January 22, 2025
“People who don’t know their past—their present is vague, and their future is a mystery,” my Birthright Israel madricha told us at Ben Gurion Airport. This not only became the theme of my trip, it resonated as the theme of my life and the enduring story of the Jewish nation. I was born in France to a traditional Sephardic family,...
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January 7, 2025
Since 1999, Birthright Israel has served its mission to bring Jewish young adults to Israel at absolutely no cost to them—regardless of their means, background, religious beliefs or practices, political views, sexual orientation, racial or gender identity, or disability status. All we ask of our participants is curiosity, an open mind, and an interest in exploring Israel and their Jewish...
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December 23, 2024
Dating in New York City in your mid-twenties is no easy task. People are looking for different things. It’s difficult to make a meaningful connection last longer than a few dates. We—Dana and Zach—both wanted to find someone who felt a strong connection to Israel and wanted to pass it on to their future family. We've loved Israel deeply throughout...
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December 20, 2024
October 7th happened and honestly, what else could I do but help? I mean, really. I tried the whole tech company thing first. Remote support, helping companies whose employees got called up. It made sense on paper. I have the skills, they needed the help. But it felt... distant. Theoretical. Like I was playing at helping instead of actually helping....
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December 9, 2024
“Purpose of visit?” the Israeli customs agent asked. “Taglit,” I said, smiling. I was the last person from my UJA Birthright Israel group to head to baggage claim. As I stared at the young thirtysomething, his eyes lit up with pride, beaming that I was heading into the Holy Land. “Welcome home,” he said. Upon hearing this, I almost cried....
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November 24, 2024
When it comes to Thanksgiving, many people have a different idea of what they want to see on the table. Some have waited all year for traditional turkey with all the fixings. Others want something more inspired. And there are always one or two vegetarians who appreciate a meatless dish that they can dig into. With these fast, easy and...
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November 12, 2024
Though I was raised in a Christian household, I always felt a pull toward Judaism. From childhood Shabbat dinners at my best friend Sigal’s house, to my admiration for Barbra Streisand, Judaism always felt familiar, even comforting. But it wasn’t until I met my boyfriend, David, that my connection to Judaism truly deepened. At the time, I was at a...
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October 28, 2024
I had been to Israel twice before. But not since October 7th. I wanted to strengthen my bonds with my sorority sisters, but never realized it would connect me so deeply to others. This time visiting Israel was different. On the fourth day of Birthright Israel, we went to Har Herzl. There I stood on what used to be a...
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September 26, 2024
Activist and mother Michelle Ahdoot is an alumna of one of Birthright Israel’s very first pilot trips in the mid 1990s, when founders and philanthropists Charles Bronfman and Michael Steinhardt first conceived of the program. Fast-forward a few decades, and it’s “full circle,” said Ahdoot, now Director of Programming and Strategy at End Jew Hatred, a grassroots Jewish civil rights...
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September 18, 2024
On Tuesday, September 18, 2024, we gathered together in Scarsdale at the home of Robin & Jerry Silk for a spectacular evening in celebration and support of Birthright Israel Foundation. The energy and passion were truly inspiring! It was a great reminder of how important it is for us to continue to pass the torch of Jewish resilience from one...
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