2025-10-08 9:27 PM <br/> Tags: #AmericanJewry #WorldJewry #organization #KeyOrganizations #Israel #Program ![[image-146.png|768x208]] # Birthright Israel - Taglit-Birthright Israel or "Birthright Israel" or just "Birthright" is a Jewish organization that offers free ten day trips to Israel for all young-adult Jews. - Birthright Israel was conceived of in the 1990s amid perceived dangerous levels of Jewish assimilation and Jewish intermarriage with non Jews in the modern world. #RedPill *Assimilation worries and often disturbs Jews. Jews care very much about their race. They care about their lineage, and they care about the future of it. Why are they so opposed to White people feeling the same way?* - Birthright Israel was formed to reignite Jewish identity among the Jewish youth. - Birthright was almost immediately a massive success. #### Founding and Definition - Birthright Israel was launched in 1999. - Birthright was launched with $70 million from around a dozen Jewish donors and $70 million from the Israeli government. - Birthright was founded by Jewish billionaires [[Charles Bronfman]] and [[Michael Steinhardt]] in partnership with Israel's quasi government body the [[Jewish Agency]]. - Founding donors/partners included:[^4] - [[Les Wexner]] - [[Ronald Lauder]] - [[Edgar Bronfman Sr.]] - [[Marc Rich]] - [[Lew Wasserman]] - [[Hadassah]] - [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)]] - Government of Israel under Prime Minister [[Ehud Barak]] - [[Charles Bronfman]] served as Birthright's first chairman. - At this time (1999), Bronfman was also the founding chairman of the [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)]]. >[!info] What is Birthright Israel? - Birthright Israel is a Jewish young adult program providing free trips to Israel as their "birthright" due to their Jewish ethnicity. - Birthright is available to Jews aged 18-26 (18-32 more recently). - "A Jew" as defined by Birthright, is anyone with at least one Jewish parent or a recognized conversion to Judaism. - To qualify for a Birthright Israel trip, you cannot have taken part in a similar subsidized trip to Israel. - You must also have not lived in Israel since at least the age of 12. - Birthright trips last ten days. - Birthright trips are 100% expense free for participants. - Birthright trips are organized as groups of a few dozen Jews who travel the country together on a strictly programmed itinerary. - Every Birthright trip includes a mandatory visit to Yad Vashem, the national holocaust institution/museum of Israel. - A group of Israeli Jews (often from the IDF) will accompany the Birthright groups as they are in Israel. - Birthright trips pay no visit to the West Bank or Gaza, and avoid acknowledging the existence of the occupation. ---- - Birthright is available to all of the world's Jews, but the majority of participants are from the United States and Canada. - Birthright Israel has sent ~900,000 Jews to Israel since its inception in 1999. - Birthright sends around 40-50 thousand Jews to Israel annually. - According to a 2020 Pew Research poll, ~20% of all American Jews aged 18-46 have taken a birthright trip. #### Birthright in the US -  "It was those 10 days in 2015 that led me to a career with [[AIPAC]], where I work on behalf of our people and our homeland." - New York Jewish woman explaining the impact of her Birthright trip. - #RedPill *"Our people, and our homeland." Certainly she is talking about the United States and the American people right? It is a harsh reality that Jews have a supreme loyalty to Israel. Any such group cannot hold power in a sovereign nation.