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Alumni Pix & Quotes

We at Israel Outdoors love our trips, and we can spend hours telling you about them...how safe they are, how beautiful the country is, how amazing the tours are, how interesting the people are, how knowledgeable the guide is, etc., etc., etc. But, you'll probably want to also hear it from people who were once in your own position; people who have already lived the Israel Outdoors adventure for themselves. So, check out what our alumni have to say about previous Israel Outdoors/Birthright Israel trips, to see what's in store for you!. And, our alumni are happy to share their experiences - feel free to send them an email to find out more!!

Find out about Sopranos TV star, Jamie Lynn Sigler's (aka Meadow Soprano), Israel Outdoors trip this past January 2008!!

   

   

The Israel Outdoors trip was totally outstanding.  It was actually better than what I had expected (frankly, I did not know what to expect at the time). Of course, we got to see the sights, experience Israel's beauty, learn the history, meet the people, and show support for Israel. It's hard to believe that we did so much in only 10 days...and felt so safe throughout the entire time. Definitely, take advantage of this trip as soon as you can. It is 10-days well spent! 
Mark Gabay, Boca Raton, FL

         

This is a great way to experience Israel for the first time. Great people exploring an incredible land.
Erica Blatt, Huntingdon Valley, PA

    

Don’t have any doubts. It’s safe. It’s amazing. You’ll have the time of your life. 
Roni Baron, Madison, WI

    

Israel Outdoors was the trip of a lifetime!!  Hiking, biking, seeing the sights, making new friends and learning about the history of Israel and Judiasm made my birthright trip so fun, fulfilling and unforgetable.  I still can't believe it was free and I hope that everyone takes advantage of this amazing opportunity while it is still there.
Robin Behrstock, Vail, CO

         

I have learned more in 10 days about Judaism and Israel than I have in the past 20 years.
Brett Laveny, Ann Arbor, MI

       

A must-do for every Jew!
Aaron Nazarian, Los Angeles, CA

         

My experience in Israel? I came to Israel not knowing exactly what to expect.  Partially prejudiced by the media, I felt somewhat that it was a dangerous place.  However, my Israel Outdoors group took all of the precautions to make sure we did not take any risks.  It was still an amazing experience!!  We hiked on pristine trails and alongside ruins from biblical times unlike anything I have seen in America or Europe. The country is living history, where the present echoes the peoples and experiences of the past wherever one goes, despite the modern trappings of Western society.  Additionally, the accommodations were far superior to anyplace I have visited in this hemisphere, and the cuisine was without flaw.  In one country, there is a wide variety of climates, ranging from Mediterranean to desert, all within one to two hours drive of each other.  I highly recommend this experience to anyone wants to see something exotic yet moving.
David Jennings, Allentown, PA

         

I know I’m coming back. 
Greg Weisman, Carlisle, MA  

Now I have a much greater appreciation for Israel and Zionism.  
Gideon Taub, Charlottesville, VA

 

    

Hi, my name is Ofra.  I went on the Israel Outdoors trip in June 2002, and it was totally fantanstic!  I had been to Israel before when I was much younger, and I honestly learned and had more experiences from this trip than I ever could have anticipated. First of all, our guide was really great. He had endless knowledge about every place we went, and truly made the entire experience fun.  As for people who are worried about security, there was never any kind of  threat or uneasiness about being in Israel. We always felt safe. Finally, I met some amazing people (Israelis and Americans). We all got along so well. It was incredible what being in Israel does for group dynamics. The Israelis we got to spend time with were a wonderful addition, and they were very open with us, and overall, helped make the trip a blast. I could not have dreamt up a better trip...Thank you birthright israel!
Ofra Isler, Los Angeles, CA

    

It has made [Israel] come alive and appear as a real place rather than a distant place. 
Anonymous

         

I fell in love with the country, religion and the culture. 
Anonymous

    

The Israel Outdoors trip was all I expected and more!  We visited many exciting sites, made some great new friends (Israelis and Americans), learned a whole lot, and had lots of fun--while feeling safe the whole time.  But I also saw the secular sides of Israel that one doesn't find in the pictures we see in the US, yet at the same time I felt a stronger and
more comfortable sense of Jewish identity than I had any time before.  Despite the turmoil portrayed on CNN it was an ideal time to visit, allowing me a better understanding of Israel and the issues it faces.  I can't wait to go back and spend more time there.
Please feel free to email me if you have any questions or reservations about the trip.  
Josh Goldman, South Lake Tahoe, CA

