Inspired by their Birthright Israel experiences, Alumni stand in solidarity with Israel and take action
Birthright Israel alumni from around the world across our Classic, Onward, and Excel programs are standing in solidarity with Israel and taking action. Alumni are navigating misinformation, antisemitism, and anti-Israel sentiment, whether on their college campuses, mainstream media or their social media feeds. And some Israeli mifgash alumni are serving on the frontlines of the IDF operations, while others are engaged in efforts to support and rebuild Israel as participants in the Onward Volunteer program.
Many of the alumni featured here were selected for Birthright Israel Foundation’s Alumni Ambassador community, an elite network of top leadership within the Jewish community, helping to ensure the future of Birthright Israel’s programs for generations to come. Ambassadors receive professional development through coaching and messaging support as they prepare to serve as keynote speakers at Birthright Israel Foundation events and play an active role in digital media efforts. Their role as ambassadors grows their skillset and develops their personal and professional network.
*Alumni ambassador community member
ALUMNI AMBASSADORS LEAD THE CHARGE IN SUPPORT OF ISRAEL
The Jewish community is privileged to have an active network of Birthright Israel alumni who are leveraging their platforms as social media influencers to champion Israel and distribute factual information. Every day this impressive group of individuals shares content supporting Israel and combats the misinformation flooding social media. We are proud to highlight our alumni as they uplift the next generation, including Eden Cohen here. A full feature of Birthright Israel social media influencers are on our blog.
Eden Cohen*, Founder of A Wider Frame
Eden Cohen is a 2009 Birthright Israel alum, co-chair of Birthright Israel Foundation’s 2023 Alum Ambassador program, and Senior Advisor to Former Special Envoy Noa Tishby. Years after her trip, Eden wanted to ensure the correct news surrounding Israel was reaching millennials and Gen Z, leading her to create A Wider Frame.
Adela Cojab*, Jewish Student Leader & Pro-Israel Activist
Adela Cojab is a 2017 Birthright Israel alum and co-chair of Birthright Israel Foundation’s 2024 Alum Ambassador program. Adela’s journey as an activist started after antisemitism on her college campus was rampant. Adela took matters into her own hands to protect her fellow Jewish students.
Student Leader on Campus:
“Birthright Israel Taught Me About Jewish Unity and Connection”
Today I am back on campus for my junior year at Princeton in the aftermath of the attacks on Israel on October 7. I am working behind the scenes to advise students in prominent pro-Israel leadership positions at Princeton and other Ivy League schools as past president of Tigers for Israel, Princeton’s pro-Israel student organization.
Together we are organizing grassroots efforts to support Israel and bring the Jewish community together.
Now more than ever it is important for the Jewish community to remain connected in unity. And this is what drives me to work closely with my fellow student leaders to come together as a unified Jewish community and support Israel. After witnessing the tapestry of Israeli society on Birthright Israel and seeing it in action during the judicial reform debate, now is the time for Jews to pull together in a unified manner. It was Birthright Israel that taught me how Jews must remain connected both in times of unity and disunity.
It is my fervent belief that the Birthright Israel experience is integral to the Jewish experience. It is not about being on the same side on every issue. However, it’s important for us to be together during times of distress and even more so in the days after.
Read Jared’s full story on the blog.
RAISING MONEY FOR ISRAEL AND SUPPLIES FOR THE IDF
Birthright Israel Alumnus Teddy Raskin Launches Nonprofit to Support Israel
Teddy Raskin, a Birthright Israel alum and trip staffer, helped launch Israel Friends to deliver humanitarian aid and protective tactical gear after the October 7th attacks. Israel Friends has partnered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Intelligence, El Al, the IDF, the MoD, Hatzalah, MDA, and other groups on the ground. In just three weeks, the organization has helped 1,651 reservists get back to Israel, and has raised over $7M in donations and over $10M in purchases and in-kind donations and aid delivered. This equates to over 200 tons of protective gear, medical supplies, and humanitarian aid.
Teddy’s love of Israel stems from his long-standing friendship with American-Israeli Tal Ben Maimon who showed him what it means to be Israeli, as well as Teddy’s transformational experience on a Birthright Israel trip. A full feature on Teddy Raskin is available here, along with his interview on Fox News.
Birthright Israel Alumna Eve Karlin Raises $20K at ‘Strength for Israel’
Eve Karlin is a Birthright Israel alumna and multi-time trip staffer living in Los Angeles, who felt compelled to help Israel following the October 7th terrorist attack. As a personal trainer, Eve partnered with Healthcare for Israel and Neue House to host a health and wellness event to benefit Israel. In just one week, Eve raised $20,016 for Israel. Many of her Birthright Israel participants and co-staffers contributed to these initiatives.
“I wanted to help our community through health and wellness so I curated an event called, ‘Strength for Israel.’ We were able to take the day to focus on our physical and mental health in a safe space. The event included a workout, sound bath, and a live auction— everything was donation-based and all the proceeds were donated to the top three nonprofit organizations that the attendees chose: Jewish National Fund, United Hatzalah, and Healthcare for Israel. It was an event that helped us feel connected to each other, gain the strength to stay in the light through the darkness, and raise money to support our brothers and sisters in Israel.”
