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Birthright Israel: 10 Lessons for 10 Days

by Jamie Goerke • Plainview, NY April 22, 2020 at 7:00 am

Birthright Israel: 10 Lessons for 10 Days

by Jamie Goerke • Plainview, NY April 22, 2020 at 7:00 am

If I was to truly reflect on my experience with Birthright Israel, this blog would be a novel. Instead, I’m going to reflect on each day and how all 10 of them changed my perspective on life. To say the least, this 10-day journey taught me enough for a lifetime! Day 1: Birthright Israel is all about eating new foods. I am, in every sense of the word, a picky eater. Read More

How my Jewish heritage became more than just a thing

by Ashley Horine • Orlando, FL April 12, 2020 at 8:00 am

How my Jewish heritage became more than just a thing

by Ashley Horine • Orlando, FL April 12, 2020 at 8:00 am

My Jewish heritage has been with me since birth, but if I am honest, it was just a thing—kind of like lighting Shabbat candles or observing Jewish holidays. My heritage was there with no meaning. Then came my Birthright Israel trip, which made those Jewish heritage things much more. As the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor, my Poppy was always telling me about Israel and how blessed we were to have her. Read More

Birthright Israel and the impact of Israeli participants

by Birthright Israel Foundation April 10, 2020 at 8:00 am

Israel participants on Birthright Israel (Photo by Ben Judelson, 2018 alumnus)

Birthright Israel and the impact of Israeli participants

by Birthright Israel Foundation April 10, 2020 at 8:00 am

Since Birthright Israel’s inception, 115,000 Israelis have participated in this extraordinary educational experience. The Israeli element of the Birthright Israel program is called ‘The Mifgash,’ which in Hebrew means encounter. The Mifgash gives Diaspora participants a chance to meet Israeli soldiers and Israeli young professionals as a unique way to experience the culture. Read More

A trip to Israel sparks healing and a bond between sisters

by Emily Maguire • Charlotte, NC April 5, 2020 at 8:00 am

Emily with her sister at the beach in Israel

A trip to Israel sparks healing and a bond between sisters

by Emily Maguire • Charlotte, NC April 5, 2020 at 8:00 am

My sister was the one who really wanted to go on this trip to Israel. I did not know very much about the Birthright Israel program or the country, I was apprehensive to go. We lost our dad in 2012 and I became less spiritual and struggled to deal with my grief. Read More

Birthright Excel Alumni Launch Drive to Deliver Food, Medicine to Elderly

by Jerusalem Post Staff March 23, 2020 at 4:19 pm

Birthright Excel founders of Door2Dor Lior Avisar and Maya Klein

Birthright Excel Alumni Launch Drive to Deliver Food, Medicine to Elderly

by Jerusalem Post Staff March 23, 2020 at 4:19 pm

Birthright Excel, the entrepreneurship, leadership and business program of Birthright Israel, has encouraged its alumni community across North America and Israel to develop new initiatives to overcome the new challenges caused by the spread of the coronavirus and help those in need. The elderly are among those who are most vulnerable to the outbreak. Some of them are isolated, in self-quarantine, unable to leave their homes and need help to purchase food and medicine. Read More

Siblings Rediscover Their Jewish Heritage in Israel

by Birthright Israel Foundation March 22, 2020 at 5:25 am

Siblings Rediscover Their Jewish Heritage in Israel

by Birthright Israel Foundation March 22, 2020 at 5:25 am

Who would have thought when the Birthright Israel program was founded 20 years ago, that our investment would go beyond reconnecting young adults to their Jewish heritage! What is an investment in one person turned out to be an investment in their entire family and their offspring for generations to come. Read More

5 Ways Birthright Israel Changed Me as an Israeli

by Niran Avni • Las Vegas, NV March 12, 2020 at 6:11 pm

Niran and fellow IDF soldiers on Birthright Israel.

5 Ways Birthright Israel Changed Me as an Israeli

by Niran Avni • Las Vegas, NV March 12, 2020 at 6:11 pm

As a Birthright Israel Madrich, volunteer, and Mifgash, you could say that my journey began six years ago when I was asked to go on a five-day paid military vacation. Little did I know, this trip would turn out to be one of the most impactful moments of my life. Growing up, I lived in the small suburban town of Hod Hasharon, Israel. Read More

If your grandmother says “go,” you go!

by Guido Weiss • Wellington, FL March 6, 2020 at 5:33 pm

2008 Alumnus Guido Weiss in from of the American flag

If your grandmother says “go,” you go!

by Guido Weiss • Wellington, FL March 6, 2020 at 5:33 pm

My grandmother, who survived World War II hiding in Italy, has the mentality that nothing in this world should be taken for granted. She has a zero-waste policy – she is the type who brings the bread and butter home from a restaurant and when she heard about the gift of Birthright Israel, she insisted that I take advantage of it. Read More

Celebrating 20 Years in South Palm Beach County

by Birthright Israel Foundation February 27, 2020 at 9:12 pm

Andrea & Mike Leven at their home in Boca Raton

Celebrating 20 Years in South Palm Beach County

by Birthright Israel Foundation February 27, 2020 at 9:12 pm

On Wednesday, February 26, 2020, Birthright Israel Foundation celebrated 20 years of impact in South Palm Beach County with a private event at the home of Andrea and Mike Leven. The evening’s guests had the pleasure of hearing from local alumni, Bryan Drowos, Courtney Simmons Demri, Nicole Livadas, and Kyla Gladstone, who represent the voices of Birthright Israel’s 750,000 participants: “In Israel, I gained an intimate understanding of the Jewish people, my brothers and sisters today, and my ancestors of the past. Read More

Two Weeks in Israel and Forever in Our Hearts

by Kyla Gladstone • Boca Raton, FL February 27, 2020 at 5:18 pm

Two Weeks in Israel and Forever in Our Hearts

by Kyla Gladstone • Boca Raton, FL February 27, 2020 at 5:18 pm

The two weeks I spent in Israel were nothing short of transformative and to show you how much it changed my life; I need to go back a little bit. I went to high school in Boca Raton, FL, where my mom and stepfather still live. As many people already know, Boca Raton is a very Jewish community. Read More

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