July 24, 2023
Birthright Israel was the impetus to stepping into Jewish life as a leader, not just a follower. Before I went on the trip, I did not have a strong sense of what it meant to belong in a Jewish community. But through my experiences on the trip and in the years since, I have found a strong sense of purpose...
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July 24, 2023
Lindsay and Alex Shapses' Birthright Israel trips had an everlasting impact on each of them. In recent years, especially as the demand for the classic 10-day trip is at an all-time high, Alex and Lindsay have made Birthright Israel Foundation a priority. Alex Shapses is an active member of the Long Island Leadership Cabinet, where he works with fellow lay...
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July 19, 2023
Disability rights advocate Brandon Farbstein had just finished a tour of Jerusalem’s Old City when he rolled up to the Holyland Café on his Segway, a trusted mobility aid, on a warm Sunday afternoon earlier this month. He was in Israel for the first time as part of an outdoor-focused Birthright trip, which takes participants to explore the country on...
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July 12, 2023
Madeline Beard is a 2017 Birthright Israel alum who currently lives in Denver, CO. She grew up in Texas, went to school in DC, lived in NYC, and had a stint in Kentucky while working on a political campaign. She currently works as a Project Lead for TinyWins, a remote-first strategy and design agency. Outside of work, she loves staying...
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July 11, 2023
Birthright Israel participant Susana Szegedi shares her savory blintz recipe inspired by her time in Tzfat on the trip. She describes being in the middle of a bazaar and seeing a man making blintzes and filling them with mouthwatering ingredients. Instead of the traditional sweet filling, this recipe takes a more savory approach and uses goat cheese, arugula, and watercress...
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July 10, 2023
As a 98.9% Ashkenazi Jewish individual growing up in Los Angeles, I always felt a connection to my culture and religion. From attending reform Jewish ceremonies within my family to spending summers at a Jewish sleepaway camp in Malibu, my exposure to Israel was limited to what I learned from others. However, as life got busier with sports and college,...
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July 3, 2023
On the first day of school, nearly every year, each of my classes handed out the infamous questionnaire designed to introduce students to one another. Everybody is aware of the daunting feelings brewing inside of the person whose turn is approaching as they prepare to compile brief answers about their personal lives and interests. “Where are you from? What is...
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June 29, 2023
When people talk about their Birthright Israel success stories, you’ll usually hear about someone who had no previous connection to Israel returning with a newfound love for their homeland. My Birthright Israel experience, however, instilled in me a sense of responsibility to stand up for its existence. In 2019, I filed a lawsuit against NYU for failing to protect its...
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June 15, 2023
Katie Spector is originally from Northeast Ohio and lives in Cincinnati today. She is the Director of Engagement at the Hillel at Miami University in Ohio. She's passionate about providing Jewish students a place to find their Jewish identity and creating spaces where all Jewish students are welcome. When she isn't working, she is either crocheting, reading a book, or...
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June 14, 2023
Homeland, miracle, and start-up nation. As a kid growing up in New Jersey, these were the words used to describe Israel — by both my parents and my teachers in Hebrew School. After visiting Israel for my brother’s Bar Mitzvah, I thought I understood the importance of the Promised Land as the safest place in the world for the Jewish...
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