JOURNEYS
ISSUE 13 · DECEMBER 2020
THAT LAST A LIFETIME
BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL
FOUNDATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS 01 Letter From Our Chairman and Board President 03 Quotes From Future Participants 05 How Birthright Israel Solidified My Relationship With Judaism: Daniel Winston 07 Future Birthright Israel Participant Isabelle Remains Hopeful 09 Birthright Israel: It's A Family Affair 11
10 Things You Didn't Know About Birthright Israel Foundation
13 How Birthright Israel Inspired My Love of Askenazi Food: Aliaksandra Sukharuchkin
EDITOR IN CHIEF: PAMELA L. FERTEL WEINSTEIN CONTENT COORDINATOR: ANDRIA K. AYLYAROV GRAPHIC DESIGNER: PERRI A. GINSBERG
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DEAR FRIENDS, This year has been unlike any we could have ever anticipated and will be one we never forget. What began as a year filled with hope and excitement in celebration of Birthright Israel’s 20th anniversary was overwhelmed early on by the impact of the pandemic. We made the difficult decision in March to begin postponing Birthright Israel trips due to COVID-19. More than 35,000 eager participants had their Birthright Israel plans put on hold. Despite this pause in our program, however, you, our supporters, did not postpone your generosity. Your dedication to the transformational gift of Birthright Israel did not stop. Whether it is because of your children, your grandchildren or your unwavering support of Israel and the Jewish community, you paid your pledges, you made new gifts and even increased your support. Your generosity allows us to maintain our critical infrastructure and be financially prepared to send participants as soon as we are able. You, like us, truly believe in the power of Birthright Israel and for that we are eternally grateful. While you have not only changed the lives of the more than 750,000 participants who have already received this unique gift, you are making it possible for us to keep our promise to all future participants. We look forward to welcoming the first groups back to Israel as soon as it is safe to do so and we know they will agree that it will be worth the wait. We hope this issue of Journeys and the alumni and future participants you will meet on these pages continue to inspire you. You are truly changing lives and securing the Jewish future, one that will be bright. May 2021 bring us good health and bring us back to Israel.
Warmly,
THOMAS D. STERN CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
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IZZY TAPOOHI PRESIDENT & CEO
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Tens of thousands of young Jewish adults from every corner of the world are still waiting to claim their birthright since the coronavirus pandemic began. Jewish communities, college campuses and synagogues are feeling the effects of Birthright Israel trips being postponed. That is because, in a typical year, nearly 50,000 Jewish young adults return home excited to be part of our communities, take on leadership roles and continue to learn more about Israel and their Jewish identity. Below, we invite you to meet several future Birthright Israel participants who are eagerly waiting for this life-changing opportunity.
“I am looking forward to seeing Masada, seeing what life in Israel is like, making new friends, and experiencing Jewish culture at its heart.” Molly Cohen Glastonbury, CT
"Birthright Israel is an opportunity for young adults, like me, to learn more about their Jewish identity, their personal identity, and ways in which they hope to impact the world. Thus, when Birthright Israel begins again, I believe that Jewish young adults will find more meaning and cruciality in it more than ever before. Additionally, everyone that has participated in Birthright Israel continues to share stories about their newly found best friend, significant other, mentor, acquaintance, and so much more. Ultimately, this trip provides a new form of a family found nowhere else. Thus, after being stripped of the social connections we used to Lauren Whitman Horsham, PA know and love, we must use Birthright Israel as an opportunity to rebuild these connections and create more hugs, bus rides, song sessions, and so much more." JOURNEYS • ISSUE 12
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“I look forward to experiencing the historical sights and all of the fun things Israel has to offer. I also cannot wait to meet new friends when I get to go on Birthright Israel. I also know this trip is important for me because it is a new experience and will show me how important it is to keep religion alive in my daily life.�
Felicia Padron Nashville, TN
Alexis Pfeifer Vancouver, CA
"I love traveling and exploring new places and cultures, so I'm excited to go on Birthright Israel and see a country I've never seen before. I'm also excited to travel with the University of Delaware Hillel and meet other Jewish students from my school because I have heard such great things about the trips and wanted to go for so long!"
