Journeys 18 | May 2023

JOURNEYS

ISSUE 18 · MAY 2023

THAT LAST A LIFETIME

Dear Friends,

We hope 2023 has been off to a great start for you and your family.

We hope this issue of Journeys continues to inspire you as you read about the impact you have had on our participants and why donors, like you, support our mission. We are also excited for you to get to know Onward, the newest edition to the Birthright Israel family and see how a midlength internship program in Israel operates.

You will also read about a new challenge that we face. Registration opened for our summer trips in January, and we were thrilled to see such high demand for our classic 10-day trip and our mid-length programs Onward and Excel. Unfortunately, due to inflation resulting in a 30% rise in costs per participant, we were unable to say yes to everyone that applied, leaving 20,000 applicants for our 10-day trip behind.

We know that these experiences can transform our participants and their connections to Judaism, Israel, and the Jewish community at large. We as the Jewish people have an incredible opportunity to come together as a community and provide these incredible experiences to our children and grandchildren. Please join us!

After celebrating the recent holiday of Passover, we are thankful for all of your generosity, and we hope you will continue to support us so that we may say “L’shana haba’ah b’Yerushalayim” (next year in Jerusalem) to the tens of thousands of young Jewish adults eager to explore their Jewish identity and the land of Israel.

Warmly,

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: PAMELA L. FERTEL WEINSTEIN

CONTENT COORDINATOR: ANDRIA K. AYLYAROV

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: MELISSA H. ROMAN

PHIL DE TOLEDO

IZZY TAPOOHI

Birthright Israel: A

Project of Great Importance to Israel & the Jewish People

As Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, my role is to defend the Jewish State in the international arena – and this is no trivial task. Each year, the UN condemns Israel more than all other countries in the world combined. Israel, the only liberal democracy in the Middle East, is singled out, held to absurd double standards, and targeted with bias and hypocrisy. Today, those who seek our destruction know that they cannot defeat us on the conventional battlefield – they do not have a chance! So instead, our enemies target us where they think we are weak.

They not only attack our homefront with terror, but they also target us in another way. They seek to delegitimize and isolate Israel in the international community in order to destroy us. It is my mission to combat these hateful lies and defend Israel on the global stage.

One of the ways I do so is by showcasing Israel’s true face. Israel is a peace-seeking nation and a hub of innovation dedicated to tackling the world’s greatest challenges. At the UN, I initiate events exposing dignitaries from around the world to Israel’s unbelievable contributions. Yet beyond events, among my most impactful initiatives are the UN Ambassador delegations that I lead to Israel.

Israel sells itself. When one visits, one cannot help but fall in love, or at the very least, comprehend the reality we face.

On every delegation, when ambassadors from all over the globe visit Israel, what they experience lights a spark within them. They return to the UN with a deep understanding of Israel, and the change in their attitude is indisputable. While this is the effect that visiting Israel has on nonJewish diplomats, the impact on Jewish visitors is unquestionably life-changing.

And this is exactly the power of Birthright Israel’s programs.

By bringing young Jews to Israel and igniting a passion for their heritage, Birthright Israel opens a door into their past, connects them with their present, and sets them on a mission for their future.

Thanks to Birthright Israel, an entire generation of Jews, over 800,000, have formed a deeprooted bond with the Jewish homeland, and for that I cannot be more grateful.

In an era where the demonization and delegitimization of Israel has become the primary tactic of our enemies, my fight as Ambassador has become far more challenging. Yet thanks to Birthright Israel, I know I am not fighting alone. There are now nearly one million more ambassadors of the State of Israel. Hundreds of thousands of young Jews have seen Israel with their own eyes, experienced the diversity of our society, learned of the millennia-old bond between the Jewish people and our homeland, and now have the tools to become defenders of Israel. The impact is profound.

As modern-day Israel celebrated 75 years of Independence on Yom Ha’atzmaut, I know that there is no project of greater importance to the future of the State of Israel and the Jewish people, than Birthright Israel. As Ambassador, I know that the young Jews who partake in the various programs offered by Birthright Israel, will impact Israel and the Jewish world for the better.

I thank you deeply for your support in ensuring this mission’s continuity and for standing up for Israel.

