Journeys Issue #17 - December 2022

Friends, Dear

2022 has been a year of celebration and tremendous accomplishment for Birthright Israel Foundation. Thanks to your continued generosity, we were able to successfully relaunch Birthright Israel and provide the once in a lifetime gift of an educational experience in Israel to 35,000 participants. Additionally, since the merger with Onward, we have sent 3,200 participants on mid-length internship programs.

We came together in person at various events this year, from the Gala celebrating Charles Bronfman in New York to our Birthright Israel Foundation events from the Hamptons to Miami to Los Angeles, to our mission in Israel, where those of you who joined us were moved by the very Birthright Israel participants you invested in as they recalled the impact of their trips.

So many wonderful memories have been made for all of us, most importantly knowing how deeply you care about Birthright Israel and the impact it has on the entire Jewish community. Your dedication to support our mission has allowed more than 800,000 participants to explore their Jewish identity and the State of Israel on their own terms but our work is far from done! As antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment are rampant on college campuses, we must continue to ensure Jewish students do not miss their birthright. It is our duty, for the generations that fought so fiercely before us, to help these young Jews feel pride in their identity and give them the confidence to tackle tough conversations.

In the years to come, we find ourselves facing a daunting challenge. Due to inflation and the rising costs of travel, it will cost an additional $1,000 per participant. We need your help to make sure we can maximize the number of participants we can take to Israel. As you read through this issue of Journeys, we hope you are reminded of the impact your generosity has on our participants and how much our participants value and appreciate the gift you have given them.

Wishing you and your families a happy and healthy 2023!

Sincerely,

PHIL DE TOLEDO & IZZY TAPOOHI

HOW

Birthright IsraelCHANGED THE TRAJECTORY OF MY LIFE

BY EDEN COHEN, 2009 ALUM, FOUNDER OF A WIDER FRAME & SPECIAL ADVISOR TO NOA TISHBY, ISRAEL’S ANTISEMITISM ENVOY

I can’t imagine what I’m about to tell you is markedly different from what thousands have said before me, but it’s worth repeating: Birthright Israel undoubtedly changed the trajectory of my life. I have been saying this to anyone who will listen since the day I came back: Birthright Israel is the single most important organization to build Jewish identity and inspire Jewish pride. It fosters a sense of true belonging in the Jewish world and as part of the larger Jewish story.

I grew up in a Pittsburgh suburb with a relatively small Jewish population. While filling our JNF tin cans each week and giving what we could to support Israel in various ways was part of our upbringing, Israel felt a million miles away. It was my grandfather, the sole Holocaust survivor of his family, whose pain and life story cemented the importance, even at a young age, that Israel is unequivocally essential to the fundamental survival of the Jewish people. Despite this, I didn’t know much about Israel or even about our people’s history in the land other than what I could vaguely remember from biblical stories told in Sunday school.

I was fortunate enough to go to college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison right before every Jewish student on campus was held to a litmus test when it came to Israel. Antisemitism certainly wasn’t at the fever pitch as it is now. I also happened to live almost exclusively with Jews on campus, which I’m sure made a big difference in what I would have otherwise encountered.

I heard about Birthright Israel from a few people who went and raved about it, but I decided to put it off until after I completed my law school prerequisites. I decided to sign up after graduating with my then-boyfriend. About a week before the trip, he broke my heart and ended the relationship. My friends, who were all thrilled about the breakup, convinced me I should still go, heartbroken and all. Little did they know the lifelong love affair that was about to begin.

Something I should also mention is that I went during the height of the Gaza war in 2009. My parents, as much as they supported Israel and wanted me to have this experience, were terrified. They really wanted me to consider going at a different time when tensions subsided. After a few calls with Birthright Israel staffers, their concerns dissipated, and off I went.

I showed up to the airport alone, nervous, and in tears when two other girls going on the trip came up to me, immediately put their arms around me, and subsequently made me laugh the entire 12-hour flight from Chicago to Ben Gurion. Nothing could have prepared me for the experience I would have over the next ten days.

