A total of 120 young adults from Australia landed on April 21 at Ben-Gurion International Airport, officially opening the summer season of Birthright Israel. The participants, aged 18 to 22, are also the first group of tourists to arrive in Israel since the outbreak of the war with Iran.
Throughout the summer, the organization is expected to bring as many as 28,000 participants to Israel across its various programs. Participants will visit cities across the country, volunteer in different locations where they are needed and take part in eight-week internships at Israeli companies.
“The first group that landed today, just before Israel’s Independence Day, means a great deal to us, and we are proud to see that most participants still intend to come and experience Israel firsthand. It reflects the trust and deep connection of young Jews in the Diaspora to Israel, even during complex times,” said Gidi Mark, International CEO of Birthright Israel. “We are opening the summer season with renewed momentum and optimism, and in the coming days, thousands more young people will arrive to experience Israel up close and become part of its story.”
During the summer, approximately 17,500 young people from 34 countries are expected to participate in the 10-day Birthright Israel programs, many of them visiting Israel for the first time. Thousands of them are Jewish students and young adults from the United States.
In 2025, Birthright Israel accounts for approximately 95% of all organized group tourism to Israel and plays a significant role in contributing to local and regional tourism economies.
In addition to participants joining the classic 10-day program, Birthright Israel will also host 2,300 students participating in internships at Israeli companies, as well as about 6,500 volunteers who will contribute for eight days in agriculture, packaging, rebuilding homes damaged during the war and other supportive activities.
Welcoming the first Birthright Israel group since the outbreak of war with Iran
The organization is expected to bring 28,000 participants this summer for its various programs.
(April 21, 2026 / Birthright Israel)
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Birthright Israel began with a bold idea: offering a free, life-changing trip to Israel for young Jewish adults between the ages of 18 and 26, and in doing so, transforming the Jewish future. Our mission is to provide all young Jewish adults with opportunities for transformative and immersive shared experiences in Israel, plus a foundation for ongoing Jewish connection. Today, Birthright Israel is the largest educational tourism organization in the world, having provided more than 850,000 journeys to Israel.