FACING A NEW

CHALLENGE

20,000 YOUNG JEWISH ADULTS LEFT BEHIND

Demand for the classic 10-day Birthright Israel trip is at an all-time high in our post-Covid world. Young Jewish adults are craving a sense of belonging, spaces where they feel safe to be Jewish, and most of all, an opportunity to see Israel for themselves.

As an organization, we were thrilled when we received 32,000 applications for our summer 2023 trips — however, we only had 12,000 trips available for North American participants. This means that in 2023 only 23,500 young Jews will be able to participate in Birthright Israel as compared to 35,000 in 2022 and 48,000 pre-Covid.

Many in the Jewish community are asking why.

The current environment presents new and unprecedented challenges that are beyond our control. It previously cost $3,500 to send one participant on the 10-day trip, but we now have a 30% increase in expenses. This takes the cost per participant to $4,500.

The impact of the 10-day experience has left its mark on the Jewish world. Nearly an entire generation has been touched by the educational program and studies show the lessons learned last a lifetime. It is more than just a trip to Israel. The program affords its participants the opportunity to forge powerful connections with their Jewish identity, the Jewish community and the Jewish homeland.

Despite a common myth that Birthright Israel is funded by just a few donors, it is funded by a far broader spectrum of the Jewish community — and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that Birthright Israel is in fact the birthright of our children, grandchildren and the generations to come.

We call upon you and the entire Jewish community to step up and help us sustain this integral rite of passage for young Jewish adults. There is no gift too small to make a difference. The future of the Jewish people is a shared responsibility, and we must not leave one young Jew behind.

A firsthand experience in Israel and the opportunity to connect to their heritage is a must.

difference today: Make a brif.gift/difference

The Reach and Impact of

BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL

During the past 23 years, Birthright Israel has changed a generation.

Birthright Israel is committed to the single most rigorous educational evaluation structure in the field of Jewish and Israel tourism. The Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University has been conducting controlled studies of Birthright Israel participants for over 20 years and, recently, Professor Leonard Saxe and his team analyzed the raw data made available by the Pew Center. The results are extraordinary.

800,000+

people worldwide have participated in a Birthright Israel trip.

Birthright Israel participants are:

85%

54%

more likely to be “somewhat/ very” attached to Israel than those who have never been.

more likely to feel a great deal of belonging to the Jewish people than those who have never been.

53%

58%

more likely to feel “a lot” in common with Israeli Jews.

160%

more likely to have donated to a Jewish charity.

more likely to have a spouse who is Jewish.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT NWARD

At the beginning of 2022‚ Birthright Israel announced its merger with Onward.

Onward is an immersive 6-10 week internship program in Israel that provides participants with a resume-building experience. The internship also allows participants to build relationships with their Israeli peers.

Onward's Goal: Onward aims to provide its participants with an immersive resume-building experience in Israel. The internship also features academic courses and fellowships. Participants will also gain an authentic taste of modern-day Israel.

Who is eligible for Onward? Onward is for those looking for a second peer experience in Israel and it is a great follow-up program for alums of the classic 10-day trip. It is designed for Jewish undergraduates and young professionals between the ages of 1927 who have previously participated in a peer program in Israel.

Since the

program’s

founding in 2012, 12,000+ young Jews have participated in Onward.

Birthright Israel & Onward Empowered Me to Teach Others About Israel

Our group lit Shabbat candles, enjoyed dinner together, and then set out for the Old City. It was dusk on a hot and steamy August evening, the kind of night I’m used to coming from Texas. As we walked as a pack along the yellow-gold cobblestones, people from all faiths crossed each other’s paths. Muslim women in hijabs were heading to the Mosque to pray, we were going to the Kotel and Christians were working in their shops. People of all faiths were passing one another and sending blessings. I saw peace all around me, a place I never knew could truly exist. At this moment, I felt safe in the practice of my religion and not judged.

I chose to go on Onward because the idea of spending a summer in Israel was appealing before I applied to pharmacy school, and I knew I would need pharmacy internships once I began these studies. Being able to spend time in Israel while exploring my career interests was incredible.

I knew I wanted to make my connection to Israel my own, though, and that is why I embarked on my Birthright Israel journey. I had celebrated Shabbat many times over the course of my life, but my first Birthright Israel Shabbat in Jerusalem is a memory that will stay with me forever.

