Madison Stock of Woodbury, N.Y., is officially the 10,000th participant in the Birthright Israel volunteer program.
The 22-year-old recently completed working on agricultural projects in Moshav Gamzu, Moshav Zeitan, Moshav Beit Yitzchak, Moshav Gan Haim and Hinanit as part of the subsidized Post-October 7 Volunteer Program. She is still in Israel and has decided to extend her visit.
Stock participated in the 10-day Birthright Israel trip last summer, fell in love with the country, and decided to return as a volunteer.
In the United States, she works in event planning and the restaurant business. She has twin siblings, and both parents have recently retired.
“This volunteer program with Birthright Israel has truly inspired me,” said Stock. “The impact volunteers can make is beyond comprehension. The farmers and communities we supported are incredibly grateful for our help.”
She stated that since the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, the Jewish world has “felt the same loss and pain, which has brought people together in unique ways. The farmers were hit hard by the lack of people coming to Israel to work, so the fact that we came to do impactful work was very special for everyone involved.”
The volunteer program is a cornerstone of Birthright Israel’s mission to strengthen Jewish solidarity globally and deepen ties to the Jewish state through meaningful, hands-on action. It offers Jewish adults, ages 18 to 50, the chance to make a tangible impact on communities across Israel.
Participants engage in a variety of volunteer activities, including working in food rescue operations to prevent shortages in the Israeli market and supporting kibbutz restoration projects in areas hardest hit by the Oct. 7 attacks and the war that began after that.
Volunteers also have an opportunity to join a special volunteer program to teach young children English in the summer of 2025.
Gidi Mark, CEO of Birthright Israel, said: “I congratulate Madison and would like to thank her for leaving everything behind to take a pause in her life and deciding to come to Israel and take part in this program. This initiative underscores Birthright Israel’s commitment to fostering global Jewish solidarity and strengthening ties to the land and people of Israel through meaningful action.”