Amanda Gorsky New York, NY
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With your support, we can ensure that young Jews like the ones above will build everlasting bonds with the people and land of Israel. Visit birthrightisrael.foundation/journeys2020 and show the next generation you believe in them and the power of a Birthright Israel experience.
My Relationship with Judaism 5
If it wasn't for Birthright Israel, I don't know if I'd still be Jewish ten years down the road. After being Bar Mitzvah'd, there was little that still linked me to Judaism besides food. For instance, eating latkes every December, fasting on Yom Kippur, and suffering through Shabbat services on the rare Friday night I visited my grandparents and great-grandma at Temple Zion in Long Beach, New York. At the University of Pennsylvania, I was roped into joining the Chabad's Jewish Heritage Program under the pretense of unlimited wine on Shabbat and an opportunity to meet guys in the fraternities I wanted to join. So, the extent of my faith was a faith in good matzoh ball soups and free alcohol, never a tenable belief that I was a member of a people that had fought and died for the last 5,000 years to allow a kid like me to be Jewish. Birthright Israel for me was ten days of firsts. My first trip to Israel, my first time really learning about how the country's neighbors were doing everything in their power to destroy it, and my first time feeling like being Jewish mattered for
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something. Perhaps most poignantly, it was my first experience befriending Israeli soldiers who, despite matching me in age, lived lives unrecognizable to my own. In history class, I had read about 18-year-old Americans who were drafted in World War II and Vietnam to go off and fight. But now it felt real—now I saw what it meant to sacrifice some of the best years of your life to do something that benefited people other than yourself. They told stories of how their friends had died. While I was at college trying to get smarter, prepare myself to get a good job, and set up my life for the future, Nir, Naama, Max, Dan, and Rotem were serving their country and protecting their loved ones. I felt proud because although I wasn't Israeli, they were also fighting for me because I was Jewish. At the Western Wall, I found out what it was like to be Jewish. I saw men with black fur hats and silk coats dancing in circles and holding hands. I saw hundreds of other Birthright Israel participants laughing and praying and bowing to the huge stone wall. Above it all, I saw birds—hundreds of common swifts— circling like an audience for the weekly festivities of Shabbat. 5
There was a moment there that I felt like I belonged, and a moment of vulnerability where I allowed belief in G-d to seep into my mind as a possibility, something I might think more about. I watched all of these Jews experiencing what it was like to be close to G-d, and I wanted it. I spent the two-hour walk back to our hotel simultaneously enchanted by new possibilities and subdued by kosher wine, thinking about what embracing Yiddishkeit would mean. The next day, I walked to the Israeli Supreme Court alongside one of the Penn Chabad Rabbis, Menachem Schmidt. He's a Ba'al Teshuva, meaning he grew up just like me but somehow ended up wearing a black hat and a black suit 24/7. I didn't get it, but I was intrigued: how does that 180-degree change in perspective happen to a person? Since I would be spending the rest of the summer in Israel to intern for an Israeli tech startup through the TAMID program, he encouraged me to start studying with some Rabbis. I told him I'd consider it.
I left Birthright Israel with amazing new friends I will have for life. I fell in love with the Jerusalem breakfast. I cleansed my face in the Dead Sea's mud. At the Kotel, I experienced the spiritual connection of our people to the land of Israel. Then I went to Mount Herzl and realized what it cost to be Jewish.
"Birthright Israel did in fact, create my Jewish identity, something I will never lose sight of again." Lastly, I was excited to staff a Birthright Israel trip this past summer to help other students have the same experience I had, one of wonder, appreciation, and gratitude that a program this special even existed. However, the coronavirus pandemic changed our plans. I know that one day though, I will have this opportunity to revisit Israel and relive 10 of the best and most important days of my life.
Next, we went to Yad Vashem. The Jewish music in the shtetls and European towns that I quietly listened to at Yad Vashem stays with me even now. The unmistakable sadness in these hymns that praise G-d and memorialize the Jewish tradition and never-ending exodus seemed to portend the European Diaspora following the Holocaust. The "Jewish Question" was answered by the Germans.
