Last week, Birthright Israel Foundation’s Guardians Society returned from an unforgettable mission to Israel. In just a few days, they experienced the solidarity, resilience, and hope that define this moment in Jewish life — and saw firsthand the power of Birthright Israel in action.

The mission began in the Golan Heights, with a helicopter tour and meetings with IDF officers who had once participated in Birthright Israel as Mifgash soldiers. In Jerusalem, the group met with President Herzog, and joined a Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremony with Birthright Israel participants. One young woman had just lost her grandmother and chose to take her name as her Hebrew name, honoring her memory in a deeply personal moment.

At Har Herzl, Guardians walked alongside participants past the fresh graves of young soldiers who had fallen since October 7. Later, in Southern Israel, the group volunteered with Birthright Israel Volunteers at Kibbutz Hatzerim, helping to restore green spaces for displaced families from Kibbutz Be’eri.

The group met Birthright Israel Excel Fellows who had gone on to serve in the IDF and are now leaders in business and tech. They also heard from actor and Birthright Israel alumnus James Maslow, who spoke passionately about how his trip inspired his commitment to Israel and Jewish advocacy.

The mission wasn’t without heartbreak. One night, the group was jolted awake by missile sirens. Just hours later, they learned of the murder of two young Israeli embassy staff members — Birthright Israel alumni — in Washington, D.C.

Moments like these are a painful reminder of the threats we face. But they also show us how important our mission is: to help Jewish young adults build identity, pride, and connection, especially in uncertain times.

Thank you to all our supporters for making this work possible.

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