From the moment we arrived, I felt an intense connection to the land. Though I went knowing no one, I formed the best friendships in a matter of hours. I went from obsessing over a heartbreak to not caring about the boy that I thought broke my heart in a single day. Not to mention falling in love with every Israeli soldier I passed by. The physical activity, packed itinerary and extracurricular fun allowed for very little sleep, but it didn’t matter. I didn’t want to waste a minute when I was experiencing something so extraordinary, I quite literally couldn’t put it into words.

In revisiting my Birthright Israel trip,

I came across an email to my parents that summarized the impact perfectly:

This trip is life-changing!

I’m sorry I haven’t written for a bit. I wish I could put this experience into words, but that seems silly because it won’t do it justice. It also feels like, despite my best efforts to explain it, you won’t understand. I will tell you all about what we’ve seen so far in a different email, but I need to say this first.

This has really changed something in me. I feel that there was a reason I came here now, at this time in my life, and I feel a purpose and belonging like I’ve never felt before. This is our home despite being pushed out for 2,000 years. I want to live here. There’s something about it I can’t explain, but after being here, I feel like there’s nowhere else for Jews to live.

Expecting young Jews who don’t live in Israel to form a bond and understanding of it based on stories told in a Sunday school classroom that no one wants to be in is really dumb. It’s why my friends don’t care about Israel or being Jewish. I’m really sad it took me until now to get here. But I’m so grateful I’m here now. I’m so sorry Birthright didn’t exist when you were young. I’m really sad for you.

I know you’re probably scared, but I think you should be happy for me. Also, this doesn’t matter that much, but everyone here is beautiful. How come no one told me that? This country is filled with the most beautiful people I’ve ever seen.

Being here, you don’t even know there’s a war going on. It’s completely safe and normal — and I only wish you could feel that so you stop worrying. I have 7 months until law school, and I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I don’t take advantage of the opportunity to stay here. It’s impossible for me to completely explain this, especially in email, but this is just a preface for a conversation I need you to be open to before I leave.

Ok, I gotta go, we are getting lunch, but I love you and miss you very much. Talk to you soon. Please stop worrying.

Love your strong-willed daughter who will do something big to help lots of people in the future,

Eden

Do you think my parents had any chance against that? The amazing parents they are, they supported my decision to stay in Israel for half a year without any firm plans until law school began, which they were adamant about me seeing through. They told me if I still wanted to come back after I completed my education, I would be free to make the decision then.

After practicing entertainment law for a few years, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was pursuing the wrong thing. Though I was still regularly going to Israel, it was never enough.

Ever since I left Israel after my first visit, I have paid close (almost singular) attention to Israel and Jewish world news, taking note of the disturbing rise in antisemitism across the world—and especially how it was shape shifting into the fanatical demonization of Israel.

I decided my work with various organizations and educating those around me — who largely were unengaged and uninformed — wasn’t enough. I was seeing the real-life consequences of the antisemitic libels being spread online. The systematic dehumanization, isolation, and ostracization of Jews from society once again. Physical attacks on Jews and Jewish spaces were becoming a regular occurrence.

At the beginning of COVID, I started a digital media company, A Wider Frame, to deliver quick and easy Jewish and Israel-related news in an attempt to inform others of the seriously disturbing trends I was noticing. I also wanted to give young Jews a resource in order for them to be able to use their voice to combat the flood of lies they were facing every day.

Through my advocacy work online, I met some really amazing people, including Noa Tishby, who asked me to work with her as her Senior Advisor and Chief of Staff prior to the announcement of her role as Israel’s Antisemitism Envoy. Together, we are advancing Israel’s foreign policy as it relates to antisemitism and developing and implementing policies and projects to combat antisemitism on a large scale.

I am also launching another Jewish multimedia company in 2023 with my close friend Jordyn Tilchen, which seeks to engage young Jews, help them understand modern manifestations of antisemitism, and instill Jewish pride. Along with activist and journalist Eve Barlow, Jordyn and I are also producing a docuseries about Israel from our perspective.

