Birthright Resumes Visits to Northern Israel
Organization expects to host 6,500 visitors in the first quarter of 2025 to areas impacted by Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel.
Birthright Israel, the popular program that brings young Jewish adults from all over the world to Israel, has started including Northern Israel in its 10-day tours of the country.
During the first quarter of 2025, approximately 6,500 young visitors from 300 groups are expected to travel to the historic city of Safed, which is just 7.5 miles from the border with Lebanon. It is the first time since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks that Birthright participants have visited the north of Israel.
About 96,000 Israelis have been evacuated from the area after Hezbollah, the Iranian sponsored terrorist group in Southern Lebanon, rained missiles down on the area. It’s been estimated that the group launched more than 1,600 missiles in support of Hamas during the last year-and-a-half.
Beginning in October, Israel Defense Forces invaded Southern Lebanon and destroyed and dismantled a significant amount of the Hezbollah fortifications and military infrastructure in the area.
A ceasefire agreement the began in late November required Hezbollah to move almost 20 miles north of the border with Israel. The ceasefire is being monitored by the Lebanese army, which has deployed 5,000 soldiers in the area and maintain peace in the region.
While many Israelis from areas like Kibbutz Manera, which is just 100 yards from the Lebanon border, and Kiryat Shmona, about a mile-and-a-half away, have not returned, the leadership of Birthright felt it was important to resume visits to the region.
“While the war has undoubtedly presented challenges, it has only underscored the importance of our mission,” Birthright Israel CEO Gidi Mark said. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to strengthen Jewish Identity, fostering a connection to Israel and building a strong sense of community.”
In addition to the 10-day trips for young people ages 18 to 24, Birthright expects to welcome 10,000 visitors this year through an expanded volunteer program which now provide subsidies for those wishing to come to Israel for short periods to work who and are up to 50 years of age. Previously, the age limit for volunteers that Birthright supported was 40.
“Each day, I meet participants who are so happy to finally be here,” Mark commented. “They share how safe they feel and how deeply proud they are to be part of the Jewish people.”
Financial support for the organization received a big boost earlier this month when Charles Bronfman announced a legacy gift to be made through his estate of $25 million to establish the Birthright Israel Fund For The Jewish Future.
“Birthright Israel is the most important educational program in the Jewish world, and it must continue” Bronfman said. “It’s everyone’s responsibility to ensure its long-term success.”
The president and CEO of Birthright Israel Foundation, Elias Saratovsky, in acknowledging the contribution, pointed out that the foundation has already received $80 million from more than100 donors to its endowment fund.
“Charles’ $25 million legacy gift will help ensure that countless Jewish young adults,” Saratovsky said, “including many second-generation participants, continue to benefit from this transformative Israel experience.”
Bronfman, who will be 94 in June, was one of the original financial supporters of the Birthright program when it was first established 25 years ago.
Among the most enthusiastic benefactors of the program was Bernie Marcus. Just before his death in early November, he contributed $60 million through his Marcus Foundation to expand the Birthright idea to high school students. His contribution to fund that program though RootOne was one of the last large philanthropic gestures before his passing.
The Birthright program has been credited with creating a greater commitment to Jewish life and to the nation of Israel. The Brandeis University Center for Jewish Life has just completed a long-term study of how participants’ Jewish lives have been impacted over the years. Of more than 2,200 participants who were surveyed from the first decade of the program, 84 percent married a Jewish spouse. Because they married a Jewish partner 84 percent were more like to raise their children as Jews. Jewish religious life was also significantly affected. Participants in Birthright were 42 percent more like to celebrate a Shabbat meal, 55 percent more likely to attend religious service regularly, and 26 percent more likely join a synagogue than non-participants in Birthright.
Finally, those who completed the Birthright program were 72 percent more likely to form a positive connection to Israel than those who hadn’t gone on the trip.
Over the years, nearly 900,000 young Jews from 68 countries have participated in the program. Even with Israel at war in the last year, 20,000 of them were part of Birthright in 2024.
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