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Birthright Israel Foundation Blog

25th Anniversary Gala Blog FEATURED
Events Leadership & Supporters

November 7, 2025

Highlights From Birthright Israel's 25th Anniversary Gala in New York City

by Birthright Israel Foundation

Birthright Israel's 25th Anniversary Gala on November 3 in New York City was a defining moment for the Jewish people. We honored philanthropist Lynn Schusterman, whose vision and generosity have shaped generations. “If we keep Birthright Israel strong,” she said, “Birthright Israel will keep the Jewish people strong.” The night also marked the launch of our Generations Campaign, a bold...

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Events Leadership & Supporters

November 4, 2025

Birthright Israel Foundation Announces Generations Campaign at 25th Anniversary Gala

by Nira Dayanim

Reprinted from eJewishPhilanthropy. In 1999, with the lofty goal of bringing every young Jewish adult to Israel free of cost, the nascent Birthright Israel launched its first trip to the Jewish state. Over the next 25 years, the organization would bring over 900,000 young Jews from some 70 countries to Israel. Last night, at a gala marking a quarter century...

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Events Leadership & Supporters

October 29, 2025

Philadelphia Celebrates 25 Years of Birthright Israel

by Birthright Israel Foundation

On October 22, 2025, more than 130 supporters, alumni, and community leaders gathered at Lincoln Financial Field to celebrate 25 years of Birthright Israel and the profound impact this life-changing program continues to have on young Jews and the Jewish future. Hosted in the Firstrust Bank Club, generously donated by the Green Family, the evening captured the spirit of Philadelphia’s...

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Hannah Birnbaum FEATURED
Alums Trip Highlights

October 22, 2025

Birthright Israel Helps the Jewish Family Find Each Other Again

by Hannah Birnbaum , 2025 Birthright Israel Alumna

I grew up in Seattle and live in D.C. now. I’m a legal assistant who’s interested in world history and birdwatching. When I was younger, my family wasn’t terribly observant. We'd observe Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah, have a Seder, and light a Chanukiah, but not much more than that. When I was fifteen, my parents got divorced, and my...

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Andrew Shapiro FEATURED
Alums Trip Highlights

October 16, 2025

Birthright Israel Brought My Jewish Story Full Circle 

by Andrew Shapiro , 2025 Birthright Israel Alumnus

I’m from Utah—a fourth-generation Shapiro born and raised in Salt Lake City. Being Jewish in Utah means standing out, but it’s made my pride that much stronger. My great-grandpa emigrated to the U.S. from the Ukraine–Lithuania area around 1900 and made it to Salt Lake City about a decade later, where he met and married my great-grandmother—a well-educated Jewish woman...

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Alums Trip Highlights

October 16, 2025

Birthright Israel Volunteers Bring New Hope to Kibbutz Ein HaShlosha

by Birthright Israel Foundation

Birthright Israel Volunteer recently partnered with Hebro, a New York–based organization for gay Jews, to help bring new life to Kibbutz Ein Hashlosha, one of the Gaza envelope communities that has largely been empty since October 7th. Now, as residents return, Birthright Israel volunteers are working beside them to restore shared spaces and bring back the warmth and rhythm of...

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Alums Trip Highlights

October 16, 2025

Finding My Musical Jewish Voice Through Birthright Israel Storytellers

by Kate Amrine , 2025 Birthright Israel Onward Storytellers Alumna

I’m a trumpet player and teacher based in New York City. I play on Broadway and on tours around the world, and I also perform as a soloist. I love commissioning new works by composers and performing music that’s about the issues I care deeply about—women’s rights, climate change, social justice. I didn’t grow up with any Jewish background or...

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David Rittberg
Alums Leadership & Supporters Trip Highlights

October 16, 2025

How Birthright Israel Inspired David Rittberg’s Work in Jewish Philanthropy

by Birthright Israel Foundation

David Rittberg is the Senior Director of the U.S. Jewish Grantmaking team at the Schusterman Family Philanthropies, where he oversees Jewish and Israel-related giving alongside foundation leaders and the Schusterman family. After 13 years at Schusterman, he still traces the origins of his career in Jewish philanthropy back to his Birthright Israel trip. David grew up in a family deeply...

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Alums Trip Highlights

October 10, 2025

One Week Changed Me on Birthright Israel Volunteer

by Ari Tuerack , 2002 Birthright Israel Alumnus

I’m from Long Island, New York. I’m in my third year at Binghamton University, majoring in economics, and I love it here. Binghamton has a strong Jewish community, which was a big reason I chose it. I wasn’t very religious when I was younger, but over time, my family became more observant. My sisters and I went to Jewish day...

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