This is the transformative power of a Birthright Israel trip, and I am living proof. It costs $4,500 to send someone like me on a Birthright Israel trip, and the investment does not just put young Jews on a plane to Israel—it changes the course of our lives. Birthright Israel takes young diasporic Jews who may not otherwise have the opportunity to even understand who we are or anything about our incredible history and homeland and gives us a community, a voice, purpose, and pride. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to those who have contributed to this life-changing organization. You are planting the seeds for our future.

Mom and Dad

BY JORDYN TILCHEN, 2017 ALUM, PRO-ISRAEL ACTIVIST & SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER

into my Stepping Jewish Story

I didn’t want to go on Birthright Israel. It seems crazy to say now, but it’s absolutely true. An all-expenses paid trip to Israel was of little interest to me in my early twenties when I was just kicking off my journalism career. I was busy with so many things — road trips with friends, concerts, keeping up with my blog — and a 10-day trip to the Holy Land simply wasn’t on my radar. It didn’t help that Israel always felt like a mythical place where miraculous, impossible things happened thousands of years ago. Like many other secular Jews in America, I grew up listening to the stories of the exodus and the Maccabean revolt and hearing about the horrors of the Shoah, but never was I able to truly connect to the Jewish story until I stepped into it myself.

After years of telling my cousin to go on Birthright Israel without me, I finally gave in at the ripe age of 24. I went, as tens of thousands of young Jews do per year, with preconceived ideas about this foreign land and its people. If we were playing a word association game back then and you said “Israel,” I would’ve responded with “desert” or “war zone.” If you said “Israelis,” I would’ve said “cold,” “tough,” or “smokes a lot.” I wasn’t against the existence of Israel, but I was certainly indifferent and ignorant of the critical role it plays in the safety, security, and continued survival of the Jewish people. I was what one would call “totally oblivious” and “disconnected.”

As soon as the wheels touched down at Ben Gurion airport, I knew my life would fundamentally change. It wasn’t long before I realized that this land actually wasn’t foreign at all. I remember walking through Tzfat, mesmerized by the Jewish art galleries and the masterpieces in them. As I explored the ancient city, a store clerk said two simple words that stopped me in my tracks: “Welcome home.” I can’t quite describe what that felt like. I’ve lived just outside New York City my whole life, and people who spend years in Manhattan tell me they sometimes still feel like strangers there.

Yet I, an American who had been in Israel for maybe 72 hours, was being told by a man who’s likely been there his entire life that Israel – the land, the story, the culture, all of it – is just as much mine as it is his, and that this is my home too. A couple of days later, seven Israelis joined our group who – despite my preconceived notions – were in many ways just like us. They were seven young, vibrant, witty, smart, and engaging IDF soldiers who were just as curious about us as we were about them. They told us about their jobs in combat and intelligence, and we told them about ours as writers, teachers, and medical professionals. We bonded over popular TV shows like Game of Thrones and laughed at the same viral internet memes. Another thing that connected us all was that we had all experienced antisemitism, albeit in very different ways.

changed

From the Israelis, we learned about what it’s like living under the constant threat of terror from Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and other organizations devoted to Israel’s destruction. From us, they learned about the prevalence of antizionism on college campuses and how, at its core, is just thinly veiled antisemitism. We spoke about all of the anti-Israel sentiment that has infiltrated our social circles, our workplaces, and even the hallowed halls of Congress. What I realized was that, as much as we had in common, there was also so much we didn’t understand about each other, and Birthright Israel was crucial in bridging that gap.

I could go on and on and tell you about how much I loved floating in the Dead Sea, or how moved I was by our visit to Yad Vashem. I could tell you about our night out at the shuk, or how I stood at the Kotel on Shabbat with tears rolling down my face when suddenly it hit me that my ancestors had been praying for this moment for thousands of years. But instead, I would rather elaborate on what has happened since Birthright Israel, and how this 10-day program ultimately changed the entire trajectory of my life.