"I thought about my ancestors and how much they'd given up so that I could go on Birthright Israel." On the last night, our whole trip went to our student trip leader and my friend Gabe's house in Ra'anana to debrief. His dad, Nathan Low, a venture capital investor in Israel and a big advocate for the nation's advancement, spoke about his journey to become a Ba'al Teshuva. Now, Torah study had my attention. I started studying because of what, in my mind, was an unexplainable contradiction. I spent my whole life learning about two irreconcilable camps of people: the smart ones who believed in evolution and science and the religious fanatics who believed in G-d and shunned science and were implicitly wrong. After meeting Nathan and several other highly successful businesspeople through Penn, I knew the issue wasn't so black and white, and I owed it to myself to do a little soul-searching. Since I started learning in Israel that summer, I've been studying Torah ever since, and my worldview has changed considerably. I no longer envy those Chareidim with the black hats for their connection to spirituality because I have my own.
By Daniel Winston 2019 Alumnus Roslyn Harbor, NY
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FUTURE BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL PARTICIPANT ISABELLE REMAINS HOPEFUL
As Birthright Israel entered its 20th anniversary year no one could have imagined a global pandemic would change the course of the program for the year. Young Jewish adults worldwide were disappointed as their trips were postponed and communities everywhere went into lockdown.
In a time of social distancing, the word community and sense of community is what gives each of us hope. Isabelle’s story echoes the thousands who are waiting to find meaning and lifelong community through the Birthright Israel program.
Take future participant, Isabelle Wigon of Boston, MA who wasn’t surprised to learn her June Birthright Israel trip was postponed. Isabelle had figured something like this was coming but remained hopeful that the pandemic would soon pass, and her trip would be delayed to later in the summer but unfortunately that did not happen as the pandemic still plagues us all. “I was bummed but I knew what was going on in the world. I knew that even if trips were happening it wouldn’t have been to the same capacity. Maybe we wouldn’t have had the same type of excursions. The trip would probably feel different.”
You can give hope to Isabelle and her peers when you join Birthright Israel Foundation’s family of 40,000 annual supporters. Help us ensure the gift of Birthright Israel is available today, tomorrow and always with a tax-deductible donation. Visit birthrightisrael.foundation/journeys2020 to make your gift today.
Prior to applying for Birthright Israel, Isabelle had carefully thought through when she wanted to go. Her sister, an alumna from 2018 went two years after college and felt she was at the right age to fully appreciate all Israel had to offer. Like her, Isabelle also waited two years after her college graduation, making 2020 the year to claim her birthright. Her biggest dreams for Birthright Israel were to find her Jewish community, visit the Dead Sea and make lifelong friends. Something she and participants all around the world have in common. For these specific reasons, Isabelle chose a Boston young professional trip. She shared with us:
“I was really looking forward to expanding my Jewish community and was really excited for the Boston community trip so I could keep the connections going when I got home.” You see, although the greater Boston area has a thriving Jewish community, Isabelle spent most of her childhood in a town with a small Jewish population, where it was an effort to practice Judaism. So, when she signed up for the trip, she made it a point to find one that could benefit her and the new young professional life she was building in Brookline and help her find the Jewish community she always dreamed of. “It was strange being Jewish in a Christian town. When I was younger, we moved from Brookline, which has a huge Jewish community and being immersed in our temple to moving to a place that didn’t have a temple near it.” Isabelle would have followed in her sister’s footsteps when she’d boarded the plane for Israel embarking on an unforgettable journey. Unfortunately, now, she is one of the over 30,000 young Jews who must wait until it is safe to travel to experience Birthright Israel. 8
Curious how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting young Jewish adults? A recent study by Brandeis University examined how young Jews were feeling during the pandemic.
