Birthright Israel's secret legacy: How 84% of alumni are shaping the future of Judaism

A Remarkable Study Shows 84% of Birthright Alumni Raise Jewish Children

Researchers at Brandeis University’s Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies have been tracking the same group of American Jews since 2009, comparing those who participated in Birthright Israel trips with those who applied but were not selected to attend. The results of the study are nothing short of remarkable.

The study found that 84% of Birthright alumni raise exclusively Jewish children, regardless of their spouse's background. This is compared to just 74% of non-participants. The children of Birthright participants are significantly more likely to have Jewish naming ceremonies or circumcisions, reinforcing the Jewish identity from an early age. Additionally, Birthright alumni are 21% more likely to provide formal Jewish education to their children, and 42% more likely to offer informal Jewish education, such as attending synagogue or participating in community events.

As these children grow, their connection to Judaism continues to deepen. Birthright alumni are 65% more likely to send their kids to Jewish sleepaway camp, 50% more likely to choose Jewish day camps, and 44% more likely to enroll their children in supplementary Jewish education, such as Hebrew school or Torah study.

Perhaps most striking of all, children of Birthright alumni are 122% more likely to celebrate their bar or bat mitzvahs, marking their entry into Jewish adulthood, just as their parents did when they participated in the Birthright program.

The study highlights the profound impact that Birthright Israel has on the next generation, suggesting that the program's influence extends far beyond the trip itself. It plants the seeds of Jewish identity and connection, which grow and thrive for generations to come.