After returning and getting back to my normal routine, I noticed that my antennas were all the way up when it came to discourse about Jews and Israel. I’m an entertainment journalist, and I started noticing some snide remarks in the office whenever a celebrity would visit Israel. “No one should ever go there,” one colleague said. “It’s an apartheid state,” said another. Having been there myself, I knew that none of this was true. I also knew that I did nothing wrong by going and seeing the Jewish homeland with my own eyes. But still, I froze. I was so shocked and so deeply hurt that I couldn’t muster a response – something I deeply regret to this day.

I wish I could tell you that I quit that job, but I was actually let go soon after in a round of pandemic-related layoffs. I didn’t feel mad or upset about my unemployment. Instead, I felt liberated and galvanized to speak openly and honestly about antisemitism. So when famous football player DeShaun Watson shared a quote on social media that he attributed to Hitler, and the fast fashion retailer Shein put a swastika necklace up for sale on their website, I took to Instagram on one fateful day in 2020 to let my friends know exactly what was happening and why it was so concerning.

It’s been almost three years since then, and I’m still on Instagram fighting antisemitism, defending Israel, and being a very loud and proud Jew. I have amassed roughly 30,000 followers across Twitter and Instagram due to my advocacy work, and last year, The Algemeiner named me one of the top 100 people positively influencing Jewish life. At the end of this year, I will be launching a Jewish multimedia company with my good friend Eden Cohen with the sole purpose of providing young Jews with resources to

better understand their Jewish identity before they are groomed on social media into hating Israel and rejecting the very essence of who they are.

Eden and I are also working with activist Eve Barlow on an upcoming docuseries that sees us road-tripping Israel and offering a real-time perspective of a country that is so much more than war and conflict. A country that’s bursting with Jewish pride and that celebrates and savors life; A country that has something to offer everyone — Jewish or non-Jewish, religious or secular; A country built by survivors and protected by their children and their children’s children. A country full of people who understand the genocidal threats they face and who have the chutzpah to keep going. That’s Israel, my home.

It’s important for me to say that none of this — my social media advocacy, my Jewish multimedia company, my Israel docuseries — would’ve been possible without that eye-opening 10-day trip that I never wanted to go on in the first place. My life changed because of the generous donors who understood the detrimental impact of anti-Israel sentiment on young Jews and who sought to reverse that toxic messaging. My life changed because goodhearted, well-intentioned people saw the correlation between exposure to Israel and unapologetic Jewish pride. My life changed because of those who chose to invest in a Jewish future by helping to send thousands of young Jews to Israel per year. Thank you sincerely from the bottom of my heart. From top to bottom and inside out, you have changed my life.

My life

because of those who chose to invest in a Jewish future by helping to send thousands of young Jews to Israel per year.

Birthright Israel Tour Educator What Being a is Really Like

It was 5:30 AM on May 24, 2022, when I waited for my first Birthright Israel group to arrive. It was going to be my first experience as a tour educator. As the young American Jews arrived, I approached each one, shook their hand and welcomed them with “naim me’od,” Hebrew for “pleased to meet you.” Little did I know then that this was going to be one of the most rewarding 10 days of my life.

Our journey of connection to our Jewish identity and to Israel began in Tel Aviv, Israel’s high-tech center but also its first modern-day city (referred by some as the “first Hebrew city”). On bustling Rothschild Boulevard, amid skyscrapers and renovated Bauhaus buildings, we stood across the Hall of Independence where David Ben Gurion declared Israel’s independence, and we sang the “Hatikvah,” Israel’s national anthem — with passers-byers joining in. The vision of a free people in the Jewish State comes alive there.