40% of young Jewish adults surveyed are exclusively working from home. 1 in 5 young Jewish adults expressed worry that they may lose their job in the next few months. 1 in 10 young Jewish adults reported they had been infected with COVID-19. Respondents report being more concerned about protecting others from COVID-19 than they were with getting sick themselves. 41% of people feel a personal responsibility to help stop the spread of coronavirus. 1 in 5 respondents say they would go on Birthright Israel “right now.” JOURNEYS • ISSUE 13
birthright israel: It 's a
Each year Birthright Israel Foundation is honored and humbled to receive the support of nearly 40,000 donors. These donors include individuals, families and foundations that make the decision to help sustain Birthright Israel and provide the gift of a lifetime. Each donor supports our work for a different reason. Perhaps they are parents of participants and want to help another child experience our homeland. Maybe there was no opportunity like Birthright Israel when they were young, and they feel they missed out on such a transformative experience. Growing up as children or grandchildren of Holocaust survivors may have taught them to have a deeper appreciation for the State of Israel and the Jewish community and a responsibility to protect them. Regardless of the reason, we at Birthright Israel Foundation are forever indebted to our supporters. As we prepare to turn the calendar on what has been a trying year, we look forward to a year full of hope and promise. A year when Birthright Israel buses are flooding the highways of Israel and our participants are thriving and finding community once again. As we imagine what is to come, we know it will be thanks to our wonderful supporters, including the Gould and Shenfeld families. Helaine and Fred Gould have been proud supporters of the State of Israel for decades and it is no surprise their daughter and son in-law, Wendy and Steve Shenfeld followed in their footsteps. Wendy serves as a member of Birthright Israel Foundation’s Board of Directors and their son Kyle Shenfeld, a Birthright Israel alumnus, is a member of our Young Leadership Council. Join us and get to know a family that is truly an inspiration to us all.
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How did you first learn about Birthright Israel? Helaine Gould: We were in temple and Marlene Post, a member of Birthright Israel Foundation’s board, who had been the president of our Temple came over to us and said, "Michael Steinhardt and Charles Bronfman have this great idea, they're going to take every Jewish kid to Israel for free." We smiled and we said, "Lots of good luck. We wish you well and of course, we'll be supporters." But in my head, I said, "What a lovely pipe dream." Well, it became much more than a pipe dream. Steve Shenfeld: For years, our family has given to many organizations, and actually Fred had approached Wendy and me about Birthright Israel and said, "There's a Long Island chapter forming. I think it'd be a good idea for one of the two of you to go and listen to what they're doing, what they're trying to build."
why is supporting israel so important to you? Fred Gould: Well, we did make a decision early in our lives. Without Israel, we wouldn’t have a Jewish homeland. When a Jew finds it intolerable to live someplace, the only place he can go really is Israel. So, to us, supporting Israel is a high priority. Helaine Gould: Israel has been a major part of our lives. When I was 29, Fred dragged me to Israel after the '67 War. I was very, very frightened about going. We got there and the first day I said, "I'm not staying," because it was a war zone. And he said, "Stay one day." And we stayed, of course, and the week changed the rest of my life.
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WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL? Kyle Shenfeld: From what you can tell of our family, I had Israel instilled in me before, but going on Birthright Israel enhanced my involvement. You feel it. You're like this is important. This is special. So, though I had this love for Israel instilled in me, I did not really connect until I went on Birthright Israel. Steve Shenfeld: The program is special because young adults want to go. It all begins with an overt expression of interest. They're deciding for the first time in their life, that they want to do something Jewish. And I thought that was part of the brilliance of the organization. From a fundraising perspective, it makes it challenging because people don't perceive that the young people going necessarily need the money to make this voyage. But they're missing the point, because it is free, they willfully choose to go. And once they make that decision to go, they have these special moments. Wendy and I would be in Israel, and talk to the kids, including our own son who just expressed it himself. Just a little exposure is really an awakening. Wendy Shenfeld: We have met so many young people along the way, people who are now activists and very involved and said they went because they thought it would simply be a fun journey. They actually didn't really care at all about Israel. Many thought, "Oh, free trip, cool. We'll vacation." And it's those people that are most interesting, how they get turned on and how they feel connected and part of something from the 10-day Birthright Israel experience. Many people who we met had one Jewish parent, and others who perhaps weren't raised Jewish at all. And they didn't even know that they were longing for something, but when they landed there, and they were on the ground in Israel, they all of a sudden felt connected and wanted to be part of this.
Kyle Shenfeld: I think what my grandma said is right as well. We were exposed early on to interesting Jewish people, Holocaust survivors. We're a very charitable family. Jewish causes are first and foremost as it relates to our charitable contributions. There are other charities out there that just have a broad mission, and sometimes it's hard to wrap your head around it. What Birthright Israel is doing is very concrete. Fred Gould: We've been blessed, we've been fortunate in life. And giving to Israel and Jewish causes has been part of our family forever. We need more Jews who understand Israel. It is imperative for us. Our hope for the Jewish future is that Birthright Israel participants one day become grandparents and parents like Helaine and Fred and Wendy and Steve who pass on the lessons of tzedakah and tikkun olam to their children, like they did to their children Kyle, Ricki and Michael. We know the Jewish people are strong because of the value we put on family and philanthropy. Each of us lives out the phrase l’dor v’dor in one way or another. Here, at Birthright Israel Foundation, we are truly blessed to have multi-generational support from families like the Gould and Shenfeld mispacha. We know that your investment today will ensure Birthright Israel participants will become tomorrow's leaders.