Read Eve’s full story on the Birthright Israel Foundation blog.
PHYSICIAN ALUMNI VOLUNTEER WITH MAGEN DAVID ADOM IN ISRAEL
Birthright Israel alumni volunteered with Magen David Adom and were assigned to different MDA units to provide first medical response throughout the country.
DR. AVITAL LUDOMIRSKY:
“Ever since the October 7th Hamas terrorist attack, I have been trying to find the best way to support Israel right now. I have been here during wars in the past, but nothing has ever felt like this. As a doctor, I wanted to find a way to contribute effectively, and coming to Israel to volunteer with Magen David Adom felt like the perfect opportunity. It’s also really great to be able to be part of a diverse workforce. The crew here is composed of observant Jews, secular Jews, Muslims, Israelis, Americans, and Arab-Israelis. It’s truly wonderful. I’m incredibly grateful to be part of this group and get to work with this organization.”
DR. ILYA AYLYAROV
“If you believe that Jews deserve a homeland where they can live peacefully and safely, then you understand why I just support Israel now more than ever. The entire country is mourning. But Israelis are also proud of who they are, proud of their nation and their people. They are volunteering to help one another and to serve their country. They are more united than I have ever seen and I am most impressed by their resilience and bravery.”
Read the full story on our alumni volunteering with Magen David Adom.
ALUMNI PEN OP-EDS
“Birthright [Israel] Worked,” by Alina Dizik
As I doom-scrolled social media after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, in between photos of kidnapped and dead Israelis, I saw my Facebook friends showing their solidarity with Israel by posting grainy photos of their youthful faces in front of touristy backgrounds from Birthright trips. I suddenly realized what Birthright’s founders knew all along: When a tragedy of this scale happens, the in-person connection to Israel is critical to preserving the country’s existence. Without this trip, I—like many other nonreligious Jews—would have been left on the sidelines right now, feeling unconnected from the events happening far away. For many of us, including myself, our Birthright trip was the only time we’ve been to Israel. Had it not been for Birthright, I may never have visited at all.
Over the years, I’ve seen Birthright references come up in many touching ways. A close friend met her husband on a trip—and later returned for their wedding. Another dear friend met her best friend on the trip. There are countless sweet stories like this, but the one constant was that everyone came away with a realization about themselves and their place in the world.
For years, it also felt like a way to bond with other Jews my age. It was the ideal icebreaker. Everyone had a Birthright story, it seemed. ▶
Thanks to Birthright, the social posts I saw my friends post this month expressed solidarity in a way that felt authentic. And those 10 brief days continue to serve as a foundation for conversations among us.
The Birthright trip also made it harder for me and others in the U.S. to just turn our backs. It’s the reciprocity principle, which means that we as humans always want to give something back when something is received. [Birthright Israel’s] alumni network is twice the size of Harvard’s, and it binds entire generations of Jews together. The trip was by no means perfect, but 20 years later, I’m thankful for those 10 days.”
Alina’s full Op-Ed is available on tabletmag.org.
“Do Anything and Everything in Your Power to Help,” by Julia Pratt
The events of October 7th shook me to my core. I needed to channel my sadness, anger, confusion and fear into something that would actually make a difference for Israel and the Israeli people. I started by creating a Venmo campaign. In first 24 hours, I raised over $6,000 from 76 different people for The Greater Miami Jewish Federation’s Israel Emergency Fund to assist the victims of terror and address immediate needs on the ground.
A few days later, I attended a Solidarity Rally at the Holocaust Memorial of Miami Beach with 3,000 members of the Miami community, including friends from my Birthright Israel and Onward networks. I brought my friend, Hector Santana, who isn’t Jewish but has always expressed to me his love for the Jewish people and everything we stand for. Many of us left the event feeling empowered, including Hector, who felt determined to do more to support his Jewish friends in the Miami community and Israel.
The next day, Hector invited me to host a fundraiser for Israel in a venue donated by his company. Attended by 500 Jews and non-Jews, this event raised $41,000!
Jack Waksal, a 99-year-old Holocaust survivor, addressed us: “Never Again. We are Jews, and that is something NOBODY can take away from us!”
Building on Jack’s message, here is my message to anyone in America who has feeling helpless like me: In this time of terrible darkness for our people and our homeland, be the light! Do anything and everything in your power to help Jews locally and globally as well as Israel. You are not alone. There are people, some who you might not even know personally, willing to lift you up. After planning this fundraiser, I know with every fiber of my being that we will come out of this tragic time stronger than ever. Each of us can do our part. We will prevail. Israel will prevail.
Julia’s full Op-Ed is available on our blog and at sun-sentinal.com.
Since the op-ed was published, Julia has dedicated her time to supporting Birthright Israel—currently selling Israeli flag handbags, she has raised over $1,500 for Birthright Israel Foundation.
