May 7, 2019
This Mother's Day, I've been thinking a lot about what it means to be a mom, and about the ways that my experience on Birthright Israel changed how I parent. My son Jake was 18-months old when my husband, David, and I went on a journey with Birthright Israel. We were the only parents on the trip, but this was...
Read More
May 6, 2019
Isn't it amazing how when you're young, your life is built around the idea of community? We have community at school with our classmates, community with sports and in my case community with fellow tennis players on my high school tennis team or the dancers, I danced with in college. There are a lot of opportunities to be part of...
Read More
May 1, 2019
In March 2019 I had the opportunity of a lifetime to travel to Israel with Birthright Israel and visit Yad VaShem. After experiencing Israel firsthand through this trip, I know how rare opportunities like this must be. However, I’m writing now not to focus so much on my Birthright Israel trip but about what I learned during our visit to...
Read More
April 30, 2019
My husband, Danny and I went on Birthright Israel in 2001 during our last year of undergrad. We immediately became good friends and maintained contact well after the trip was over. At the time we were both in relationships, but deep down we knew there was something special. Nearly two years later we had moved on from those relationships and...
Read More
April 23, 2019
Amanda Flaxman is a winter 2019 Birthright Israel alumna from Highland Park, IL. She currently works as a Data Scientist and the biggest takeaway from her Birthright Israel trip was the authenticity she felt from everyone. What was the major factor that drove you to sign up for Birthright Israel? My trip was leaving from Chicago and just happened to...
Read More
April 1, 2019
1. It’s a chance to explore what Judaism means for you. I had a lack of knowledge about Judaism and felt a massive disconnect from religion. I was eager to find my Jewish identity and further explore what it means for me to be a Jew. 2. Being Jewish means something different for everyone, and that’s okay. One of the...
Read More
March 26, 2019
When did you go on Birthright Israel? In December 2011 and I remember we were lucky enough to celebrate the remaining nights of Hanukkah while on the trip – it was so memorable! Birthright Israel Foundation has given this gift to over 700,000 young Jewish adults from all different backgrounds and walks of life, what is your Jewish background? I...
Read More
March 19, 2019
My journey to Israel started when I was only nine years old. I had just begun Hebrew school and found out what Israel was from my teacher. When I got home I asked my father if he had traveled there, he said yes and that I would “go home one day.” At the time, I didn’t understand what he meant....
Read More
March 14, 2019
I’m going to speak to you, yes you, the one who is curious how just twenty-four hours on Birthright Israel can change your life. Are you ready? Before waking up, let me paint a picture of the first few days of the trip. Forty people from different backgrounds and all over the world go from strangers to friends to family,...
Read More
March 7, 2019
If you look at the first three-quarters of my life, you’ll probably agree that my journey to Israel is entirely unexpected. I grew up in Sacramento, California in a mixed family. One of my parents is Jewish, the other is Chinese, and they are both awesome, open, and loving. We celebrated Jewish and Christian holidays - Hanukkah and Passover, Christmas...
Read MoreWithout your donations to Birthright Israel Foundation, this gift isn't possible. Secure the Jewish future today by investing in this transformational trip for Jewish young adults.
Donate Now