Menu

Birthright Israel Foundation Blog

Birthright Israel Taught Me About Jewish Unity and Connection
Alums Trip Highlights

November 20, 2023

Birthright Israel Taught Me About Jewish Unity and Connection

by Jared Stone , Birthright Israel Alum

Just a few months ago I was in Israel for the semester during a fraught time in Israeli history with the democratic debate and protests surrounding judicial reform. You see, participating in Birthright Israel inspired me to live and study in a Jewish environment that met how I identify with Judaism: an Israel that is bright, boisterous, and confident. Birthright...

Read More
Birthright Israel Invites Alumni to Volunteer in Harvesting Abandoned Fields
Alums Trip Highlights

November 7, 2023

Birthright Israel Invites Alumni to Volunteer in Harvesting Abandoned Fields

by Matt Lebovic

NEW YORK — After sending 850,000 Diaspora young adults on free educational trips to the Jewish state, Taglit-Birthright Israel has invited alumni to return to Israel in order to harvest crops in the country’s center, the organization announced Monday. With the infrastructure to register masses of volunteers already in place, Birthright is recruiting alum for kibbutzim and moshavim in need...

Read More
Physician Alums Volunteer with Magen David Adom in Israel
Alums Trip Highlights

November 2, 2023

Physician Alums Volunteer with Magen David Adom in Israel

by Birthright Israel Foundation

Birthright Israel alums have been standing up for the Jewish community and showing their solidarity with Israel in many ways. It was no surprise to us to learn that when Magen David Adom Israel sought volunteers from the United States to assist with the war in Israel and help best equip the country’s needs through IL-USDocAID, that three out of...

Read More
Birthright Israel Worked
Alums Trip Highlights

October 23, 2023

Birthright Israel Worked

by Alina Dizik , Freelance Journalist

As I doom-scrolled social media after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, in between photos of kidnapped and dead Israelis, I saw my Facebook friends showing their solidarity with Israel by posting grainy photos of their youthful faces and physiques in front of touristy backgrounds from their Birthright Israel trips. I suddenly realized what Birthright Israel’s founders knew all...

Read More
A Video of Connection & Support from Alum Jenna Barricklo
Alums Leadership & Supporters Trip Highlights

October 20, 2023

A Video of Connection & Support from Alum Jenna Barricklo

by Birthright Israel Foundation

Birthright Israel Foundation remains completely heartbroken and devasted since the October 8th terrorist attack in Israel. As an organization, our primary focus is the safety and security of the State of Israel and the humanitarian concerns on the ground. During this time, we are so proud of our alums who are our alums are doing all they can to stand...

Read More
“Little Did I Know That the Five Days the Israeli Participants Joined Us Would Leave an Everlasting Impression on Me.”
Alums Trip Highlights

October 2, 2023

“Little Did I Know That the Five Days the Israeli Participants Joined Us Would Leave an Everlasting Impression on Me.”

by Birthright Israel Foundation

Get ready to meet 2023 Birthright Israel alum Chloe Bogen in our interview below! Chloe, who grew up in New York and Florida, always knew she'd claim her birthright when the time was right. She also knew the trip would be extra special if she shared the experience with her college friends at the University of Texas at Austin. However,...

Read More
Will They Fight or Flee? The Answer Is Up to Us
Alums Leadership & Supporters Trip Highlights

September 27, 2023

Will They Fight or Flee? The Answer Is Up to Us

by Elias Saratovsky , President & CEO, Birthright Israel Foundation

In December 1999, as the entire world was preparing for the impending doom of Y2K, I received a phone call that changed my life. A new, innovative idea had just launched with the goal of reversing the decades long trend of young Jews feeling less connected to their Jewish identity and to Israel. On the other end of the phone...

Read More
Dear Donor: As a Person with a Physical Disability, I Never Thought a Trip Like This Was Possible
Alums Trip Highlights

September 26, 2023

Dear Donor: As a Person with a Physical Disability, I Never Thought a Trip Like This Was Possible

by Alyssa Shangold , 2023 Birthright Israel Alum

Dear Birthright Israel Foundation Donor: Growing up, I was raised as a reformed Jew. I went to Sunday school and synagogue, celebrated the different holidays, and had a Bat Mitzvah when I came of age. As a Jewish teen, I knew I wanted to participate in a Birthright Israel trip to be able to explore the environment and culture of...

Read More
Birthright Israel’s Impact on Israelis: Yael Fuks
Alums Trip Highlights

September 21, 2023

Birthright Israel’s Impact on Israelis: Yael Fuks

by Yael Fuks , 2023 Israeli Participant

I heard about Birthright Israel from my friends in the army who participated in the program. They said it was their best experience during their military service and that it changed their entire view of the Jewish Diaspora. I thought they must be exaggerating. It's only a few days, how significant can the experience be? Anyway, I decided to try...

Read More
Meet 2023 Las Vegas Alum Ben Khavkin
Alums Trip Highlights

September 7, 2023

Meet 2023 Las Vegas Alum Ben Khavkin

by Birthright Israel Foundation

In the interview below, Birthright Israel alum Ben Khavkin from Las Vegas, NV, shares how his trip impacted his life. The 21-year-old participated in Birthright Israel in the summer of 2023 before starting medical school. Ben is now a student of medicine at Touro University in Nevada; his passions include medicine, science, and service. Q&A with Ben Khavkin What inspired...

Read More

Donate Now

Without your donations to Birthright Israel Foundation, this gift isn't possible. Secure the Jewish future today by investing in this transformational trip for Jewish young adults.

Donate Now
Follow Us on Social
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
LinkedIn
X
TikTok

Subscribe to Email Updates