* --- - Almost all the major American Jewish organizations support Birthright as a program and as a concept. - [[Hillel International]], the largest Jewish campus group which is based in the US, is a close partner with Birthright. - Hillel operates as a chapter style organization, with individual chapters across hundreds of colleges. - These chapters organize Birthright trips for the students of their campus. - [[Chabad On Campus]] works with the organization Mayanot Israel to facilitate Birthright trips. - The [[Orthodox Union]]'s *Israel Free Spirit* program runs birthright trips. - The [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)]], a massive Jewish fundraising organization, is a close partner with Birthright. - [[Hadassah]], the Women's Zionist Organization of America, is a major funder and supporter of Birthright trips. #### Birthright in Israel - Birthright is a highly useful form of Israeli [[Hasbara]] (public diplomacy). - Birthright imbeds (mostly) American Jews with a first hand affinity for Israel. - An Israeli writer described Birthright as "the 21st century's most significant Zionist organization, shaping an entire generation and functioning as Israel's strategic "Iron Dome" in the realm of Jewish identity." *The Iron dome protects against rockets, Birthright protects against assimilation.* - During a large 2018 Birthright event in Israel, billionaire American-Israeli dual citizen Jew [[Miriam Adelson]] said, "It is up to you to become ambassadors for Israel, It is up to you to be our soldiers abroad…ready to lobby governments and sway public opinion in Israel’s favor." *Adelson is a top Trump donor*. - Miriam Adelson's remarks followed similar remarks from her American born Jewish husband [[Sheldon Adelson]]. - Israeli funding for Birthright is primarily done through the Prime Minister's Office. - The Israeli [[Ministry of Diaspora Affairs]] has also facilitated Birthright funding. - Birthright is a line item on the Israeli national budget. - The [[Jewish Agency]] is a major funder and facilitator of Birthright. - Birthright trips have included visits to IDF bases and even participation in IDF training. ![[image-147.png|370x556]] *2012 Birthright trip - IDF training* - Birthright is a major boon to the Israeli economy. - El Al, the Israeli airline, is the biggest winner in terms of the tourism income boost. - In 2011 Birthright launched its "Birthright Excel" fellowship program. - Excel brings Birthright alumni to Israel for tech/business/finance internships. - The front page of the Birthright Excel website highlights Excel fellows working at prestigious companies today including: [[Palantir Technologies]], [[Goldman Sachs]], [[Bain & Co.]], Meta, JP Morgan Chase, [[Sale of TikTok|TikTok]], etc. #### Funding and Donors - Birthright Israel's budget is fluctuates around $100-150 million - Birthright Israel is funded by both public and private entities. - 67% - Private donors *(around 30,000 annually)* - 27% - Israeli government - 3% - [[Jewish Agency]] - 3% - [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)]] - Major individual donors include: - [[Michael Steinhardt]] - $8 million founding donation and $500,000+ annually[^1] *Some sources claim Bronfman and Steinhardt contributed $5 million each instead of $8 million.* - [[Charles Bronfman]] - $8 million founding donation at least $9,838,631 contributed through his charitable foundation from 2001-2015[^1][^3][^10] *(The 94 year old Bronfman has committed $25 million to Birthright once he dies.)* - [[Edgar Bronfman Sr.]] - $5 million founding donation - [[Stephen Bronfman]] - Over $1m annually - [[Sheldon Adelson]] and [[Miriam Adelson]] via the [[Adelson Family Foundation]] - Largest Birthright benefactors, over $500 million in total. - [[Crown Family Philanthropies]] - $1.55m 2019 grant and $1m+ annually - [[Les Wexner]] - $5 million founding donation and $100,000+ annually - [[Ronald Lauder]] - $5 million founding donation and $200,000+ annually - [[Lynn Schusterman]] via the [[Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation]] - $1m+ annually - [[Jim Joseph Foundation]] - $53.675 million in cumulative grants - [[Bernard Marcus]] via the [[Marcus Foundation]] - $1m+ annually - [[Sam Zell]] via the Zell Family Foundation - $1m+ annually - [[Paul Singer]] via the [[Paul E. Singer Foundation]] - $12,240,788 from 2011-2024[^11] - [[Bill Davidson]]'s William Davidson Foundation - $1m+ annually - [[Daniel Och]] - $500,000+ annually - [[Jan Koum]] - $1m+ annually - [[Harold Grinspoon]] and the [[Harold Grinspoon Foundation]] $1m in 2009 - [[Mark Wilf]] - $500,000+ annually - [[Leon Cooperman]] $200,000+ annually - [[Leon Black]] - $6.25m+ from 2009-2016[^5][^6][^7][^8][^9] - [[Seth Klarman]] - $1.75m in 2016 - [[David Azrieli]]'s [[Azrieli Foundation]] - $5 million in 2015 - Birthright is also funded in small part by the