RJ Blog

Kesher Taglit-Birthright Israel alum, Ben Zemmel, writes about his experience in Israel and what he found that surprised him.

Tikkun Olam in Tel Aviv Jaffa has just announced the creation of a new opportunity to gain experience interning at a non-profit in Israel. Gain valuable career experience in the non-profit sector by interning for 5 or 10 months with an organization serving disadvantaged communities in south Tel Aviv and Jaffa. Participants get to work with organizations working towards Arab-Jewish coexistence; advocating for disabled and special-needs populations; and providing services to refugees from Darfur and other parts of Africa.

NFTY in Israel alum Marlana Fireman writes about the incredible journey that a rock from Auschwitz took with her as she traveled from Europe to Israel and back to her home in Ohio. Read about the awe she discovered while contemplating the meaning her experiences this past summer, and find out why she says that “in my travels, no matter where I go or what I learn, I will do for those who couldn’t.”

While in Israel, recent KESHER Taglit-Birthright Israel participant, Kim Goral filmed and produced a segment for NBC News, providing a window into Birthright’s impact on Israel’s economy and culture. Oh, and let’s not forget the indelible impact on our Jewish youth!

We’re bringing some of the excitement of NFTY in Israel experiences directly to our communities in North America! Watch exclusive documentary interviews of participants sharing their thoughts and feelings about their experiences so far and their relationship with Israel.

This is part one of the interview series, featuring teens from Congregation Beth Israel in Austin, Texas.

Stay tuned, more are coming over the summer!

During the journey, questions that arose were, “What would I have done?” “How would I have reacted?” “How could this have happened?” “Where was the rest of the world?” “How can I ensure such atrocities never occur again?” To say that everyone was excited to reach Israel is an understatement. To now understand some of the reasons why a Jewish homeland is so important to the Jewish people turned their excitement of visiting Israel into a much deeper yearning. As the plane landed in Tel Aviv, everyone applauded. The next steps on our Journey were about to begin.