to… Read More 

I will always have a passion for traveling. I've lived in Philadelphia all my life and have always enjoyed exploring other states and countries. A few years ago, my parents and I discussed the possibility that I would go on Birthright Israel. I was mildly anxious as we took the idea and started to finalize it. It would have been… Read More 

As we enter this year’s High Holidays season, I am delighted to share a few thoughts with you all --- our extended Birthright Israel family. It is hard to believe, but Birthright Israel embarks on celebrating two decades of operation; and while we are surely gratified by this project’s unprecedented achievements on behalf of world Jewry and the State of… Read More