government of Germany through the [[Claims Conference]]. - The Claims Conference was set up in 1951 and has been extorting Germany over the holocaust for 70 years. #### Notable Figures - [[Charles Bronfman]] and [[Michael Steinhardt]] - Founders - [[Miriam Adelson]] and [[Sheldon Adelson]] - Largest donors - [[Israel Tapoohi]] - Current CEO of Birthright Israel Foundation #### References - Birthright Israel. “About Us.” _Birthright Israel (Taglit)_. https://www.birthrightisrael.com/about-us - Birthright Israel Foundation. “Our Supporters.” _Birthright Israel Foundation_. [https://birthrightisrael.foundation/our-supporters/](https://birthrightisrael.foundation/our-supporters/) - Birthright Israel Foundation. “2024 Donors Who Secure The Future of Jewish Identity.” _Birthright Israel Foundation_. https://birthrightisrael.foundation/resources/donors2024/ - JTA (Jewish Telegraphic Agency). “Jewish Federations Commit over $50 Million to Birthright.” _JTA Archive_, June 20, 2000. https://www.jta.org/archive/jewish-federations-commit-over-50-million-to-birthright - _Ynetnews_. “Government Allots $100M to Birthright.” January 12, 2011. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0%2C7340%2CL-4012298%2C00.html - _Times of Israel_. “Birthright Celebrates $70 Million in Donations from the Adelsons This Year.” June 28, 2018. [https://www.timesofisrael.com/birthright-celebrates-70-million-in-donations-from-the-adelsons-this-year/](https://www.timesofisrael.com/birthright-celebrates-70-million-in-donations-from-the-adelsons-this-year/) - Klarman Family Foundation. _Form 990-PF_ (2016), p. 55 (grant to Birthright Israel Foundation). https://klarmanfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/KFF-2016-990-PF.pdf - Azrieli Foundation. “Azrieli Foundation Pledges $5 Million to Birthright Israel Foundation of Canada.” February 3, 2015. https://azrielifoundation.org/334/azrieli-foundation-pledges-5-million-to-birthright-israel-foundation-of-canada/ - eJewishPhilanthropy. “Charles Bronfman on His $25 Million Legacy Gift to Birthright.” February 5, 2025. https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/your-daily-phil-charles-bronfman-on-his-25-million-legacy-gift-to-birthright/ - _Israel Hayom_. “‘Our Commitment Is Stronger Than Ever’: Birthright Celebrates 25-Year Anniversary.” December 30, 2024. https://www.israelhayom.com/2024/12/30/during-war-our-commitment-is-stronger-than-ever-birthright-celebrates-25-year-anniversary/ - Stub, Zev “Transformative: After 25 Years, Has Birthright Israel Really Reshaped US Jewry?” *Times of Israel*,April 13, 2025. https://www.timesofisrael.com/transformative-after-25-years-has-birthright-israel-really-reshaped-us-jewry/ - Pew Research Center. “Jewish Americans in 2020.” May 11, 2021. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2021/05/11/jewish-americans-in-2020/ - Brandeis University, Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies (CMJS). “The Reach and Impact of Birthright Israel: What We Can Learn from Pew’s ‘Jewish Americans in 2020’.” _Contemporary Jewry_ (PDF hosted by Jewish DataBank). 2022. https://www.jewishdatabank.org/api/download/?mediaId=bjdb%5CReach_%26_Impact_of_Birthright_Israel_Pew_2020_data_Contemp_Jewry_%28Brandeis%29.pdf&studyId=1175 - eJewishPhilanthropy. “Birthright Israel Experience Significantly Lowers Rate of Intermarriage.” October 26, 2009. https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/birthright-israel-experience-significantly-lowers-rate-of-intermarriage/ - Mayanot / Chabad on Campus. “Free Trips to Israel with Birthright Israel: Mayanot.” _Chabad WashU_. https://www.chabadwashu.org/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/73857/jewish/Free-Israel-Trips.htm - Ettachfini, Leila. “What Is Birthright and Why Is It So Controversial?” *Vice*, August 15, 2019. https://www.vice.com/en/article/what-is-birthright-israel-why-controversial/ - _Jewish Currents_. “Roundtable: The Ethical Response to Birthright.” https://jewishcurrents.org/roundtable-the-ethical-response-to-birthright - Wikipedia. “Birthright Israel.