Our deep dive into our Jewish history and roots began as we continued to Jerusalem, where we walked through the Jewish Quarter, discussed the Jewish people’s 2000-year yearning for Zion, and heard the blowing of the shofar at the Kotel. This was followed with each of us approaching the ancient wall with a note and a prayer. We learned that we live in a special era, where we can walk in the paths of our forefathers, and this comes after many years of persecution. At the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum, we paid tribute to the six million Jews who perished during the Shoah, and at Mount Herzl we heard the stories of IDF soldiers who fell defending our country. We learned about Jewish bravery and sacrifice in modern times.

BY RONEN ROSENBERG, BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL TOUR EDUCATOR

During our trip to Masada, atop the breathtaking views of the Dead Sea and the Judean Desert, we re-enacted Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies which drew us closer to feeling part of our great Jewish nation.

But the most special part of all, was that in the course of visiting Jewish historical places, deep group discussions of shared experiences, and fun nights out (let’s not forget the delicious shawarma and smoothies), we became a family sharing memories that would last a lifetime. We called ourselves “mispachomies” (an adaptation of “ mishpacha ,” the Hebrew word for family). Participants from the United States and Canada, Israeli soldiers, madrichim (trip staffers), and myself, bonded together in our discovery, re-discovery and strengthening of our Jewish identity.

Through the camaraderie we built, we came to experience an important Jewish value: the responsibility one Jew has for another — “kol Yisrael areivim zeh la’zeh.” We are all part of one large global community, sharing a great heritage, regardless of where we live, our age, occupation, or the language we speak.

It was truly a privilege, and one of the most meaningful times in my life to lead a Birthright Israel trip. It was a wonderful group of Jewish young adults who developed a love for our common heritage that continued to grow side by side with strong bonds formed with one another. If any of my participants are reading this, I thank you my “mishpachomies” for this wonderful opportunity.

BY TALIA MEISEL, BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL TOUR EDUCATOR

Today’s generations have distractions available at all times. In such an environment, when can one have the time to stop and process who they are and what they are a part of? Furthermore, when can a modern-day American Jew take a step towards understanding the Jewish part of their identity? That’s what we’re here for as Birthright Israel Tour Educators.

Birthright Israel is a no-strings-attached journey meant for any young Jewish adult regardless of their background, relation to Israel or connection to their heritage. It’s meant for those who wouldn’t have had the opportunity to come to Israel or had any interest in exploring the Jewish homeland except for the fact it’s a free trip. Birthright Israel is meant for those young adults who could have been lost to Israel and the Jewish people.

To make the trip not only fun, but meaningful too, is also the role of the tour educators like myself. The tour educator not only is responsible for the logistical needs of the trip, but also the spiritual needs of the participants. This way the participants come to a better understanding of themselves and Israel.

As a tour educator, my job is to ensure that the group goes through the trip safely, securely, happily, healthily, and meaningfully. That meaning is threefold: self-discovery, Israel discovery, and Jewish discovery. But before such a discovery is even possible, a tour educator must be capable of making an impact. One challenge that tour educators face is how to interest, impact, or help the participants to feel something. My preferred method is music.

Music can inspire and encourage us, and through it, I can ensure that my participants feel what the story entails. My hope when I add known songs to my tours is also aimed towards when the trip is over, after they return home. Hopefully the next time they hear the song “Freedom” from Django, they’ll remember that experience they had on Masada and how they felt on top of the mountain.

Another aspect of Birthright Israel I truly enjoy is introducing the participants to Israel and Israelis. Whether it’s when we learn Israeli folk dancing (it’s not all hora!) or simply when they come up to Israelis in small groups to fulfill a task they were given (take a selfie with a soldier for example). This enables them to understand that behind the chutzpa and seemingly crass exteriors, Israelis consider themselves all one big family. The group feels included in this family, or shall I say mispacha.

The last aspect that I designate for my participants besides learning about themselves, learning about Israel and Israelis they learn about Judaism. For some participants, it’s their first-time observing Shabbat, seeing how the streets empty up from cars, the stores close and the quiet that encompasses everything. For others it can be their first time visiting the Kotel and even celebrating their Bar/Bat Mitzvah, and most of all, understanding maybe for the first time how fortunate they are to be Jewish.

