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Birthright Israel Foundation Blog

Birthright Israel Is a Jolt of Jewish Identity

April 14, 2026

Birthright Israel Is a Jolt of Jewish Identity

by Rabbi Peretz Shapiro , Birthright Israel Madrich

I am a Chabad rabbi living in Dallas, Texas, though I’m originally from England. I work primarily in Jewish adult education. My parents were both from South Africa, and I grew up in a Zionist family. After I met my wife, who is American, I moved to the U.S. in 2002. I wasn’t raised observant, but I became observant in college....

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Why I Keep Coming Back as a Birthright Israel Madricha

April 13, 2026

Why I Keep Coming Back as a Birthright Israel Madricha

by Haddie Daner , 2022 Birthright Israel Alumna

My twin sister, my brother and I were adopted from China and grew up in San Luis Obispo, California, near the ocean. My whole extended family is Ashkenazi Jewish, with a mix of Reform and Conservative. We kept kosher strictly in my home and observed Shabbat, and I had my bat mitzvah and went to Jewish summer camp.  I started college...

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Happy Passover! Our Birthright Israel Haggadah and a Special Recipe

March 30, 2026

Happy Passover! Our Birthright Israel Haggadah and a Special Recipe

by Birthright Israel Foundation

From our Seder table to yours, happy Passover! It's one of our favorite times of year. The candles, the songs, the questions asked by the youngest at the table, and of course, the food. This year, we want to help you make it meaningful and delicious.Start with the StoryA great Seder begins with a great Haggadah. We've put together a...

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Birthright Israel: Visiting When a Good Friend Is in Trouble

March 27, 2026

Birthright Israel: Visiting When a Good Friend Is in Trouble

by Sarah Abraham , 2026 Birthright Israel Volunteer

I'm originally from Brooklyn, and I attended college and law school in New York City. I'm married, I'm observant by choice, and I have teenage twins. I've always known that as an adult, you have to constantly reinvest in your commitment to Judaism. It's not something that just happens. It has to be planned. It has to be intentional. After October...

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Palm Beach Celebrates Birthright Israel and the Jewish Future

March 25, 2026

Palm Beach Celebrates Birthright Israel and the Jewish Future

by Birthright Israel Foundation

On March 23, Birthright Israel Foundation brought together more than 150 supporters at the Norton Museum of Art's Great Lawn for its annual Palm Beach event, an inspiring night of community, conversation, and commitment to the next generation.Honorary Chairs Rita and Charles Bronfman and Co-Chairs Susan and Ronnie Pertnoy showed guests what 27 years of visionary philanthropy can build. National...

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Brandeis University: Birthright Israel Reverses Generational Decline in Jewish Identity

March 23, 2026

Brandeis University: Birthright Israel Reverses Generational Decline in Jewish Identity

Brandeis University has documented the sharpest decline in Jewish connection among young American Jews in 25 years. Without intervention, campus pressure, misinformation, and political polarization are pulling young Jews away from Jewish life.Birthright Israel is the proven solution: participants return more connected to Israel, more grounded in their Jewish identity, and more committed to the Jewish community.The impact doesn't fade...

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A Generation Steps Forward: Inside the Birthright Israel Excel Summit

March 13, 2026

A Generation Steps Forward: Inside the Birthright Israel Excel Summit

by Birthright Israel Foundation

Last week, 500 Birthright Israel Excel Fellows from around the world gathered at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York for the Excelerate26 Summit. To understand why this weekend mattered, you first need to understand who was in that room and what brought them there.Who Was In That RoomBirthright Israel Excel Fellows are students from Harvard, Stanford, Penn, Cambridge,...

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Birthright Israel Helped Me Become the Jewish Educator I Am Today

March 4, 2026

Birthright Israel Helped Me Become the Jewish Educator I Am Today

by Mitchell Hall , 2026 Birthright Israel Alumnus

I grew up in Commack, Long Island, in a Reform Jewish family. My parents are from the Bronx, and although our home wasn’t kosher, I had my bar mitzvah, and spent summers going up to the Catskills for family reunions.I never originally saw myself as a Jewish educator. I saw myself as Jewish and happened to work in a yeshiva...

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From Quiet, Hidden Judaism to Pride and Responsibility

February 17, 2026

From Quiet, Hidden Judaism to Pride and Responsibility

by Tatyana Kheyfets , 2026 Birthright Israel Volunteer

My name is Tatyana Kheyfets, and I live in San Ramon, California. I was born in Gomel, Belarus, and immigrated to the United States in 1995 when I was nine years old. My life has always been shaped by the desire to build meaningful relationships, learn from different perspectives, and stay actively engaged with my community. Growing up in Belarus,...

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