Birthright Israel Foundation Blog

No matter how many times I have heard the flight attendant announce “Baruch Habayim L’yisrael (Welcome to Israel)," over the loudspeaker, a chill radiates throughout my body. Each Birthright Israel trip I have had the opportunity to partake in, whether it be as a participant or as a Madricha (staff), brings me an overwhelming sense of excitement and adventure. Every visit to… Read More 

It's the cookie any American Jew knows and absolutely loves – the Kiddush cookie. Sometimes known as a sprinkle or confetti cookie too. This light-colored mound of goodness is complete with colorful sprinkles. You may even find them dipped in chocolate and then covered in sprinkles! They are showcased in synagogues around America on Saturday mornings post-Shabbat services. You’ll find them next to… Read More 

Did you recently learn that your child or grandchild is interested in a group trip to Israel? You’re likely thrilled that someone you love is eager to embrace their heritage, but you may also wonder if they’re in safe and suitable hands. When the trip is organized through Birthright Israel, there’s no need to worry. You may not know much… Read More 

There are many different reasons to go on Birthright Israel. However, to me, they are all secondary to the honest answer: it’s a free trip to Israel! My father always told me nothing in this world comes completely free, so I figured there was a sales pitch coming my way. I was a half-Jewish free agent of the religious world.… Read More 

I participated in Birthright Israel one year ago. I remember there was something special about our group, in the connections that were created, especially in the sense of "togetherness." So, it's been a year now, but the magic of the tour and those special memories accompany me to this day, and I'm sure they will in the future too. The best… Read More 

Growing up in a Jewish community, I had heard many stories from older family, friends, and acquaintances about how amazing their Birthright Israel experiences were. I always knew that this was something I wanted to do. I just was not sure whether I wanted to wait until I was done with college or go during.  By my sophomore year at… Read More 

If you live in the Atlanta area then you may have already heard of Max Seidel. He's a recent Birthright Israel alumnus who has put his engineering skills to use and founded Atlanta Face Shields. The company was set up to manufacture face shields for Atlanta hospitals but soon found itself meeting needs everywhere. After the word spread, hospitals across… Read More 

One could have never imagined in 2020 we’d be amid a pandemic, separated from friends and loved ones. Our world will be different moving forward but that is no reason to give up hope. Together, each one of us can do our part to make the world a better place, even if we are socially distanced.          Like so many of you, we at… Read More 

Birthright Israel culturally changed my life. I can imagine many other young Jews in America, who are secular, feel the same. The 10-days I spent on the trip showed me there is another home for me and that I can be accepted. Birthright Israel helps you to create your own definition of what it means to be Jewish. And for… Read More 

Luis Burgos is a 2019 Birthright Israel alumnus who grew up in New York City, spent time in Los Angeles, where he converted to Judaism and then made his way back to the Big Apple. Like so many of our alumni, Luis' Jewish identity is unique and, most of all, inspiring. Through the photos below, you'll get a sense of… Read More 

What’s the game plan when you have over 750,000 alumni spread out across 68 countries amidst a global pandemic? Connect them. That’s exactly what Birthright Israel is doing with their new initiative, Birthright Israel Connect. The online program aims to connect alumni of the program with each other through trained facilitators and educators. Each session aims to spark meaningful conversations about the effects of COVID-19 in their home countries while providing a platform where young Jews… Read More