WHy is philanthropy so important to your family? Wendy Shenfeld: Because of my parents' generosity, Steve and I were exposed to tremendous people who share our values and have become great friends of ours, some of our best friends, people who are passionate about things that we care about. And it all really stemmed from my parents showing us the importance of being generous, really. If it weren't for them exposing us to philanthropy, we wouldn't know the pleasure of meeting people who care about things like we do. Helaine Gould: The kids saw the pleasures that we got out of our involvement. The kids were exposed to lots of interesting speakers, very early on in their lives, but they were never, never pushed to be involved. 10
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10 Things You Didn't Know About Birthright Israel Foundation
1) WE LIVE TO GIVE.
Birthright Israel Foundation exists in order to help support Birthright Israel. While the trip itself is a gift to Jewish young adults around the world, someone has to foot the bill. As Birthright Israel’s fundraising arm, we have helped give this gift to more than 750,000 eligible Jewish young adults over the past two decades. As for our participants, we don’t discriminate based on economic status, upbringing, or level of Jewish involvement. In fact, we are constantly searching for the less connected. We won’t rest until every eligible Jewish young adult in the world claims their birthright.
2) WE DON’T DO IT ALONE.
Raising funds in the U.S. is a year-round job for Birthright Israel Foundation. Some of our sources include the State of Israel and Jewish organizations like the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and Jewish Agency for Israel. Nearly 70 percent of our donations come from individual donors and philanthropists around the world. These generous donors are lighting the way for the next generation of Jews.
3) OUR WORK NEVER STOPS.
It costs $3,500 to send one person to Israel. We aim to send 50,000 Jewish young adults to Israel every year. So we continue to raise funds nonstop, year after year, every year.
4) OUR MISSION CHANGES LIVES.
Thanks to the educational framework and values of Birthright Israel, the trip is a transformational experience for its participants. In fact, 85 percent of Birthright Israel alumni consider it a life-changing experience. At the ages when young adults are eligible for Birthright Israel, 18-32, they are often full of questions about life. Birthright Israel helps them find answers and purpose by encouraging their Jewishness and creating a bond with the Jewish State.
5) WE OFFER SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.
While we aim to send tens of thousands of participants to Israel every year, it’s just a tiny fraction of the Jewish population as a whole. There are 1.4 million US Jews age 18-34, and another estimated 1.6 million who are children under the age of 18. Israel isn’t necessarily the most desirable destination for Jewish young adults, but their interest is often piqued by the chance to go there for free. Eliminating the financial burden makes it easy for them to embrace their roots.
6) WE’RE THE ULTIMATE MATCHMAKERS.
The statistics surrounding Birthright Israel and matrimony make Jewish bubbies everywhere jump for joy. Not only are our participants 41 percent more likely to marry someone Jewish, but of those who become parents, 84 percent are raising their kids Jewish.
7) WE’RE ALSO KINDA FAMOUS.
Birthright Israel often intersects with popular culture and has even been parodied in US television comedies like Broad City and the Israeli equivalent to Saturday Night Live, Eretz Nehederet. Married couple Loren Goldstone and Alexei Brovarnik, who appeared on Season 3 of the reality TV show 90 Day Fiancé, met during the former’s Birthright Israel trip.
8) WE‘RE TRENDSET TERS.
You’ve probably heard the 19th century proverb that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Well, color us flattered. Since our inception, Birthright Israel’s model has grown into a template to connect various Diasporas to their cultural homelands. Similar programs can be found for the communities of Armenia, Greece, Hungary and Cuba, as well as Christian students.
9) OUR ALUMNI ARE HEALING THE WORLD.
Tikkun Olam, or healing the world, is a significant theme of Birthright Israel. The trips we help fund create opportunities for everyone to contribute to the vibrancy of the Jewish people worldwide. Our alumni often carry this lesson back home, finding new and creative ways to contribute to the well-being of society long after the trip.
