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A History of Birthright Israel Foundation
In 1999, Birthright Israel was founded on a bold idea: provide the gift of a life-changing trip to Israel to Jewish young adults with the goal of securing—and transforming—the Jewish future. In 2004, Birthright Israel Foundation was created in order to help raise the funds needed to ensure this trip would be available today, tomorrow, and always.
Together, we stand firmly behind our joint mission and vision of offering this educational journey through the Jewish homeland.
Our Approach
Birthright Israel and Birthright Israel Foundation are committed to providing young adults with the gift of connection, community, and a love for the State of Israel. With offices in 11 different cities around the United States, we work to guarantee that the gift of a Birthright Israel trip is available to every Jewish young adult every single year.
Over 20 years, we have helped raise funds annually in order to send a total of 750,000 young adults and counting on this transformational trip. We believe that we’re not only changing the lives of Jewish young adults, but that we’re also transforming the Jewish future.
What Our Stakeholders Say
One of the greatest things in the Jewish world is l'dor v'dor—from generation to generation. When we get into the second generation of Birthright Israel participants, then we’ll know that we’ve not only hit a home run, but a grand slam."
Birthright Israel is without a doubt the most impactful program in the last quarter century in the Jewish world, but it’s not over yet, and we have a long way to go."
We owe an incredible obligation to generations past to fulfill the wishes of those who preceded us to support Israel. Supporting Birthright Israel, in spirit, action, and financially, is our obligation."
We thought it [Birthright Israel] was a good opportunity to transfer our love of Israel to future generations. To extend to people who would never otherwise come to Israel, the opportunity to fall in love."
When our kids come together on Birthright Israel, they share a unique bond...Birthright Israel is unlike any other trip our kids could take."
Birthright Israel removes the financial burden of travel and takes American Jews, at a crucial age and gives them one last chance to make a connection with Israel, Jewish culture and their Jewish heritage – it is a game-changer for the future."
I think Birthright Israel is fabulous – the whole thing. Historically, it is going to be a name no one will forget...The Jewish people are better off for it."
I love Jewish peoplehood and Birthright Israel is an incredible expression of global peoplehood. This program is a gift, not just to its direct participants, but to Israel more broadly."
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The Lasting Impact of Birthright Israel
Note: Statistics via Brandeis University Maurice & Marilyn Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies
Building Continuity with a Gift—Not a Free Trip
Birthright Israel is founded on three values that are central in the Jewish world: Unity, Continuity and Mutual Responsibility. The project itself is therefore a gift of the Jewish people to its younger members, given with no strings attached as a pledge by the State of Israel, worldwide Jewish communities, foundations and nearly 40,000 individual donors each year—all putting partisan and theological differences aside to ensure the vibrant future of world Jewry and the State of Israel.
Our Essence – A Jewish Educational Experience in Israel
Birthright Israel is an introductory and intensive educational experience in Israel. Its mission is to create opportunities for participants to explore their Jewish identities, strengthen their connection to Israel and its diverse society, and ensure the vibrancy of the Jewish people worldwide. Birthright Israel regards Israel as a diverse mosaic of experiences, narratives, ideas, and places that can be effectively explored throughout the journey. As we maintain that Israel is a state of ideas and ideals—rather than an ideal state—Birthright Israel is committed to understanding Israel’s place as a Jewish, democratic, and sovereign state among the family of nations, and to preserving its historic and eternal standing as the homeland of the Jewish people.
Our Heart – Each Participant
Birthright Israel is rooted in a person-centered educational approach. It views the needs and interests of young people as the starting point of its educational work, and aims to engage participants in meaningful and relevant dialogues with Jewish concepts, values, and living, as well as associations with their home communities and with Israel. Birthright Israel is therefore committed to offering all participants a sense of ownership over the educational process by empowering the active engagement and involvement of the learners as the captains of their own Jewish journeys.
Unity, Not Uniformity
Birthright Israel views the land, the State and the people of Israel as a vital laboratory to explore core questions of both past and contemporary Jewish values, ideas and life. Correspondingly, Birthright Israel’s programs are not structured as site-seeing trips, but as what we call “insight-seeing” journeys. The sites we explore are obviously important, yet serve a much higher purpose: to promote a culture of reflective and critical thinking through dialogue, discussion and the exchange of ideas in meaningful landscapes and supportive climates.
Board of Directors
Birthright Israel Foundation’s Board of Directors is composed of diverse and talented people from across the country who are dedicated to building a foundation for a strong and vibrant Jewish future. Our board guides our organization and supports our mission through fundraising, working closely with our partners in Israel, and serving as ambassadors by sharing the life-changing power of the Birthright Israel experience.
Executive Committee
Board Members
Honorary Board Members
Key Leadership
Leadership Councils
Birthright Israel Foundation is fortunate to have active and engaged supporters across the country. As members of our regional Leadership Councils, donors serve as ambassadors by connecting members of their local communities to Birthright Israel Foundation in order to raise funds in support of Birthright Israel.
Please Note: We are currently reorganizing our Leadership Councils so that they can better serve your local community. If you have any questions, or if you would like to get involved, please contact us today.
Institutional Support
Birthright Israel Foundation works closely with Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), as well as individual federations, in order to better understand the needs of Birthright Israel alumni and the Jewish community at large. From partnering on fundraising efforts to helping young adults find their place in their communities, together we’re working to cultivate the next generation of Jewish leaders.
Through general support to Birthright Israel or targeted support for one of our special funding opportunities, we aim to ensure that our foundation funders are furthering their own missions and visions while helping us to achieve ours. We are pleased to work with interested foundations to develop a letter of intent (LOI) or grant proposal, aligned with your needs and interests.
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.
Tax ID 13-4092050
Birthright Israel Foundation is listed by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
Donation Address
Birthright Israel Foundation
P.O. Box 21615
New York, NY 10087