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Birthright Israel's inaugural Global
Business Summit concludes today in
Tel Aviv, capping three days that brought together approximately 350
philanthropists, investors,
entrepreneurs and business leaders from
more than 15 countries for a
first-of-its-kind, invitation-only
gathering at the Hilton Tel Aviv.
It is the first time in the
organization's 26-year history that its
global network of supporters has been
convened in Israel as one community.
Participants arrived just days after
Israelis went to the polls in general
elections, at a moment when questions
about Israel's security, economy,
society and relationship with world
Jewry could hardly be
more consequential.
The Summit opened Sunday night with a
Gala Evening of Recognition honoring the
leadership and philanthropy that have
sustained Birthright Israel over the
past 26 years, with remarks from Israeli
President Isaac Herzog alongside major
supporters from Israel and around the
world.
During the gala, Prof. Miriam Adelson
received the Lifetime Champion Award in
recognition of 20 years of support for
Birthright Israel. Prof. Adelson and her
late husband, Sheldon Adelson, began
supporting Birthright Israel in 2006,
enabling tens of thousands of young
Jewish adults to experience Israel on a
10-day Birthright Israel trip.
On Monday, participants heard from some
of Israel's most influential figures in
business, technology, finance, security
and public life, alongside international
entrepreneurs and investors. Speakers
included Sir Ronald Cohen, pioneer of
impact investing and co-founder of Apax
Partners; Eyal Waldman, founder of
Mellanox; Amit Krig, NVIDIA Israel site
leader and senior vice president of
networking software; former Mossad
director Yossi Cohen; investor and ICON
founder Yasmin Lukatz; former Microsoft
Israel CEO Shelly Landsmann; Dr. Micah
Goodman; entrepreneur and investor Yoel
Cheshin; real estate developer and
philanthropist Danna Azrieli Hakim; and
Angela Homsi, co-founder and president
of Ignite Power.
Alongside the speakers, participants
heard the stories of Birthright Israel
alumni, many of whom have gone on to
become entrepreneurs, investors,
community leaders and philanthropists in
their own right. Their stories show that
a Birthright journey's impact can unfold
over decades, not just the ten days
spent in Israel.
Today, on the Summit's final day,
participants are leaving the conference
room for a Field Day in Israeli
communities. They will meet with Israeli
innovators and industry leaders and
volunteer alongside current Birthright
Israel participants in communities
Birthright Israel has served since
October 7, engaging with the country's
ongoing recovery firsthand.
For 26 years, Birthright Israel has been
built on a simple premise: there is no
substitute for experiencing Israel
firsthand. Nearly one million young
Jewish adults from 70 countries have
taken part in the program. The Summit
extends that same premise to the global
community of philanthropists, business
leaders and partners whose support has
made those journeys possible. The Summit
also highlighted Birthright Israel's
economic impact: over 26 years, the
program has contributed an estimated
$2.6 billion to the Israeli economy,
with many participants returning to
study, intern, invest or build companies
in Israel.
"For 26 years, we have brought young
Jewish adults to Israel because we
believe that experiencing Israel
personally creates a connection that
lasts," said Gidi Mark, International
CEO of Birthright Israel. "Now we have
brought together the people who made
those journeys possible. This Summit
gave our global community the
opportunity to experience Israel again
for themselves, to meet the people
shaping its future, and to ask what we
can build together for the next
generation – not to talk about Israel
from afar, but to be in it."
"Combining business and purpose has been
my life mission, and the first
Birthright Israel Business Summit is the
culmination of 26 years of impact on
nearly one million lives and tens of
thousands of supporters from around the
world. It is our way to give back to our
supporters by providing an exclusive and
intimate platform for networking, doing
business and doing good together," said
Ethy Levy, VP, Global Resource
Development & Partnerships, Birthright
Israel.
Nearly one million journeys. Seventy
countries. An estimated $2.6 billion in
economic activity. And countless
friendships, careers, investments,
organizations and acts of Jewish
leadership that trace part of their
story back to a first encounter with
Israel through Birthright.
About
Birthright Israel:
Birthright Israel is the largest
educational tourism organization in the
world. Founded 25 years ago with the
dream to provide all young Jewish adults
with opportunities for transformative
and immersive shared experiences in
Israel and a foundation for ongoing
Jewish connection. Birthright offers
multiple short- and mid-length programs
in Israel for Jewish young adults. More
than 950,000 young Jewish adults from 70
countries participated in one of the
Birthright Israel programs. The gift of
a Birthright Israel trips is made
possible thanks to an innovative
partnership between Jewish
philanthropists, Jewish communities and
Federations, the people of Israel
through the Government of Israel, tens
of thousands of alumni, their families,
and individual donors from around the
world. |