1O) WE CAN'T IMPROVE THE FUTURE WITHOUT YOU.
The strength of Birthright Israel comes from your support. We couldn’t continue to create life-changing experiences without the help of generous Jews like you. Your tax-deductible contribution is an investment in the future of the Jewish people, now and for generations to come. Give today at birthrightisrael.foundation/journeys2020.
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Ashkenazi food I was born in Belarus into a family that had to hide their origins and Judaism for countless decades. My mother had always been very interested in our family history and she was the one who started telling me more about who I was. I became very curious and started reading and doing research. I needed to understand where I came from. Unfortunately, I had no Jewish community around me. I didn’t have anyone to speak to…until I found Birthright Israel. The trip didn’t just take me on a tour of a beautiful, diverse and innovative country. It took me on a magical journey of self-realization and discovery. From hiking up Masada, sleeping under the dessert sky, relaxing in the Dead Sea, walking around Tzfat and the old streets of Jerusalem to the fun nights out in Tel-Aviv with my new friends – I loved every moment spent in Israel. Especially the food! I am a huge foodie and feel that the best way to get to know a country is through its cuisine. Israel was the perfect candidate for this. The vast array of wonderful flavors and spices I got to try in Israel was incredible. Since getting back, I have mastered the art of a delicious, homebaked challah as well as a delectable and perfectly spiced shakshuka, which I cook every Saturday morning for myself and my friends. My trip also taught me to embrace my Ashkenazi heritage and the incredible cuisine that comes with it. I asked my mom to teach me how to make all the weird and wonderful traditional dishes she used to make for us. I was even inspired to start a cooking blog, where I share genuine Eastern European recipes that I used to enjoy as a kid in Belarus. Birthright Israel really opened my eyes to a whole new world – a world where I wasn’t scared or ashamed to tell someone that I was Jewish (like my family and ancestors were). In fact, exploring Israel has made me extremely proud to be Jewish, proud of my people and proud of my heritage.
Aliaksandra Sukharuchkin 2010 BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL ALUMNA
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LATKE RECIPE 2¼ lbs of potatoes 2 medium onions 3 eggs ½ cup Flour (gluten-free can be used too) 2 tsp Salt ¼ tsp Cracked Pepper Oil for Frying Sour Cream for Serving
1) Peel and grate potatoes into a large mixing bowl (you can use a food processor). 2) Squeeze out the liquid. 3) Peel and grate onions. Add to the potatoes (if using a food processor, you can pulse the potatoes and onions at the same time). 4) Add eggs, flour, salt, and pepper to make a smooth batter. 5) Heat some oil in a frying pan (enough to cover the latkes mid-way). 6) Drop the batter from a spoon into the hot oil. Fry over medium heat until brown. Turn and brown on the other side. 7) Remove from oil and drain excess oil on a paper towel. 8) Serve with a dollop of sour cream.
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NON-PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 1090 NEW HAVEN CT
BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL
FOUNDATION
Secure your future with high, fixed-rate income for life -- mostly tax free. Secure a strong Jewish Future through your support of Birthright Israel.
Are you looking for a way to have your money work for you? Let us help you earn high, fixed rate income for life in today's zero-interest rate economy. A Birthright Israel Charitable Gift Annuity provides you with: • A generous fixed lifetime rate and steady income for one or two lives (with even higher rates if payments are deferred). • A significant income tax charitable deduction in the year of the gift. • Historically high annual tax-free payments. By establishing a Birthright Israel Charitable Gift Annuity you will support: • The leading educational program for Jewish young adults worldwide. • The life-changing gift of an educational experience in Israel for the next Jewish generation.
AGE
RATE TAX-FREE
70
6.5%
86.5%
75
7.1%
87.0%
80
8.0%
87.5%
85
9.5%
89.7%
90
11.3%
90.2%
The amount of tax-free income is determined for the month the gift annuity is established.
Learn more about charitable gift annuities at www.birthrightisrael.us/futures or contact Ruvym Gilman, Associate VP of Legal Affairs & Business Operations at 646-833-1311 or ruvym.gilman@birthrightisrael.org for a confidential personalized calculation.