June 30, 2025
I grew up in South Florida in a proudly Zionist household. I went to Jewish day school from kindergarten through eighth grade, and Israel was always part of the conversation at home. That connection came from my grandparents and parents. My mom had been to Israel once as a child; my dad had never been. But Israel was something we...
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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 20, 2025
This article appeared in The Times of Israel on June 20, 2025. This is what it felt like to be there — leading a magical LGBTQ+ Birthright Israel group through 10 days of joy, three days of shelter, two days evacuated to safety in the Dead Sea and an emergency sunrise cruise international mission. The Pride Parade in Tel Aviv...
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June 20, 2025
This article appeared in The Jerusalem Post on June 20, 2025. When a group of young Jews landed in Israel with expectations of volunteering in their ancestral homeland and enjoying a milestone trip many in the Diaspora partake in, they hadn’t anticipated Israel launching an attack on Iran and the resulting war that would follow. Many would assume these young...
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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 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 14, 2025
On May 7, the New Jersey Jewish community gathered at the Orange Lawn Tennis Club for an evening in support of Birthright Israel Foundation. Together, attendees raised enough to send 142 Jewish young adults to Israel — thanks in part to a generous anonymous matching gift. At an intimate VIP reception prior to the event, Dr. Zohar Raviv, International VP...
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May 12, 2025
On April 23, 2025, Michigan’s Jewish community gathered for a meaningful evening in support of Birthright Israel Foundation. Hosted by Cathy and Charlie Schwartz together with Allie and Andrew Sherman, the event marked the 25th anniversary of Birthright Israel and celebrated its enduring impact on Jewish identity and community resilience. Charlie Schwartz opened the program with a moment of silence...
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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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