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Birthright Israel Foundation Blog

courtneysimmonsdemri
Alums Trip Highlights

April 16, 2022

Birthright Israel is Life-Changing and I'll Keep Saying It

by Courtney Simmons Demri , 2012 Birthright Israel Alumna

To start, Birthright Israel changed my life. It has changed my life spiritually, mentally, romantically (which you will hear about later). I want to leave you with suspense! When I am asked to share my Birthright Israel story, it's difficult to decide where to begin because my experience has provided me with so many different outlets and avenues that impacted...

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ellen-voskoboynik-headshot
Alums Trip Highlights

April 12, 2022

Meet Indiana Birthright Israel Alumna Ellen Voskoboynik

by Birthright Israel Foundation

Ellen Voskoboynik was born in the United States to former Soviet immigrants. Her parents, who fled the former Soviet Union as refugees, raised her to have a strong respect for her Jewish heritage. Ellen participated in Birthright Israel through the Indiana University Hillel, where she became a Bat Mitzvah on the trip. Ellen is now a practicing emergency room nurse...

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jeremyettlinger-andfather-birthrightisrael
Alums Trip Highlights

April 11, 2022

Jeremy Ettlinger: Recalling My Bar Mitzvah at Masada

by Jeremy Ettlinger , 2019 Birthright Israel Alumnus

I went on Birthright after my second year of college in May 2019. Like many Birthright Israel trips, my journey started at the airport. My dad and stepmom dropped me off at the airport. Margot, my stepmom, wanted to come with me to the airport so she could see a Birthright Israel trip up close. After two goodbyes and many...

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Slow Cooker Coffee Rubbed Beef Brisket Recipe
Food

April 6, 2022

Slow Cooker Coffee Rubbed Beef Brisket Recipe

by Birthright Israel Foundation

Passover 2023 begins the evening of Wednesday, April 5, and ends on Thursday, April 13, and there is no better main dish to serve than a beef brisket! For centuries, Ashkenazi Jews have been serving beef brisket on Passover, Rosh Hashanah, and Sukkot. Some say it is because it was an inexpensive cut of meat for the Jews living in...

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shanilevi-ocean-sunset-birthrightisrael
Alums Trip Highlights

April 6, 2022

Meet South African Birthright Israel Alumna Shani Levi

by Birthright Israel Foundation

Shani Levi is a recent Birthright Israel alumna from Johannesburg, South Africa. After her Birthright Israel trip, she went on to study midrasha in Jerusalem, Israel. Shani loves getting involved in her community and helping people — something her trip further inspired her to do. In our interview below, read how her trip impacted her life. Q&A with Shani Levi...

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Video: Birthright Israel Showed Me the Real Meaning of 'Am Yisrael'
Alums Trip Highlights

April 1, 2022

Video: Birthright Israel Showed Me the Real Meaning of 'Am Yisrael'

by Lior Ofir , 2004 Birthright Israel Alumnus

The Birthright Israel experience is very different for an Israeli young adult than our American counterparts. When I was asked to join a Birthright Israel group in Tel Aviv for three days, I said, "of course, it's a free vacation." Most of all, I was excited to have time off from the army. I was very excited about this "free...

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Stephen Grand z''l: A Legacy That Will Forever Impact Birthright Israel and the Jewish People
Leadership & Supporters

March 29, 2022

Stephen Grand z''l: A Legacy That Will Forever Impact Birthright Israel and the Jewish People

by Birthright Israel Foundation

Stephen Grand believed in Birthright Israel so much that he wanted to ensure its success and impact would live on after his lifetime. Stephen bequeathed $5 million to Birthright Israel Foundation, leaving his mark on the Jewish people, the State of Israel, and Birthright Israel, forever. Stephen spent significant time and resources dedicated to causes that strengthened Israel and the...

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Birthright Israel Love Story: Megan McKee & Levi Snow
Alums Love Stories

March 29, 2022

Birthright Israel Love Story: Megan McKee & Levi Snow

by Birthright Israel Foundation

Levi Snow and Megan McKee do not have the traditional Birthright Israel love story. Before their trip in 2014, the two had already been dating and met through the Indiana University Hillel. Their journey helped solidify their love for her each other. They both signed up for Birthright Israel at the beginning of their relationship, not knowing what the future...

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Meet Melissa and Alex Block: An LA Birthright Israel Love Story
Alums Love Stories

March 23, 2022

Meet Melissa and Alex Block: An LA Birthright Israel Love Story

by Birthright Israel Foundation

The Birthright Israel love story of Melissa and Alex Block was beshert from the beginning. Their story unknowingly began when Melissa volunteered to lead an LA-based trip in 2008, and Alex's plans of going on Birthright Israel with his cousin fell through. For Melissa, she was not initially leading the trip Alex was on. At the time, only a limited...

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zanderschnitzer-masada-feat
Alums Trip Highlights

March 22, 2022

Discovering My Own Strength Alongside My Jewish Identity

by Zander Schnitzer , 2021 Birthright Israel Alumnus

I was incredibly fortunate to go on a Birthright Israel trip in July 2021 when Israel opened its borders during the pandemic. I was eager to have this experience and am grateful to share more about it with you. Growing up, I was raised in a home that was a mix of reform, conservative and orthodox, from my parents and...

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