Earlier this week, Shirin Yadegar, the founder of LA Mom Magazine and a Birthright Israel parent, hosted an insightful Instagram Live with Elias Saratovsky, President and CEO of Birthright Israel Foundation. Their conversation delved into the critical significance of immersive Israel experiences for today’s young Jewish adults. Against the backdrop of rising challenges such as antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment on college campuses across the United States, Yadegar and Saratovsky explored how these experiences play a vital role in shaping Jewish identity and fostering connection to Israel.

Shirin, whose daughter Eden Yadegar is a Birthright Israel alum, has been a leader in the fight against antisemitism at Columbia University. Eden joined Birthright Israel Foundation in May for a webinar discussing campus antisemitism and ways the next generation is combatting the misinformation and hate.