Mifgash

Lasting from five to ten days, the Mifgash (Hebrew word for ‘encounter’) is when young adult Israelis join their visiting peers from abroad as they travel around Israel together aboard the Birthright Israel bus. A cornerstone of our educational program since the very beginning, the Mifgash offers many formal and informal opportunities for building friendships, examining different perspectives, and exploring shared ideas and values. The Mifgash gives Israelis a chance to learn about Jewish life outside of Israel, and it gives the visitor a look at life in Israel as experienced by their Israeli peers.

With 8,000 Israeli participants each year (and a total of 120,000 so far), the Mifgash seeks to strengthen the Jewish identity, connection to Israel, and Zionism of both Birthright Israel participants from around the world and their new Israeli friends. When you strengthen the bond, you strengthen the love. In allowing all participants to learn about each other’s day-to-day experiences and exposing them to different expressions of Jewishness, the vital importance of the connection between Israel and the Diaspora becomes clear.