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Birthright Israel Foundation Blog

Andrew Shapiro FEATURED
Alums Trip Highlights

October 16, 2025

Birthright Israel Brought My Jewish Story Full Circle 

by Andrew Shapiro , 2025 Birthright Israel Alumnus

I’m from Utah—a fourth-generation Shapiro born and raised in Salt Lake City. Being Jewish in Utah means standing out, but it’s made my pride that much stronger. My great-grandpa emigrated to the U.S. from the Ukraine–Lithuania area around 1900 and made it to Salt Lake City about a decade later, where he met and married my great-grandmother—a well-educated Jewish woman...

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Alums Trip Highlights

October 16, 2025

Birthright Israel Volunteers Bring New Hope to Kibbutz Ein HaShlosha

by Birthright Israel Foundation

Birthright Israel Volunteer recently partnered with Hebro, a New York–based organization for gay Jews, to help bring new life to Kibbutz Ein Hashlosha, one of the Gaza envelope communities that has largely been empty since October 7th. Now, as residents return, Birthright Israel volunteers are working beside them to restore shared spaces and bring back the warmth and rhythm of...

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Alums Trip Highlights

October 16, 2025

Finding My Musical Jewish Voice Through Birthright Israel Storytellers

by Kate Amrine , 2025 Birthright Israel Onward Storytellers Alumna

I’m a trumpet player and teacher based in New York City. I play on Broadway and on tours around the world, and I also perform as a soloist. I love commissioning new works by composers and performing music that’s about the issues I care deeply about—women’s rights, climate change, social justice. I didn’t grow up with any Jewish background or...

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David Rittberg
Alums Leadership & Supporters Trip Highlights

October 16, 2025

How Birthright Israel Inspired David Rittberg’s Work in Jewish Philanthropy

by Birthright Israel Foundation

David Rittberg is the Senior Director of the U.S. Jewish Grantmaking team at the Schusterman Family Philanthropies, where he oversees Jewish and Israel-related giving alongside foundation leaders and the Schusterman family. After 13 years at Schusterman, he still traces the origins of his career in Jewish philanthropy back to his Birthright Israel trip. David grew up in a family deeply...

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Alums Trip Highlights

October 10, 2025

One Week Changed Me on Birthright Israel Volunteer

by Ari Tuerack , 2002 Birthright Israel Alumnus

I’m from Long Island, New York. I’m in my third year at Binghamton University, majoring in economics, and I love it here. Binghamton has a strong Jewish community, which was a big reason I chose it. I wasn’t very religious when I was younger, but over time, my family became more observant. My sisters and I went to Jewish day...

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Jules Charen FEATURED
Alums Trip Highlights

October 9, 2025

I Looked Up at the Same Stars as My Ancestors on Birthright Israel

by Jules Charen , 2025 Birthright Israel Alumna

I am from Baltimore, and I went to Israel with the Johns Hopkins Birthright Israel trip. I wasn’t actually a student there. I worked on their medical campus at a gym for alumni, students, and doctors. One day someone who came through the gym said, “Hey, I heard you’re Jewish. Have you heard about the Hopkins Hillel?” Later I saw...

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Alums Trip Highlights

October 9, 2025

Why I Became a Birthright Israel Recruiter

by Sydni Wasserman , 2025 Birthright Israel Alumna and Recruiter

I grew up in Buffalo, New York, in a place where being Jewish wasn’t the norm. Most of my classmates celebrated Christmas, and during Passover or Rosh Hashanah, I was often the only one missing school. My parents had enrolled me in Hebrew school to instill those Jewish values I was missing, and I spent summers at a Jewish camp...

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Alums Trip Highlights

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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Events Leadership & Supporters

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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Events Leadership & Supporters

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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