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Birthright Israel Foundation Blog

Community, Acceptance, and Self‑Discovery
Alums Trip Highlights

September 16, 2019

Community, Acceptance, and Self‑Discovery

by Birthright Israel Foundation

When most people hear the words “Birthright Israel,” they usually think “free trip,” and while Birthright Israel technically is a “free trip,” it is so much more than that. Birthright Israel is a unique partnership between the Israeli government, various Jewish communities and Jewish philanthropists. The founders of Birthright Israel created this project to send hundreds of thousands of young...

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One-on-One with Birthright Israel Madrich Alan Avitan
Alums Trip Highlights

September 9, 2019

One-on-One with Birthright Israel Madrich Alan Avitan

by Birthright Israel Foundation

Outside of the favorite Hebrew words Birthright Israel participants learn, like Sababa (cool), Yalla (let's go!), and Ma'Kore (what's up), they also learn the word, Madrichim (leaders/staff/guide). Madrichim are often staff members from the participants' home country who accompany them on their Birthright Israel journey. The Madrichim are an essential element to the educational components of the program, which are...

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VIDEO: My Birthright Israel Trip Explained
Alums Trip Highlights

September 6, 2019

VIDEO: My Birthright Israel Trip Explained

by Lindsay Nathanson , 2019 Birthright Israel Alumna

Lindsay Nathanson is a 2019 Birthright Israel alumna from Philadelphia, PA. She is currently studying History at the University of Tampa, Florida and is an intern at the National Museum of American Jewish History. Lindsay has her own YouTube channel, auxcord, where she makes history "as little of a bore as possible." We spoke with Lindsay about her Birthright Israel...

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Why I'll Never Forget Visiting Jerusalem on Birthright Israel
Alums Trip Highlights

September 3, 2019

Why I'll Never Forget Visiting Jerusalem on Birthright Israel

by Chloe Meinert , 2019 Birthright Israel Alumna

I want to start this blog off by saying thank you to the people who made my trip all it was. I’d like to thank all the donors who made my trip to Israel possible. I’m truly blessed to have had this experience. Without the donations, I wouldn’t have had the most memorable experience I’ve had in my life. Birthright...

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From Bat Mitzvah to Bar Mitzvah: One Man's Journey with Birthright Israel
Alums Trip Highlights

August 29, 2019

From Bat Mitzvah to Bar Mitzvah: One Man's Journey with Birthright Israel

by Samuel Benji , 2019 Birthright Israel Alumnus

This may be a bit cliché because everyone who goes on Birthright Israel seems to say this, but it is because it is true…Birthright was a life-changing experience. I have many memories that are going to stick with me for the rest of my life. For example, getting to know all of the amazing people on my trip, walking in...

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Birthright Israel Was My First Journey In Recovery
Alums Trip Highlights

August 27, 2019

Birthright Israel Was My First Journey In Recovery

by Rachel Kessler , 2015 Birthright Israel Alumna

I grew up in a small Jewish community in Northern California, where I had a broken relationship with my Judaism. After my Bat Mitzvah, I didn’t see any reason to continue with the Jewish community. I knew about Birthright Israel, but it was never something that I was interested in doing. After I became sober, I began to explore what...

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Rediscovering My Jewish Roots on Birthright Israel
Alums Trip Highlights

August 22, 2019

Rediscovering My Jewish Roots on Birthright Israel

by Samuel Meller , 2018 Birthright Israel Alumnus

Birthright Israel was a life-changing experience for me. I found out about this opportunity by getting more involved with my Hillel branch at Florida International University. I had never been to Israel before, so when I learned it was essentially free, I jumped on it and signed up. I would recommend this trip to anyone who wants to connect with...

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How Birthright Israel Helped Me Embrace My Identities
Alums Trip Highlights

August 20, 2019

How Birthright Israel Helped Me Embrace My Identities

by Jordan Daniels , 2019 Birthright Israel Alumnus

My Jewish background was hidden throughout childhood but has been brought forward as I’ve stepped into adulthood. When I was a kid, I was told never to disclose my Jewishness to people. As a mixed child, my family felt that appearing both Black and Jewish would subject me to too much discrimination, therefore, I kept my Jewish observation inconspicuous. Growing...

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Alums Trip Highlights

August 14, 2019

How I Roll: Birthright Israel No Limits In Motion

by Naomi Hess , 2019 Birthright Israel No Limits In Motion Alumna

I can’t even fully explain how amazing my Birthright Israel trip was, but I’ll do my best. Birthright Israel No Limits In Motion is a trip designed specifically for young adults with disabilities ages 18-32. This trip promises a completely free and accessible trip to Israel. Each participant gets to bring a companion with them for free, so I brought...

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Then & Now: KC Yasmer
Alums Trip Highlights

August 13, 2019

Then & Now: KC Yasmer

by KC Yasmer , 2000 Birthright Israel Alumnus

July 2000 My name is KC Yasmer and I am a junior at Stanford University. It was my good fortune to join the other hundreds of college students on the Birthright Israel 2000 trip. I was raised in Tucson, Arizona, a southwestern town with a small but cohesive Jewish community. Judaism was and is a part of my life, which...

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Without your donations to Birthright Israel Foundation, this gift isn't possible. Secure the Jewish future today by investing in this transformational trip for Jewish young adults.

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