Birthright Israel is merging with Onward Israel, joining two high-profile organizations with parallel missions of strengthening young diaspora Jews’ relationship with Israel.
Onward Israel will become a division of Birthright Israel as a result of the merger, announced January 5.
Gidi Mark will continue serving as international CEO of Birthright, and Ilan Wagner, formerly the CEO of Onward Israel, will become vice president of Onward programs at Birthright Israel.
“Our primary goal has always been to give every Jewish young adult around the world a trip to Israel in order to help strengthen identity and connection with Israel,” Mark said in a statement. “The pandemic has been the greatest challenge we have faced on the road to achieving that goal, but by merging with Onward we take the next great step forward, ensuring that more young people have the opportunity to experience and develop a deeper relationship with Israel and its people.”
The pandemic has presented unprecedented obstacles for Birthright Israel. Travel regulations prompted by COVIE-19 have forced the cancellation of trips. According to the Jewish Futures Project, a recent study by Brandeis University’s Center for Modern Jewish Studies, “Birthright Israel’s educational [tourism] model … is particularly vulnerable to the disruptions of the pandemic.”
Nevertheless, “despite the headwinds posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Birthright Israel is optimistic about 2022 and beyond,” the organization said. “Birthright Israel plans to resume trips as soon as it is safe to do so, for individuals who are vaccinated or have received a booster in the last six months.”
Birthright Israel brings Jewish young adults to Israel on free 10-day tours. Founded in 1999 by a group of committed Jewish philanthropists, the program has brought more than 750,000 young people, ages 18-32, to Israel. Participants have come from 68 countries, including all 50 U.S. States, Canadian provinces and nearly 1,000 North American colleges and universities.
Onward Israel, originally launched in 2012 as part of the Jewish Agency for Israel, offers highly subsidized longer-length internships, academic study and immersive living experiences for young people in Israel. The organization works in close partnership with MASA Israel Journey on programs lasting six to ten weeks.
The merger of Birthright and Onward formalizes an already-existing pipeline between the two groups. Onward participants are often Birthright alumnae, and Onward Israel’s mission includes bringing young people back to Israel for a second visit after their Birthright experience.
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