Philip de Toledo on His Tenure as Birthright Israel Foundation Board Chair

As he concludes his tenure as Chair of the Birthright Israel Foundation Board of Directors, Philip de Toledo reflected on the personal journey that deepened his connection to Israel, the opportunity for f leadership during an eventful period of time, and the enduring impact of Birthright Israel.

How did you become a leader at Birthright Israel Foundation?

We’d supported Birthright Israel for years because we knew it was a good organization doing good work. But my understanding was basic—ten days in Israel, a positive Jewish experience. That changed when a colleague brought Birthright leadership to my firm, and I took the time to learn more. As I approached retirement, I realized I’d done a lot philanthropically in Los Angeles but nothing nationally. Birthright checked all the boxes for me. We’d been involved with Jewish education, Jewish camps, and support of Israel, all wrapped up around the continuity and perpetuation of Jewish life. So, I reached out, had conversations, and eventually joined the board in January of 2020.

What was it like to join Birthright Israel Foundation’s Board of Directors just as COVID began?

It was an auspicious time because in March, the world shut down. I didn’t have my first in-person board meeting until 2022; everything was virtual. Still, important things were happening, including the merger of Birthright Israel and Onward. I learned a tremendous amount about Birthright during that period. About six months after joining the board, I became Finance Chair, and shortly after retiring from Capital Group, I was asked to be the next Board Chair. Everyone tells you to wait a little while after you retire before taking on big commitments, but I couldn’t pass this opportunity up. I am so glad I made that decision. Being Chair of Birthright Israel Foundation has been such a meaningful and rewarding experience.

How did your personal background shape your commitment to the Jewish community?

My parents came to the U.S. from Europe with nothing. My father worked three jobs. They were secular in France, and I grew up secular up in the U.S. I always knew I was Jewish, especially because my mother was a Holocaust survivor and war orphan, but we weren’t religious or connected to a Jewish community. That began to change after I got married—it was luck that I married someone Jewish. My wife also grew up in a secular household.  When we were about to have children, we decided we would give them a different experience than the one we had growing up.

Why was it important to give your children the Jewish upbringing you didn’t have?

We felt like we’d missed out on something. We didn’t know what our kids would ultimately do with a Jewish upbringing, but we wanted to give them the opportunity. My wife and I took a Jewish holiday workshop class, joined a synagogue, and gradually became part of a Jewish community. In many ways, it was our version of a Birthright experience—discovering shared background and belonging. The people were warm and embracing. It was a beautiful community.

When did you first visit Israel?

We went to Israel for the first time in 2007 with our synagogue. I remember worrying that we were going to a dangerous place. But once we landed, we realized how different reality is from what you read in the newspaper. I felt safer walking late at night in Israel than anywhere else. Traveling with our synagogue made it a shared, communal experience—very much like a Birthright-style trip. We saw Masada, the Dead Sea, Tiberias. Eventually, our older son joined the Excel fellowship before we even understood that the program was related to Birthright Israel.

When did you first realize the powerful impact that Jewish education can make on a young person?

When our younger son was in sixth grade, we enrolled him in a Jewish school, and it completely changed his life—and ours. He is dyslexic, and the school was warm, nurturing, and accommodating to him, and to us. He thrived there and discovered a love for Judaism. That ultimately led him to make Aliyah and he is now a rabbi leading a Shul in Jerusalem. As a family, we became even more deeply involved in Jewish schools, camps, and the support of Israel. And we became a Zionist family.

What stands out from your first Birthright Israel trip as Board Chair?

My opportunity to visit with Birthright participants in Israel was in March 2022, just as programs restarted after COVID. Two moments really stayed with me. One was visiting a kibbutz near Gaza, where life was very challenging with rockets overhead and the constant threat of terrorist incursions.  One participant asked why residents stayed despite the constant danger. A woman there said simply, “Because it’s our land.” That answer really moved me. Later, we visited the Erez Crossing, the border crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip, and heard from a 27-year-old IDF commander. When a participant asked him what they should tell people back home, he paused and said, “Tell them we’re doing the best we can.” They were making impossible decisions every day, trying to keep the lid on a powder keg. Seeing those moments through participants’ eyes was very powerful.

How did Birthright Israel feel different after October 7?

Hearing participants speak about the antisemitism they faced on college campuses and in daily life after October 7 was deeply impactful. I saw how fortified they became and how much more confident they felt in addressing those challenges as a result of their Birthright experience. Sitting in on trip participants’ closing sessions, I could see the transformation. They left with a stronger sense of Jewish pride and a deeper appreciation for Jewish community.

Since my first trip in March of 2022, I have had the opportunity to visit Israel many times with Birthright and it is always so impactful to see the magic of Birthright in action. The Birthright programs are purposeful and thoughtful—the sites they visit, the conversations they have, and how the tour educators achieve the pedagogy that underlies a Birthright trip. Since becoming involved, I talk about Birthright all the time. I even wear a hat with the Birthright logo. Everywhere I go, someone tells me how the experience changed someone’s life, their child, a friend, someone they know. That is very gratifying to hear.

What has stood out to you about Birthright Israel as an organization?

The people who work for Birthright in North America and in Israel. You quickly realize this isn’t just a job for them, it’s their passion. They deeply care about the organization’s mission and the impact it is having on generations of young Jews and, more broadly, on the Jewish community. This is also true for the Board of Directors. The board has been fantastic—focused, aligned, and committed to the same goal. Everyone is there for the right reasons. We’re also incredibly fortunate to have Elias Saratovsky as CEO. He has done a phenomenal job as both the operating leader and the face of the organization, and I can’t think of anyone who would be better in that role.

As you hand off leadership, what is your vision for Birthright Israel’s future?

Birthright Israel will continue to change the Jewish world. Today and five, ten, twenty-five years from now, we will continue to have a stronger, more resilient Jewish community—people who are proud of who they are and prepared to stand up for it. We also have a strong leadership transition ahead. I couldn’t be more excited about Mike Rashes stepping into the Chair role. He sets ambitious goals and never settles for “good enough.” With the Generations Campaign ahead, he’s exactly the right leader for this moment.  And he has a great leadership team he will be working with.

On a personal level, reconnecting with Judaism gave me a home base I didn’t have growing up. Birthright Israel offers young people that same gift. That’s why this work matters so deeply to me, and why I’ll remain committed to it long after my term as a board member ends.