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Birthright Israel Is Crucial And Here’s Why

by Jenna Pfeffer • New York, NY December 2, 2019 at 7:53 pm

Birthright Israel Is Crucial And Here’s Why

by Jenna Pfeffer • New York, NY December 2, 2019 at 7:53 pm

Growing up, my grandparents instilled in me a strong love for Israel and for fellow Jews around the world. Each of them was a Holocaust survivor and lost countless family members in the war, including parents and even baby siblings. If only the state of Israel had been formed sooner. For my grandparents, there was nothing more admirable than being a Proud Zionist. Read More

A Hike Up Masada and Doing Yoga on a Kibbutz Can Change Your Life

by Randi Eisenshtat • Miami, FL November 28, 2019 at 4:02 am

A Hike Up Masada and Doing Yoga on a Kibbutz Can Change Your Life

by Randi Eisenshtat • Miami, FL November 28, 2019 at 4:02 am

In a short period of time, my life has really changed. I get asked the question a lot as to what happened, and I always respond with, “You know how I went to Israel this past summer…” I grew up in the Bible Belt, also known as Katy, Texas. Both my parents are Jewish, and my brother and I were raised culturally Jewish. Read More

You Gave Me the Gift of Birthright Israel, And It Gave Me the Gift of Knowing Who I Am

by Nicole Livadas • Aventura, FL November 27, 2019 at 4:58 pm

You Gave Me the Gift of Birthright Israel, And It Gave Me the Gift of Knowing Who I Am

by Nicole Livadas • Aventura, FL November 27, 2019 at 4:58 pm

When I was a little girl, I ate Matzah because I was Jewish, and my mother sent me to Hebrew school once a week to understand that I wasn’t Christian. My classmates went to day school together, and I only saw them once a week, and they had last names that included a ‘berg, a ‘stein, a ‘gold or sometimes all three! Read More

From Birthright Israel Participant to Olah Chadasha, The Journey of Nicole LaGrua

by Nicole LaGrua • Rumson, NJ November 21, 2019 at 6:59 am

From Birthright Israel Participant to Olah Chadasha, The Journey of Nicole LaGrua

by Nicole LaGrua • Rumson, NJ November 21, 2019 at 6:59 am

Where do I begin? This trip has changed my life, really. As of last December, I was a student at Penn State University, and the only reason I went on Birthright Israel was because a friend from college wanted me to come with him. So I thought, why not! I had never been to Israel before and wanted to learn more. Read More

Alumna and Chef, Alexis Sicklick hosts Birthright Israel Themed Pop-up Dinner

by Alexis Sicklick • New York, NY November 11, 2019 at 3:22 pm

Alumna and Chef, Alexis Sicklick hosts Birthright Israel Themed Pop-up Dinner

by Alexis Sicklick • New York, NY November 11, 2019 at 3:22 pm

Alexis Sicklick is a Junior Sous Chef at Aquavit in New York City and went on Birthright Israel in summer 2019 with her sister Tori. Her trip inspired her so much that she is hosting a Birthright Israel themed Pop-Dinner, Experiencing the Deliciousness of Israel, on Monday, November 18, 2019, in New York City (Sign Up Here!). Read More

Birthright Israel Through The Eyes of YouTuber, Tori Sicklick

by Tori Sicklick • Brooklyn, NY November 11, 2019 at 3:06 pm

Birthright Israel Through The Eyes of YouTuber, Tori Sicklick

by Tori Sicklick • Brooklyn, NY November 11, 2019 at 3:06 pm

Birthright Israel was a trip that I had been looking forward to and planning to go on for many, many years. My oldest sister, Morgan, went on her Birthright Israel trip when I was in high school and hearing about her experience and how much she loved it made me want to go on this trip as well. My other older sister, Alexis, and I had talked about going on Birthright together for a long time – we are pretty close and knew that we wanted to travel together to Israel. Read More

What It’s Like Experiencing Israel’s LGBTQ+ Culture Through Birthright Israel

by Monroe Marshall • Albany, NY November 11, 2019 at 8:03 am
Monroe on Birthright Israel

What It’s Like Experiencing Israel’s LGBTQ+ Culture Through Birthright Israel

by Monroe Marshall • Albany, NY November 11, 2019 at 8:03 am

My name is Monroe Marshall, and I was born in Brooklyn, raised on Long Island, and am currently living in Albany, NY. I am working towards a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology, and Certificate in Public Health Preparedness and Surveillance at The University at Albany, State University of New York. At the time of my LGBTQ+ Birthright Israel trip in December 2017, I had just graduated with a Bachelor’s in Neuroscience from Adelphi University on Long Island. Read More

Video: Meet Chloe Rehfield

by Chloe Rehfield • New York, NY November 8, 2019 at 7:21 am

Video: Meet Chloe Rehfield

by Chloe Rehfield • New York, NY November 8, 2019 at 7:21 am

There’s no better way to see the impact of your gift than by hearing it first hand from one of our 700,000+ alumni. It’s because of your generosity young Jewish adults around the world are inspired to be Jewish leaders, give Tzedakah and keep our communities vibrant. So, now its time to hear it for yourself from NYC alumna, Chloe Tennessee Rehfield. Chloe is a writer, yoga enthusiast, and lover of all things comedy who went on her Birthright Israel trip in winter 2018-2019. Read More

Event Highlights: Hudson Yards Real Estate Community Event

by Birthright Israel Foundation November 5, 2019 at 5:28 pm
Jeff Blau,CEO of Related Companies, and Dan Doctoroff, Chairman and CEO of Sidewalk Labs

Event Highlights: Hudson Yards Real Estate Community Event

by Birthright Israel Foundation November 5, 2019 at 5:28 pm

On Monday, November 4, 2019 in New York City we hosted a remarkable program featuring Jeff Blau, CEO of Related Companies, and Dan Doctoroff, Chairman and CEO of Sidewalk Labs for a conversation on Hudson Yards and the intersection of real estate and technology. We also had the opportunity of hearing from Shavit Rootman, former IDF officer and alumnus of Birthright Israel’s Mifgash program. Shavit’s message to Birthright Israel Foundation donors: “Your investment is twofold; it does not just bring people closer to their Jewish identity; it also allows Israelis, like me, to see that we are one big family, and we are connected as one.” Read More

Finding A Higher Purpose Through Birthright Israel

by Shavit Rootman • Mifgash Participant November 5, 2019 at 5:27 am

Finding A Higher Purpose Through Birthright Israel

by Shavit Rootman • Mifgash Participant November 5, 2019 at 5:27 am

I frequently ask myself, “What is your higher purpose?” It’s a question that I think so many people fail to ask themselves enough. I am a 4th generation Israeli and have a deep family connection to this land. My family experienced the Holocaust and various wars in Israel, of which some of them did not survive, but some did. Read More