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Birthright Israel Foundation Blog

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October 9, 2025

Visiting Schneider Children’s Medical Center with Birthright Israel Volunteer

by Emily Shrode , 2025 Birthright Israel Volunteer

I’m from Texas. I officially joined the Tribe when I was twenty-three. But my journey to conversion began years earlier, at a Jewish day camp in Austin where I worked as a camp counselor. I felt like myself there. Being among Jewish people who shared the same values, and getting to impart those values to the campers, felt like home....

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September 29, 2025

Scarsdale Honors Birthright Israel’s Legacy and Future

by Birthright Israel Foundation

On Thursday, September 18, 2025, the Scarsdale Jewish community gathered at the home of Wendy and Scott Kleinman for Birthright Israel: 25 Years Bold. The evening began with cocktails and heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated Host Committee, followed by opening remarks from Wendy Kleinman, who shared her family’s deep commitment to ensuring a vibrant Jewish future. Wendy reflected on Birthright...

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September 19, 2025

Chicago Unites for Birthright Israel's 25th Anniversary

by Birthright Israel Foundation

On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, Birthright Israel Foundation’s Chicago Annual Event brought together community leaders, alumni, and supporters for a remarkable 25th Anniversary Celebration. Allyson Greenbaum, Vice President of the Central Region, recognized the extraordinary leadership of event co-chairs Lori Komisar & Morrie Silverman, and Jen & Andy Lucas, along with our most generous supporters in the Midwest. The program...

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September 16, 2025

Los Angeles Community Celebrates 25 Years of Birthright Israel

by Birthright Israel Foundation

On September 10 in Los Angeles, our community came together to celebrate 25 years of Birthright Israel. After activist Adela Cojab shared how Birthright Israel shaped her life of advocacy and service, Birthright Israel Foundation President and CEO Elias Saratovsky inspired and updated us on the extraordinary impact of nearly 30,000 Jewish young adults participating in Birthright Israel this year....

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September 3, 2025

Birthright Israel Helped Me Uncover Why I Value My Judaism and Israel 

by Ethan Roberts , 2025 Birthright Israel Alumnus

I grew up going to Hebrew school three times a week, celebrating the High Holidays, and having Seder with my family. Being Jewish was an important part of my identity, but it was directed and led by my parents. It wasn’t like they were asking me, “Do you want to be Jewish? Do you want to go to Hebrew school?”...

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Paige Cobrin FEATURED

September 2, 2025

Birthright Israel Excel Showed Me the Importance of Speaking Up

by Paige Cobrin , 2025 Birthright Israel Excel Fellow

I’m a junior at Cornell University studying mechanical engineering and business. I’m from Fairfield County, Connecticut, and Judaism has always been a strong part of my life. I grew up going to Camp Ramah in the Berkshires, where I learned the prayers and experienced Jewish community. We’d have services every morning and Kabbalat Shabbat all together in a big amphitheater...

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Jared Erman FEATURED

August 27, 2025

Birthright Israel Onward Was the Best Summer of My Life

by Jared Erman , 2025 Birthright Israel Onward Alumnus

I’m a junior at Ohio State from New Jersey. I’m studying finance with a minor in music. Maybe one day I’ll find a way to bring the two together. At school I’m on the Chabad board, and I’m also part of Tamid, a student organization that works with Israeli startups. Through Tamid, I learned about the fellowship that took me...

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Zachary Sardi-Santos FEATURED

August 27, 2025

My Zionism is Unshakable Thanks to Birthright Israel Excel

by Zachary Sardi-Santos , 2025 Birthright Israel Excel Fellow

I am a senior at Harvard studying Applied Math and Computer Science. I was born and raised in Newton, Massachusetts. My mom is Ashkenazi Jewish. Her entire family, for centuries, are Ashkenazi Jews from Budapest, Hungary. It was and had always been their home. Of course, this changed with the Holocaust—most of my mother’s family were robbed of their homes,...

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Avery Rosin FEATURED

August 26, 2025

My Journey Creating Ripples of Leadership with Birthright Israel

by Avery Rosin , 2011 Birthright Israel Excel Fellow

I grew up in Los Angeles, third generation, in a Reform Jewish household. We always celebrated the holidays, and Hanukkah was my favorite. I loved playing dreidel, lighting the candles, and gathering with close friends and family. My parents hosted a Hanukkah party every year, and we were lucky to have friends who made the best latkes in town. Passover...

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Josh Rose FEATURED - 1

August 22, 2025

Birthright Israel Showed Me a Proud Future I Never Imagined

by Josh Rose , 2025 Birthright Israel Volunteer

I’m from Manchester but have lived in London for 7 years. I am passionate about writing, particularly writing about being gay and Jewish. My short film Sinnerman—about two gay Jewish men—was selected for the BAFTA-accredited UK Jewish Film Festival, as well as 6 other film festivals. I am currently writing a feature film about a similar topic. My connection to...

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