Birthright Israel Foundation Blog

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