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Birthright Israel Foundation Blog

Party for young Russian-speaking Jews marks 18th anniversary of Birthright

November 7, 2018

Party for young Russian-speaking Jews marks 18th anniversary of Birthright

by JNS

“Everything that you saw and heard, people that you have met, the land you’ve touched—all this will become a trigger for your own inner discoveries,” said Genesis Philanthropy Group vice president for community relations Dorit Golender. Taglit-Birthright Israel marked its 18th birthday on Aug. 21 with a series of events in Tel Aviv for 1,000 participants from the former Soviet...

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leahgraff_oct2018

October 26, 2018

Birthright Israel is Crucial to Keeping Judaism Alive

by Leah Graff , Birthright Israel Alumna & Staff

This is why I became a Birthright group leader. I remember every second of my first Birthright Israel trip. I’ve never felt that connected to anything in my life. Everywhere we went, everything I saw and did, I felt like I was meant to be there. I think it’s because it’s the land of my people. I didn’t expect to...

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What are alumni saying this week? (October 22, 2018)

October 22, 2018

What are alumni saying this week? (October 22, 2018)

by Birthright Israel Foundation

No matter where in the world a Birthright Israel participant comes from, each and every single one continues to relive the magic of Israel throughout their entire lives. With more than 650,000 alumni embarking on the journey of a lifetime we wanted to share with you, by week, an insight into just how impactful Birthright Israel is. “It’s impossible to...

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Kate Eppers

September 17, 2018

Birthright Israel: A Journey That Changed Me Forever

by Kate Eppers , 2009 Birthright Israel Alumna

I could write novels upon novels about how beneficial Birthright Israel is and how this trip changed my life for the better. Growing up, I really didn’t know much about Judaism or my culture. I am 100% Jewish on both sides, but I was not in touch with my roots. Because I didn’t come from a huge Jewish community, once...

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ian_and_mackenzie

September 1, 2018

A Match Made in Israel: Ian & Mackenzie

by Birthright Israel Foundation

For Ian Persits and Mackenzie Samet, Birthright Israel was much more than a free trip—it was where their love story began. Although both from New York, the two of them were brought up in very different homes. Ian was born and raised in Brooklyn in a Russian-Jewish household. His parents immigrated to the United States in 1975 to build a...

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sea_of_galilee

August 17, 2018

Galilee: Discovering the Lush, Mountainous Green of Israel

by Birthright Israel Foundation

When Birthright Israel participants travel to Israel, many imagine they will spend 10 days in a desert. While they are partly right, they are astonished to discover Israel’s amazing landscape is as diverse as its people. Let's learn more about the Galilee. In Israel’s northern region, pastoral green valleys and mountains define the area of Galilee. Participants have the opportunity...

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saragreenberg_story

August 2, 2018

A Granddaughter's Understanding

by Sara Greenberg

From an early age, I knew Israel was an important place. My mother’s parents had both survived the Holocaust. After World War II, my grandfather, a survivor of Auschwitz, volunteered in a displaced persons camp in Germany helping other Jewish refugees get to British-controlled Palestine. While my grandfather hoped to also emigrate to Eretz Yisrael, his one surviving family member...

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summer2018group_accessibility

July 10, 2018

Welcome To Your Ordinary Birthright Experience!

by Oz Isseroff

A staff member observes how Birthright's Special Needs trips...aren't especially different from any other. Ben Gurion Airport, early in the morning, a group of young Canadian or American Jews ​get off the air-conditioned ​air​plane straight into the​ hot​ Mediterranean climate, tired after a long flight, on their faces ​a mixture of pressure and excitement ​is evident​. They place their suitcases...

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northernisrael_summer2018

July 5, 2018

Philly Faces: Birthright Trip Inspired Career

by Selah Maya Zighelboim

At Adath Israel, a typical day doesn’t really exist, Julia Campbell said. Campbell has worked as the program and marketing coordinator at Adath Israel for just over a year. At the Merion Station synagogue, you can find the 25-year-old organizing events, meeting with staff, communicating with congregants and, right now, planning for the High Holidays, in addition to many other...

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