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Birthright Israel Foundation Blog

Meet Miami University's Hillel Engagement Director & Alum Katie Spector
Alums Trip Highlights

June 15, 2023

Meet Miami University's Hillel Engagement Director & Alum Katie Spector

by Birthright Israel Foundation

Katie Spector is originally from Northeast Ohio and lives in Cincinnati today. She is the Director of Engagement at the Hillel at Miami University in Ohio. She's passionate about providing Jewish students a place to find their Jewish identity and creating spaces where all Jewish students are welcome. When she isn't working, she is either crocheting, reading a book, or...

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Israel Is the Glue That Binds the Jewish People Together
Alums Trip Highlights

June 14, 2023

Israel Is the Glue That Binds the Jewish People Together

by Ari Nagelberg , Birthright Israel Excel Fellow

Homeland, miracle, and start-up nation. As a kid growing up in New Jersey, these were the words used to describe Israel — by both my parents and my teachers in Hebrew School. After visiting Israel for my brother’s Bar Mitzvah, I thought I understood the importance of the Promised Land as the safest place in the world for the Jewish...

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Birthright Israel bone-marrow registry marks 100,000 potential donors
Alums Trip Highlights

June 9, 2023

Birthright Israel bone-marrow registry marks 100,000 potential donors

by Jewish News Syndicate

For nearly 20 years, Birthright Israel has partnered with the Gift of Life Marrow Registry, encouraging the young Jews who participate in trips to Israel to register and potentially help those with leukemia, lymphoma and other blood-related diseases. The groups recently hit a milestone: 100,000 who have offered to serve as donors. The 100,000th is 20-year-old Mitch Linefsky of Fairlawn,...

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How Birthright Israel Gave Me Courage
Alums Trip Highlights

June 6, 2023

How Birthright Israel Gave Me Courage

by Arielle Becker , 2022 Birthright Israel Alum

Birthright Israel is a gift that kindles a spark of shared cultural identity in the hearts of Jewish students, fostering a sense of community that transcends borders and lasts a lifetime. This invigorating experience empowers Jewish youth to explore the profound significance of their cultural identity and gain a newfound appreciation for their Jewish heritage. Through this journey, students can...

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Begin, Einstein, and Maslow Helped Me Contextualize Birthright Israel
Alums Leadership & Supporters Trip Highlights

May 17, 2023

Begin, Einstein, and Maslow Helped Me Contextualize Birthright Israel

by Scott Friedman , Birthright Israel Alum & Donor

Scott Friedman is a Birthright Israel alum of the classic 10-day trip who is one of our most generous alum supporters. On a family trip to Israel with his wife Kara and children, Scott remembered the impact of his Birthright Israel trip and wanted to ensure young Jewish adults today receive the same experience he did. His gift to Birthright...

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Birthright Israel Has Left an Indelible Mark on My Jewish Story
Alums Trip Highlights

May 15, 2023

Birthright Israel Has Left an Indelible Mark on My Jewish Story

by Jared Stone , Birthright Israel Alum

A year ago, I would have never expected to be writing this blog post here in Israel to discuss the immensely positive impact Birthright Israel has had upon my Jewish identity. My story is unconventional, to say the least, but I feel profoundly fortunate to have ended up where I am today — and that Birthright Israel has left an...

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A 10-Day Curated Educational Program That Allowed Me to Be Every Part of Myself
Alums Trip Highlights

May 9, 2023

A 10-Day Curated Educational Program That Allowed Me to Be Every Part of Myself

by Katherine Shambaugh , Birthright Israel Alum & Alum Ambassador

Where I grew up, there was a church on every street corner, and the nearest synagogue was 30 minutes away. Israel felt like a country too far away for me to reach and full of people who I didn’t think were anything like me. I grew up in the suburbs of Atlanta, GA, in an interfaith family and spent the...

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"I could not have been more fortunate to go on a Birthright Israel trip."
Alums Trip Highlights

April 24, 2023

"I could not have been more fortunate to go on a Birthright Israel trip."

by Tyler Scheff , Birthright Israel Alum, Onward Alum & Staffer

Growing up, I remember being told I was Jewish and celebrated the holidays with my family but nothing else. I didn’t go to Hebrew school, nor did I have a Bar Mitzvah like my brother did. I knew I was Jewish, but I would always make the joke that I was “Jew-ish” and didn’t know much more about Judaism or...

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