ON THE GROUND: SUMMER 2022

Birthright Israel Foundation is excited to announce that this May was one of our largest and this summer we are back to almost pre-pandemic levels! With over 800,000 young Jews adults experiencing this life-changing gift this summer because of you, we know that with every step they take in Israel they will feel prouder of their Jewish heritage. Below you will have a chance to read what young adults are saying about their recent Birthright Israel adventures!

“I am so appreciative of this experience — the structure, planning, and all the behind the scenes work that our leaders did for us (Yossi, Marty, Jason) and of how special our group was. We clicked quickly, and even those you were not close to were still kind and considerate and loving. Having the Israelis with us was invaluable — helping us order dinner, giving us the inside scoop about Israeli life, and showing us around and being curious about our lives. The trip was exactly what I needed — connection to people and Judaism and beautiful scenery.”

“In addition to learning about all the history of Israel and the religious aspects of Judaism, I was able to learn and better understand what being Jewish meant to me on a deeper level.”

- Daniel Tsyvin, Boston, MA

- hannah malkofsky-berger, nashville, tn

“It was genuinely amazing learning about our past. This trip is more than just a week bringing Americans to Israel, it’s a week where it opens minds, eyes, and people's hearts.”

- Chelsea Regan, Toms River, NJ

“Birthright Israel was the best experience. The places that I got to see and the people that I got to meet were unlike any other trip that I have taken. I had been to Israel a few times before coming on Birthright Israel (mostly family vacations), but I never got to see Israel the way that I did on my Birthright trip.”

“This was the most incredible experience I have ever had in my life. I credit this trip to making me more spiritual and making me far more interested in history. I used to not worry about the world around me, and now I’m way more aware and intrigued by the world around me. THANK YOU!”

- Victoria Goral, Philadelphia, PA

“I wasn’t totally sure what to expect as I embarked on a 10-day journey to Israel with a group of strangers. Would I have fun? Would I enjoy the company of the people in my group? Was I “Jewish enough” for the trip? These were questions that flled my mind in the days and weeks leading up to the trip. When we fnally arrived after the long fight from Newark, our amazing tour guide, Sara, took us immediately to the beautiful Aqueduct Beach. What a frst impression of Israel! From kayaking on the Jordan River to feeding camels in the desert, the whole experience was one of a dream. To be in the homeland with others my age looking for a similar experience was a dream come true.”

- Erin Williams, Spring, TX

“The Birthright Israel trip is a truly unique and life changing experience. With a bus full of the kindest and most fun people I could have asked to meet, I had a truly fantastic time in Israel. I have met strangers who towards the end of the trip I could easily think of as a second family, it was both a physical and spiritually enlightening experience and I recommend it to anybody looking to reconnect and meet new people.”

- Jared Wolff, Delray Beach, FL

“It was one of the best experiences of my life. I grew up in an area with a very small Jewish population and the Birthright Israel trip was the frst time in my life that I had ever been around so many people who share my religion. It made me feel so welcome and emphasized for me that I am not alone, and there are many others who share my beliefs and take pride in them.”

- Amanda Kier, Narvon, PA