Birthright Israel Foundation Blog

Rachel Belle is a Birthright Israel alumna, host and co-producer of the acclaimed podcast “Your Last Meal.” She’s a feature reporter on KIRO Radio in Seattle, and “Seattle Weekly” voted her the city’s best FM Radio Personality.  and a feature reporter and talk show contributor. This Passover Rachel shares with us a memory from her Birthright Israel trip and her… Read More 

Erica Eckman is a well-known foodie and founder of the brand Everything Erica. She and her husband went on Birthright Israel in Winter 2018-2019 and have found a new love for their Judaism ever since. We are delighted to share her Birthright Israel story and delicious Matzo Brittle recipe below! Erica’s Story I grew up in a fairly religious, conservative… Read More 

Ever since I can remember, Israel has been a big part of my life. My grandparents have a second home in Israel and as kids, we’d go for the entire summer. The minute we landed my mother would start breathing in the air through her nose, almost like she never experienced oxygen before, and when it was time to leave… Read More 

There is no better way to share the light this Hanukkah season than by showcasing our incredible alumni and their favorite holiday recipes. We'd like you to meet Atlantan and passionate Birthright Israel alumna Mallory Hope Schwartz. Her Birthright Israel resume includes being an active Birthright Israel Fellow, 2-time trip staffer and a member of Birthright Israel Foundation's speaker's bureau. When… Read More 

Hanukkah is a very nostalgic time for me and brings me very special memories. In 2010, on the eve of the first night of Hanukkah, I went on my Birthright Israel trip. I was finishing up the final year of my Bachelor of Science degree and knew very little about Israel or Judaism. I was born in Belarus into a… Read More 

A highlight of any trip to Israel is tasting the world-famous rugelach at Marzipan in Jerusalem. If you've witnessed Birthright Israel groups near Machne Yehuda Market in Jerusalem they're probably carrying a box of this rugelach with them. Like all Israeli treats, this one is also a favorite to participants. However, like many Jewish foods, this pastry treat has adapted… Read More 

If there is one staple around every Jewish table during the holiday season — it has to be kugel. Whether you prefer it sweet or savory you can't go wrong with our festive sweet potato kugel recipe perfect for this Thanksgiving. You can even add a pinch of cinnamon to the sweet potato kugel to add depth and warmth to… Read More 

It is Thanksgiving time in the United States and we are adding some seasonal flair to the traditional challah and making it a Pumpkin Spice Challah. Our recipe adds pumpkin spice, cinnamon, and vanilla extract to add dimension and warmth to the bread. If you're expecting lots of kids at your table, you can also bake it into the shape… Read More 

As we embark on this month of Jewish holidays, starting a New Year of an ancient people, I am honored to share with you a few thoughts. Our collective Jewish narrative arguably revolves around that seminal moment at Mt. Sinai, wherein a pulse of the divine merged with the human, infusing an eternal ethical backbone to govern mankind’s life on… Read More 

Dear Friends, In 2018, we have a great amount to be appreciative for. Personally, I am extremely thankful for the incredible opportunities I have had and will continue to have on behalf of Birthright Israel Foundation. Every day I have the unique privilege of interacting with some our generations’ most prominent Jewish leaders whose vision and resources are providing the… Read More 

In a conversation guided by Dr. Zohar Raviv, Birthright Israel’s International Vice President of Education, we invite you to discover why this year is different from all other years. We encourage you to look deeper at the meaning of the Passover story, the incredible 10-day journey of a Birthright Israel trip and discover why 2018 is one of the most… Read More