Entering the Kotel space, we were surrounded by Shabbat services and joyous dancing. People I had never met before were welcoming us into their circles. We sang Am Yisrael Chai at the top of our lungs as we felt happiness and peacefulness. That night I felt everything that was taught in the Torah come together.

I returned home to college in East Texas, where I was frequently the first Jew someone met. You might think it would be uncomfortable to be in that situation, but I loved it! I liked to be able to explain information about keeping kosher and for them to be a friend and authentically teach them about my own experiences.

A classmate once asked me to move my hair back because she wanted to see my horns. With my strong foundation, I was empowered to teach others about Judaism and what I saw for myself in Israel. From what they see on social media, many people do not know what a peaceful religion Judaism is. I used my own authentic stories to showcase the real Israel.

I worked with May Meltzer in my internship, who was pursuing her doctorate in pharmaceutical studies at Ben-Gurion University in Be’er Sheva. I spent the bulk of my days in her lab working on GCPRs – G Couple Protein Receptors – a new approach in targeted medicine. The internship allowed me hands-on experience in the future of medicine as I worked in the lab, broke down cells, washed them, and was able to try new things. Other researchers in the lab invited me to review their research, and we were able to grab coffee informally as well.

May invited me into her home to meet her family. This allowed me to experience aspects of regular Israeli life with a family and community. I loved experiencing all aspects of Israeli culture. Today I am in pharmacy school and set to graduate in a few years with a doctorate in pharmacy. I want to focus my career on community pharmacy but also research because I enjoyed what I learned in my time in Israel.

The opportunity to travel on Birthright Israel and spend the summer on Onward strengthened my Jewish beliefs more than my time in Jewish day school. Being in Israel and seeing everything that Israelis do on a daily basis to defend our home is a lasting impression that I will always carry with me. These experiences strengthen my ability to talk about Israel and teach people about the real Israel based on my personal experiences. Thank you for giving me these incredible opportunities!

I was given the foundation of a strong Jewish identity in my small but tight-knit Jewish community in San Antonio, Texas. Wherever I go, I am proud to wear my Magen David because I am grounded in my beliefs.

WHY DO YOU Support

Birthright Israel Foundation is fortunate to have supporters throughout the United States dedicated to helping provide young Jewish adults with transformative Israel experiences.

Many of our donors give so that the next generation forms unbreakable bonds with the land and people of Israel while further strengthening their Jewish identity and connections with their Israeli peers. Whether a young Jewish adult participates in a classic 10-day trip or completes an internship through Onward or Excel, there is no doubt that by making a gift to Birthright Israel Foundation, our donors are empowering today’s young Jewish adults.

Take the Poll:

I want young Jews to feel proud of being Jewish.

I want to ensure a stronger Jewish future.

I want young Jews to experience Israel for themselves.

I want young Jews to speak up for Israel at home. I want to pay my child’s/grandchild’s experience forward.

Tell us why you support Birthright Israel Foundation:

Tell us why you support Birthright Israel Foundation:

brif.click/why-you-give-23

No matter what level of knowledge or connection with Judaism and Israel, no matter what medical or physical challenges one may face, we believe it is every young Jewish adult’s birthright to visit Israel and find their place in the Jewish community.

Whether our participants have gone on a classic 10-day trip or have participated in our wide range of niche trips like culinary, young professionals, sports, LGBTQIA+ or our accessibility trips including, American sign language, Asperger’s

syndrome, cognitive and developmental disorders, physical medical disabilities, or 12-step recovery, their lives have been forever changed thanks to your generosity. But don’t take our word for it…

eir w Word

I learned from my friends and the Israeli soldiers about the different perspectives on spirituality, Jewish history, and living in Israel. I grew to understand the significance that Israel, a Jewish state in the historical homeland of the Jewish people, has to all Jewish people. I saw the commitment and dedication the Jewish people have to create and maintain our homeland.

—TALI DARDASHTIAN, Alum

Birthright Israel taught me all about the life history of the country and always show kindness and give back by making a difference, such as making donations to the less fortunate and, more importantly, loving and respecting your family.

I learned that no matter how different I may seem from my fellow Jews, how different our religious education (or in my case, lack thereof) was, and how different our upbringings were, I am connected to all of my fellow Jews through Israel.

