June 26, 2025
In honor of Birthright Israel’s 25th anniversary, we’re proud to spotlight 25 outstanding alumni and share their inspiring stories with you. I’m 49 years old, and I live in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with my wife, our two kids, and a dog. In my professional life, I’m the CEO of a health company and manage a hospital. I also organize medical...
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June 25, 2025
I grew up in Wellington, Florida, a quiet suburb on the western edge of Palm Beach County. Back then, it felt like the middle of nowhere, the last stop before the hinterlands. To the north was rural Loxahatchee, with its giant trucks and Confederate flags. To the west and further inland, you had Belle Glade, then one of the most...
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June 17, 2025
I've always been proud to be Jewish. Growing up as an Ashkenazi Jew, I found joy in celebrating holidays and traditions with my family, watching the Rugrats Passover special on an orange VHS tape, and listening to Adam Sandler’s “Hanukkah Song.” Of course, my pride and connection to Judaism was also deeply rooted in food. My Grandma Mindy’s matzo ball...
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June 11, 2025
In honor of Birthright Israel’s 25th anniversary, we’re proud to spotlight 25 outstanding alumni and share their inspiring stories with you. I was raised in Los Angeles in a proud, close-knit Iranian Jewish family. My father left Iran during the Revolution. My mother grew up in Israel and moved to the U.S. when she was seventeen. Most of my extended...
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May 17, 2025
On May 14, Birthright Israel alumni, supporters, and friends gathered at The Ivory Peacock to celebrate the program’s 25th anniversary and launch a new era of alumni leadership. From cocktails and conversations to inspiring remarks and a stirring alumni spotlight, the evening was a testament to what’s possible when young Jews step up to lead—and give back. Together, we raised...
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May 15, 2025
In this defining moment, Birthright Israel is a guiding force for Jewish resilience. Brandeis University has the data. In 2024, as Israel faced war on multiple fronts and antisemitism surged, especially on college campuses, 18,700 Jewish young adults chose to travel to Israel with us. They weren’t deterred. They were determined — to understand the reality on the ground, affirm...
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May 5, 2025
When I was a kid, my family moved around a lot — from Mexico to Vancouver, eventually settling in Houston. But no matter where we lived, one thing was constant: our connection to Judaism and the Jewish community. In Houston, I was lucky to attend Beren Academy, where I developed a strong sense of Jewish pride and learned the importance...
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April 17, 2025
Brooke Pertnoy is the Director of the Barbara & Jack Kay Early Childhood Learning Center at the Mandel JCC in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. I was born and raised in Florida. My dad is Jewish, and my mom converted when they got married — though she still celebrated Christmas, so in some ways, we were a mixed-faith household. I went...
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April 8, 2025
Rachel Moon is a beauty and fashion influencer and a pro-Israel activist with over 100,000 followers. She lives in the suburbs of Washington D.C. My mom is Jewish. My dad wasn’t, but he adopted everything — every tradition, every holiday. He even led our Seders. My Jewish identity has been important to me for as long as I can remember....
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April 8, 2025
I’m 32 years old, born in Russia, and raised in New Jersey. My family came to the U.S. in 1996 as refugees fleeing antisemitism in the former Soviet Union. I’ve spent my adult life in America, working in the entertainment industry, and more recently transitioning into the mental health space. Being of service — giving back — has always been...
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