Remembering the Holocaust
Today, on Holocaust Remembrance Day, alumna Alexandra B. talks about how her experience on a Taglit-Birthright Israel trip with Israel Outdoors this past winter helped her connect with her ancestors who were victims of the Holocaust. I grew up knowing nothing about my Jewish ancestors, which was one of the main reasons I wanted to…
Read MoreLetter from a Future Staffer
Two weeks ago, a letter from 12 time veteran Israel Outdoors staffer Aviva Klompas was published in the Jerusalem Post. Avi A. was a participant on Aviva’s most recent trip and sent us the following letter as a response. Thanks for sharing Avi! To whom it may concern. Aviva Klompas, one of our staff members…
Read MoreThrowback Thursday: Somewhere I Never Expected to Be
Ilana W. traveled on a free Taglit-Birthright Israel trip with Israel Outdoors in January of 2014. Ilana wrote the following blog post reflecting on her trip to mark her one year anniversary of her trip. Thanks for sharing Ilana! I wasn’t going to let the month slip away without recognizing that January 2015 marks the…
Read MoreLetter from an Israel Outdoors Staffer to Her Alumni
Aviva Klompas is a 12 time veteran staffer with Israel Outdoors! Today, the following letter written by Aviva to her trip alumni, was published in the Jerusalem Post. Dear Birthright alum, I recently returned from staffing my twelfth Birthright trip. I know, I know, I always say that your trip is the last trip, but…
Read MoreProfile of an Israel Outdoors Alum – Comedy Edition
Here at Israel Outdoors we are always interested in finding out more about our participants and learning about the interesting things that they do. Jackson B. was just on a free Taglit-Birthright Israel trip with Israel Outdoors in December, and tells us about raising money for the Alzheimer’s Association with Hilarity for Charity. Thanks for…
Read MoreProfile of an Israel Outdoors Alum – Mountain Climbing Edition
Here at Israel Outdoors we are always interested in finding out more about our participants and learning about the interesting things that they do. Katie F. was just on a free Taglit-Birthright Israel trip with Israel Outdoors in December, and tells us about climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro with her father and brother. Thanks for sharing Katie!…
Read MoreBeyond ‘Jappy’: Reconsidering Jewish on Birthright
Stephanie Zidel participated in a free Taglit-Birthright Israel trip with Israel Outdoors in August of 2014. Below she describes her experience on the trip, and the assumptions she made: I almost didn’t take my Birthright trip. For many years, I did not want to. However, last February, when they were accepting applications for the coming…
Read MoreProfile of an Israel Outdoors Alum – Ping Pong Style
Here at Israel Outdoors we are always interested in finding out more about our participants and learning about the interesting things that they do. Joe Solomon was just on a free Taglit-Birthright Israel trip with Israel Outdoors last November, and tells us about an annual ping pong tournament he created to raise money for City…
Read MoreAll in the Cloud
As part of the Taglit-Birthright Israel application, all applicants must submit a short essay answering one of three questions. We took the responses from all applicants for the Summer 2015 season so far and created the following wordle (word cloud). Check out the expressions and themes that come up the most. The bigger the word…
Read MoreSpotlight on Israel Outdoors Alumni – Everything’s Going Swimmingly
Here at Israel Outdoors we love to hear about what our alumni are up to. Zac T. participated in a Taglit-Birthright trip with Israel Outdoors one year ago in December of 2013. He’s a former competitive swimmer who trained at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. Where are you from? Arroyo Grande, CA…
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