All these aspects make my job purposeful and encourage me to do it and hopefully ensure the Jewish future.

HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT TO YOURSELF WHAT YOU CONSIDER THE MOST JEWISH FOOD? HOW ABOUT YOUR FIRST MEMORY OF A JEWISH CEREMONY? HOW DO YOU REALLY FEEL ABOUT ISRAEL? All these and more are questions surrounding the self-discovery meant to take place on a Birthright Israel trip.

Meet BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION CABINET & COUNCIL LEADERS

BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION CABINET & COUNCIL LEADERS

Birthright Israel Foundation has established Regional Cabinets & Ambassador Councils as two ways in which local lay leaders can further strengthen the Foundation’s mission of ensuring that every eligible young Jewish adult is given the opportunity to visit Israel. Cabinet and Ambassador Council members are focused on fundraising efforts including solicitations, prospecting and introductions in their communities.

There is simply no experience in the Jewish world today more profoundly impactful than Birthright Israel... the numbers from years of research bear this out. I feel it is our sacred duty to strengthen our young people’s Jewish identities and connection to Israel.

The gift of a Birthright Israel trip connects our Jewish children to their heritage... I want to take the message of Birthright Israel everywhere so that everyone has the opportunity to support the best hope we have to guarantee our Jewish future.

—LORI

KOMISAR

VICE CHAIR, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, MIDWEST AMBASSADOR COUNCIL CHAIR

Birthright Israel supports Israel by giving Jewish youth a view of what life in Israel looks like. Almost without exception, this benefits our children and grandchildren and the country of Israel in a way no other experience does.

—BARRY SWIDLER, BOARD MEMBER, SOUTH PALM BEACH CABINET CO-CHAIR

I have seen again and again how this life-changing experience impacts young Jewish adults. They come back home feeling a love and pride of being Jewish. The Jewish world needs this now more than ever. The future of the Jewish people is Birthright Israel.

—MARJORIE HONICKMAN, BOARD MEMBER, PHILADELPHIA AMBASSADOR COUNCIL CO-CHAIR

We support Birthright Israel because we are dedicated to a strong future for the Jewish People. We feel Birthright is the best educational experience to let our participants understand their Jewish heritage and the State of Israel.

—SHARON & HOWARD SOCOL, MIAMI AMBASSADOR COUNCIL CHAIRS

—DOUGLAS M. ROSS, VICE CHAIR, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, NATIONAL CABINET CHAIR, ATLANTA CABINET & COUNCIL CHAIR

Once you go to Israel, you immediately connect with your Jewish roots and feel an overwhelming sense of belonging to something bigger than yourself. My commitment to Birthright Israel enables more college-aged students to see Israel in all her glory!

—SUSAN SCHWARTZ, PHILADELPHIA AMBASSADOR COUNCIL CO-CHAIR

Research shows that Birthright Israel brings participants closer to their identity and to the State of Israel. With antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment on the rise, Birthright Israel is simply the most powerful tool in the Jewish world for engaging young adults.

—MIKE LEVEN, SOUTH PALM BEACH CABINET CO-CHAIR

Birthright Israel has offered us and our children this positive, creative, and innovative way to help combat the issues. Fostering a love of Israel and Judaism – that is the best way to fight back… to make positive change.

—SARA ALLARD, TRI-STATE CABINET CHAIR

I am very excited to build on our prior chair’s great work in taking Birthright in LA to the next level. I have been passionate about Birthright for a very long time and believe it is the single best way to cut through all the noise and show the next generation what Israel is really about.

—SIMON MENDELSON, LOS ANGELES CABINET CHAIR

I wholeheartedly believe that Birthright Israel is a major asset to the Jewish people. We must get our next generation to Israel and help them see it for themselves and find their place in our history and the Jewish people.