         

Don’t pass on this opportunity. 
Peter Rabe, Miami, FL

         

The experience was indescribable. It has made me see Israel in a whole new light. 
Emily Grant

         

There are things in life that sometimes seem out of reach. For me, returning to visit Israel after so many years was one of those things. When I first heard about Israel Outdoors and the birthright israel gift, I almost thought that it was a joke. Of course, I quickly realized that it was not!! My dream actually came true. I had more than a great time, and not just because the country is beautiful...rather, because the people with whom I shared those moments were incredible.  You get to know people from different backgrounds and to learn a lot from them.  If it was an amazing experience for me to be returning to Israel after almost 10 years of being away. Imagine how it would be for those that have never been there at all!! 
Stephanie Pasternack, Miami, FL

         

Be prepared to be exhausted, but have one of the most amazing experiences of your life. 
Anonymous

         

Prepare for a rocking adventure! 
Kimberley Greenberg, Middletown, CT

    

My Israel Outdoors trip was amazing. Israel is such a beautiful country. I immediately fell in love and have decided to return for a semester so that I can spend even more time there. The birthright gift gave me a taste of something so great that I will crave more forever. Thanks. 
Steven Serels, New York, NY

    

I feel I have a second home.

Mandana Abrishamian, Reseda, CA

 

Excellent trip from beginning to end.  
Boris Iskhakov, Brooklyn, NY

         

I no longer consider the Israelis “them”. Now I think of it as “us”.

I no longer consider the Israelis on our group as "them". Now I think of it as "us"

Jeffrey A. Strait, St. Petersburg, FL

 

          


In a time of turmoil in Israel, many of my friends and family found it hard to believe that my brother and I would be going to Israel this past summer. But deep in our hearts we knew that we were making the right decision.

What is it that I can tell you? I can tell you that Israel is a completely amazing place. While we were on our birthright trip with Israel Outdoors, we quickly found out that the entire country is filled with so many fascinating stories. For example, once, we were on an off-road jeep tour in the Golan Heights, and not only did we learn about the land and water issues that are so important to Israel in that region; but we also learned about the region's history in a way that was far more interesting than any Sunday school class could teach us. Israel is filled with a contagious and unifying bond that seems to tie every Jew there together. It is not a utopian country by any means, but when I was there I could not help but feel a steady and strong pulse of Jewish pride and oneness.

I know that Israel may seem like a scary place right now. But when we got there, things seemed a lot different than what we had seen on TV. When we got there we saw life, we saw a living country filled with alive and living people, and we too felt alive. Safety was a concern of everyone on the trip, their family, and their friends. However, within one day, that concern completely subsided. Israel Outdoors, our trip organizer, was continually working for our safety...especially in terms of the kinds of places that we visited. While we were in Israel, we spent very little time at all in any populated places (which is where the risk is). Rather, we were almost always in the countryside, doing things like tasting different wines from a winery, riding camels in the middle of the desert, or kayaking in the Jordan River. We spent very little time in areas that might have been considered "unsafe". When there was even the slightest concern about our safety, our itinerary was adjusted accordingly. Israel Outdoors was extremely flexible with their schedule to ensure our safety and general well being. One thing that I learned when I was in Israel is that certain parts of Israel are indeed dangerous. From my experience, I can assure you that any place that is remotely unsafe will not be a place you will be taken.

Israel Outdoors and birthright israel provided me with a phenomenal experience that I think others should take part in while the opportunity is still there. If you have any questions about my experience, I would be happy to talk with you. I will not candy coat anything since I feel that telling the truth and telling it like it is the best way

for you to become informed and make your own decision on whether or not you want to go on this trip.

Feel free to email me any questions or if you would like to arrange a phone call. 
Todd Katz, Chicago, IL

 

       

 

Amazing!!!  
Erin Grossman, Chicago, IL

 

    

 

I have learned more about myself and my world.

Alan Iamburg, Agoura Hills, CA

Israel Outdoors is an official provider of Taglit-Birthright Israel trips. 
Learn more about Taglit-Birthright Israel