Saratovsky Aims to Keep Moving Birthright Forward

Elias Saratovsky has just completed his first year as the president and CEO of the Birthright Foundation, the fundraising organization behind the Birthright Israel Program that has brought more than 850,000 young Jews to Israel over the past 25 years. His parents were Russian Jewish immigrants, and he was born in the U.S. a year after their arrival. Saratovsky was a member of the first Birthright trip a quarter century ago.

Last year, the foundation was instrumental in raising an organizational record $85 million for the Birthright program. It came from thousands of individual contributions and large donors like the Marcus Foundation in Atlanta.

The AJT interviewed Elias Saratovsky in Israel, during a recent visit. This writer asked him how he believed the events of Oct. 7 have affected the young people who participated this year with Birthright?

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Saratovsky: I think Oct. 7 has made a lot of people realize that we’ve been on a break from history. And while it is still an incredibly golden age for our people, we have shared threats. And the threats come from multiple directions, and we need to stand together. That means that Americans have to stand up for Israel and stand up for the Jewish people. When young people come to Israel on a Birthright trip, they’re giving us an incredible gift. Ten days of their undivided attention. The more bonds that we can create, the better we’ll all be in the end.

AJT: What has been Birthright’s role in creating connections between Jewish communities in Georgia and Israel?
Saratovsky: Birthright Israel has been blessed to bring tens of thousands of Jewish young adults to Israel, from Atlanta, from Georgia, from the various universities across the state of Georgia. Over our last 25 years. they have strengthened their own Jewish identity. Birthright Israel really is a gift from one generation to the next. This is the most important organization that is building and strengthening bonds between Jews in America and Jews in Israel. It’s more important now than ever.

AJT: And how successful do you think you’ve been so far this year?
Saratovsky: Since Oct. 7, we have brought over 5,000 volunteers to the newly created Birthright Israel Onward volunteer program that is available to all Jews between the ages of 18 to 40. This program did not exist prior to Oct. 7. Israel is in need of volunteers, so we plan to bring a total of 8,000 Jewish young adults to volunteer in Israel this year. We’re going to bring roughly 15,000 Jewish young adults on our flagship 10-day program. And we also have our Birthright Onward program for a long-term summer internship. So, all, we’ll have about 23,000 Jewish young adults on Birthright this year. I think that’s remarkable given the circumstances.

AJT: So many of those who were murdered in Israel on Oct. 7 were young people. How does that resonate with young people who come here with Birthright?
Saratovsky: One of the most important things that we’re doing is ensuring that every single Birthright person comes to Israel is able to bear witness. Every single participant has a meeting with a survivor of Oct. 7. There were over 300 people killed at the Nova Festival. But there were also over 3,000 survivors. So, they’re hearing those stories. Every participant is meeting with families of the hostages, which are such a critical part of Israeli society today. And on every single Birthright trip there are five to seven Israeli participants that participate as well.

AJT: How do you believe Oct. 7 has influenced the level of financial support you’ve received?
Saratovsky: Oct. 7 was a calamity, and the amount of money that the American Jewish community has raised on behalf of Israel to rebuild has been historic. But on Oct. 8, we also realized that there’s a war in our own communities, on college campuses in Georgia and elsewhere, and we need to fortify our young people and ensure that they have the knowledge and the connection that is necessary to fight the war back at home. So, people are stepping up in order to help Israel rebuild. And in order to ensure that our young people have the skills that they need to fight the battle at home as well.

AJT: There is seemingly a deep division that has developed among young Jews in America about the importance of Israel in their lives. What would you say to them?
Saratovsky: Israel is a beacon of hope. You have to come here to understand that. We’re not here to tell you how to feel about Israel. You have to come here to experience it. You’ll be strengthened and will be solidified in a much more positive way.