Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

NEW YORK & JERUSALEM—Birthright Israel, the world’s largest provider of free cultural experience trips, today announces that a record 33,000 participants will arrive in Israel this summer. The program currently has a waiting list due to overwhelming demand and the organization will surpass the 600,000 participant mark this summer. 

“We are proud to have drastically increased the number of Jewish young adults visiting Israel every year—from a mere 1,500 prior to the founding of Birthright Israel,” Birthright Israel CEO Gidi Mark said. “We remain committed to strengthening ties with the diaspora and creating experiences that have a lifelong impact on our participant’s Jewish identity and connection with Israel.”

Over the past 17 years, the organization has rapidly grown and diversified its programming and partnerships. Most recently, Birthright Israel launched Birthright Israel Plus, allowing participants to extend their stay in Israel for an additional four or five days. Recent alumni can also partake in the program, which is available for a highly subsidized fee of $250. Summer Birthright Israel participants can subsidize the trip through their $250 trip deposit. The trips offer specialized itineraries on topics such as social action and diversity, fashion, food, sexuality and gender, as well as activism and coexistence. For more information, please visit: www.birthrightisraelplus.com

This summer, Birthright Israel will continue to offer two unique 10-week fellowship programs for top-performing participants, Excel and Ventures. Birthright Israel Excel is an internship for those interested in the business and technology industries in Israel and Birthright Israel Ventures is an accelerator program for aspiring entrepreneurs. A number of notable companies have participated in the programs, including Ernst & Young Israel, Check Point Software Technologies and Genesis Partners. The program is supported by The Steinhardt Family Foundation, The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, The Paul E. Singer Foundation and the Government of Israel.

Birthright Israel aims to strengthen Jewish identity, facilitate cultural understanding and foster solidarity with Israel and its people. Birthright Israel is open to Jewish young adults worldwide between 18 and 26 years old.