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birthright_Israel - Jewish Federations of North America. “Federations, Birthright Partner to Send 10,000 Volunteers to Israel (Program Overview/Blog).” March 20, 2025. https://www.jewishfederations.org/blog/all/partnership-to-send-10000-volunteers-to-israel-488541 - _Jerusalem Post_. “Jewish Federations, Birthright to Expand Israel Volunteer Efforts.” March 21, 2025. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-847046 - Fernandez, Belen. “‘Birthright’ in a Time of Genocide.” *Al Jazeera* March 5, 2024. https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2024/3/5/birthright-in-a-time-of-genocide - Jim Joseph Foundation. “Birthright Israel Foundation - Birthright Trip Support.” _Jim Joseph Foundation_. [https://jimjosephfoundation.org/grants/birthright-israel-foundation-birthright-trip-support/](https://jimjosephfoundation.org/grants/birthright-israel-foundation-birthright-trip-support). - Birthright Israel Excel. “Home.” [https://birthrightisraelexcel.com/](https://birthrightisraelexcel.com/). - Birthright Israel Foundation. “How I Found My Life’s Purpose on a Birthright Israel Trip.” _Birthright Israel Foundation Blog_. [https://birthrightisrael.foundation/blog/how-i-found-my-lifes-purpose-on-a-birthright-israel-trip/](https://birthrightisrael.foundation/blog/how-i-found-my-lifes-purpose-on-a-birthright-israel-trip/). - “Israel Tapoohi,” _Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia_, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Tapoohi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Tapoohi). [^1]: “Birthright Israel,” _Philanthropy Roundtable_, [https://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/almanac/birthright-israel/#:~:text=Charles%20Bronfman%20and%20Michael%20Steinhardt%2C%20who%20put%20up%20%248%20million%20apiece](https://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/almanac/birthright-israel/#:~:text=Charles%20Bronfman%20and%20Michael%20Steinhardt%2C%20who%20put%20up%20%248%20million%20apiece). [^3]: “Our Supporters,” _Birthright Israel Foundation_, [https://birthrightisrael.foundation/our-supporters#:~:text=Rita%20and%20Charles%20Bronfman](https://birthrightisrael.foundation/our-supporters#:~:text=Rita%20and%20Charles%20Bronfman). [^4]: “Briefly Noted: Reagan Friends Raising Money and $70-Million Donated to Birthright Israel,” _The Chronicle of Philanthropy_, June 15, 2000, [https://www.philanthropy.com/news/briefly-noted-reagan-friends-raising-money-and-70-million-donated-to-birthright-israel/](https://www.philanthropy.com/news/briefly-noted-reagan-friends-raising-money-and-70-million-donated-to-birthright-israel/). [^5]: “Debra and Leon Black Family Foundation, Form 990-PF (2015),” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133947890/201622289349100227/full](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133947890/201622289349100227/full). [^6]: “Debra and Leon Black Family Foundation, Form 990-PF (2009),” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/133947890/2010_08_PF%2F13-3947890_990PF_200912](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/133947890/2010_08_PF%2F13-3947890_990PF_200912). [^7]: “Debra and Leon Black Family Foundation, Form 990-PF (2013),” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133947890/201413189349101406/full](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133947890/201413189349101406/full). [^8]: “Debra and Leon Black Family Foundation, Form 990-PF (2017),” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133947890/201811319349102261/full](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133947890/201811319349102261/full). [^9]: “Debra and Leon Black Family Foundation, Form 990-PF (2016),” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133947890/201712919349100101/full](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133947890/201712919349100101/full). [^10]: “Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies Inc.,” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133984936](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133984936). *All 16 annual 990 forms are cited on Bronfman's page. I manually added the totals each year's tax filings from 2001-2016 to get the total.* [^11]: ProPublica, “Paul E Singer Foundation,” [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/272009342](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/272009342)