By the end of the first day, it seemed like everyone in the group had known each other for years. There is so much more I could say about my Birthright experience, but bottom line, I am truly beyond grateful for finally getting to take this incredible opportunity. Birthright is truly an experience I will never forget and I cherish every memory, every step, every bus ride, every bite, every song, every photo, every friend, every activity, and every day that I got to be with my group.

This past summer, I had the opportunity to staff a Tel Aviv Pride trip which was one of the most transformative experiences in my life. I took a cohort of 25 people who identified as LGBTQIA+ and showed them just how special and accepting Israel truly is! Often times LGBTQIA+ have difficulty meshing their sexuality with religion, and I was able to show how seamlessly they can pair!

Thank you so much for this amazing unreal opportunity to visit the holy land. I gained so much from this unique experience. Every place we visited, every sight we saw, every piece of new information we heard about our heritage and history was the most amazing thing. I am really fortunate to have been given such a gift. May Birthright be able to continue doing this very special thing for Jewish youth and to always meet much success.

—FEIGEL KURTZ, Alum

—DYLAN BRUSH, Alum & LGBTQIA+ Staffer

—YAELA GOLDBLATT, Alum

—JACK GRANAHAN, Alum

—ADAM SHAPIRO, Accessibility Alum

A Birthright Israel Love Story

Rachel and Justin Fishman met on their Birthright

Israel trip in 2006. Neither of them thought they’d fall in love in a mere ten days. However, they did, and their experience still impacts them years later.

Today, Rachel and Justin live in the Queen Village section of Philadelphia, PA, with their three children. All three of their kids play travel soccer and attend Jewish Day School. Justin is also a US Navy Veteran and a Lieutenant in the US Navy Reserves. Currently, he is enrolled as a graduate student at the Naval War College. In 2020, Rachel and Justin founded Courtyard Mentor Network, a mentorship program for underserved middle school boys. A year later, Justin partnered with an old colleague to grow the KB Foundation, where Justin serves as the VP of Programming and Operations. Both Rachel and Justin are dedicated to their family and their Philadelphia community.

What made each of you want to travel to Israel with Birthright Israel in the first place?

Rachel: “I had some friends sign up for the trip. I always wanted to go back to Israel — I had gone with family when I was younger.”

Justin: “I liked the idea of a free trip — to be honest. I had never been — I gathered a few friends and my sister and got us all to sign up. I didn’t know much about Israel at the time.”

Can you pinpoint the one moment on the trip when you both knew you’d fallen in love?

Rachel: “I knew I really liked him, but I didn’t know if he would even talk to me after the trip was over.”

Justin: “I knew when I first saw her in the back of the plane for the first time. I told my friend as we were boarding the plane that I was going to marry that girl.”

Other than meeting each other, what were your biggest takeaways from your Birthright Israel experiences?

Rachel: “What an important place it is, and how I wanted Israel to remain a part of my life.”

Justin: “On the same day I met my future wife, I met one of my best friends, Elad Debby — who was one of the guards on the trip. He ended up reading the ketubah at our wedding and became like a brother to me. The relationship with Elad was the vehicle that strengthened my connection to the country.”

What was it like to be with Israelis? What did you learn from them?

Rachel: “My grandmother’s family was from Israel, so I had met Israelis before. We spent a lot of time with our guard Elad because Justin was close with him. He was very funny. All of the Israelis were easy to be around too.”

Justin: “In addition to Elad, I got along very well with all the Israelis I had met on the trip. There were not so different than us. I had never met any Israelis before the trip. I appreciated their approach to life, especially given their mandatory military service.”

Do you two think Birthright Israel is an important experience for young Jews?

Justin: “Absolutely, it is vital for young Jews to make the connection at an early age and be given the option to make Israel and Judaism an important part of their life. We asked all three of our children to attend Jewish Day school so they would have the option of a Jewish education should they want it. It appears all three do, which makes both Rachel and I very happy. Should we not have attended this trip — it is unlikely we would have thought this option was important for our children.”

If you could meet the generous donors who made your trip possible, what would you say to them?

“We would tell them about our life and the trajectory this trip put us on. I think hearing our story would help reinforce why they made the donation in the first place.”