—LILY KANTER, NORTHWEST AMBASSADOR COUNCIL CHAIR

As parents of alumni, we’ve seen how this unique program gives its participants a solid understanding and connection to their Judaism and Israel...We feel proud and privileged to play a role in supporting Birthright Israel.

—SUSAN & RONNIE PERTNOY, PALM BEACH CABINET CHAIRS

Birthright Israel is invaluable. It started out as paying it forward, but I have since realized it so much more important than that: I realized we need to educate every young Jewish adult of the importance of being Jewish and the importance of the State of Israel!

— Amy Jaffee, Long Island Cabinet chair

Birthright Israel is the only worldwide program that brings thousands upon thousands of young Jews to Israel and furnishes them with experiences that will forever impact their lives, their Jewish identity, and the future of our Jewish vibrancy.

—JILL ROBERTS, NEW ENGLAND CABINET CHAIR

Two Generations Birthright Israel inspires of the Krantz Family

What do you get when three brothers claim their birthright and have the experience of a lifetime in Israel? You get triple the effect of what we at Birthright Israel Foundation like to call “the Birthright Israel bounce”. The Birthright Israel bounce is when the trip’s impact passes from the child to the parent and leaves an everlasting impression.

And, for Cleveland’s Krantz family, that is exactly what happened when Drew, Tyler, and Spencer all went on Birthright Israel together.

“My family is very close to my heart, so my brothers and I thought that Birthright [Israel] could be an amazing thing to do together…we were very excited to have this opportunity,” shared Spencer. Spencer, the youngest of the three, is a college student who shared that it is tough for him and his brothers to get together. Tyler and Drew, the oldest, are twins. Tyler lives in NYC, and Drew resides in Washington DC.

Traveling to Israel together has become a Krantz family tradition that started when Tyler and Drew had their Bar Mitzvahs there alongside many family members. A few months after their Bar Mitzvah, their uncle, whom they were very close to, passed away. Prior to his passing, he shared with the boys that the trip meant so much to him. The tradition continued with Spencer’s Bar Mitzvah trip. Over time Israel became an incredibly meaningful place for the family.

Spencer, Tyler, and Drew enjoyed all Birthright Israel has to offer — they prayed at the Kotel, participated in lectures, and enjoyed the diverse landscape of the land. Coincidentally, all three brothers stressed the bonds they built with their

Israeli peers. Tyler said that conversing with them and learning more about daily life in Israel really put things into perspective. “Coming back from Israel, it is easy to see just how good we have it. These soldiers are mandated to serve. They risk their lives for a country they love. They understand sacrifice and fighting for something bigger than yourself. It really puts things into perspective. The soldiers were so mature that I often forgot that they were our age.”

Spencer even told us that traveling to Israel initially made him a bit uneasy, given the daily threat of terrorist attacks. However, his worries were set aside when he met the soldiers. “I couldn’t have felt any safer and more comfortable around the amazing soldiers we were paired up with,” he said.

Drew was also grateful to get to know the Israelis on his trip. When asked how the trip has played a role in his life since coming home, he shared that he now has a new appreciation for Shabbat. For Drew, prior to Birthright Israel, Friday nights were like any other evening. Now, he thinks of Friday evening and Saturday more as a time to relax and reflect.

Inspired by Their Children’s Experience

parents, Betsy and David Krantz

grateful the boys

an amazing time. Soon after their children returned, Betsy and David made a gift to Birthright Israel Foundation. Betsy even joined the Midwest Ambassador Council to help inspire other parents to pay it forward. shared Betsy.

It’s easy to see why the parents were inspired by their children’s experiences. Their

were

had such

I want to thank you all for giving them such a special experience that they will treasure forever. Our gift is to help continue this program, so other young adults get to experience Israel in such a special way,

BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL’S IMPACT

Birthright Israel’s impact goes well beyond our participants. They return home as proud Jews and proud supporters of Israel, sharing their love of Judaism and Israel with their parents, siblings, friends, and children, making the program greater than the sum of our participants.

THE COST OF BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL

HOW IS BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FUNDED?