Personal Stories

Elias Gibson

I never planned to go on Taglit. I barely knew anything about Israel and wasn’t particularly interested. But when a college friend mentioned it was free – I figured, why not? I had no idea how this decision would change my life.

During the trip, I befriended two Israeli soldiers – Roi, a parachuting instructor, and Yael, a sniper instructor. Their roles seemed cool, but I never imagined that just a few years later, I would become a paratrooper and sniper in the IDF.

That trip remains one of the most memorable and meaningful experiences of my life – but it didn’t end there. After Birthright, I returned for a semester abroad at Tel Aviv University, but COVID forced me to leave early. Back in the U.S., I knew I had to return. In August 2021, I made Aliyah through Garin Tzabar, moved to Kibbutz Erez, and enlisted in the IDF Paratroopers’ 202^nd Battalion.

Being a lone soldier came with challenges – the language barrier, adjusting to life on my own, and even simple things like doing my laundry. But being a lone soldier didn’t mean being lonely. My Taglit friends, my host family, and my unit became my support system.

On October 7, I woke up to sirens in Tel Aviv. Within hours, I was back on base, and soon deployed to Sderot, Kibbutz Alumim, and eventually Gaza, where I remained for months.

Without Taglit, I wouldn’t have returned to Israel, wouldn’t have enlisted, or made Aliyah. Today, I’m living in Herzliya, pursuing my master’s degree in Education – a journey that started with one trip that changed my life.

The Audry Family Journey

For the Audry siblings, Judaism was something unspoken. Their grandmother, a Holocaust survivor, never talked about her past, and they were raised in France without Jewish traditions, community, or connection. But that began to change when Perle, the eldest sister, joined a Taglit Birthright Israeli trip. What started as her personal journey set a chain of discovery in motion, inspiring her younger sister Isis and their older brother Dorian to explore the missing pieces of their own Jewish identities. Through Taglit, they gained a deeper understanding of their heritage, strengthened their connection to Israel, and discovered a sense of communal belonging for the very first time. But Taglit wasn’t just about discovering their Jewish identity – it was about reclaiming it, together.

I didn’t always know I was Jewish. I discovered it thanks to a history lesson at school. Learning about the Holocaust, I broke down in tears. When I got home and asked my mother why, she simply said, “It’s normal that you’re crying. This is our story.” That’s when I learned that my grandmother had been hidden during the war. She never spoke about it – fear and survival had shaped our family’s relationship with Judaism.

Years later, I moved to Paris for work. My mother encouraged me to connect with the Jewish community. I had no idea how to do that – I’d never been part of one. That’s when I discovered Taglit. In August 2021, I joined a Taglit trip, and for the first time, I felt part of something bigger. I’ve decided to move to Israel next year, study Hebrew, and continue this journey.

Perle Audry

When my sister Perle came back from Israel, she was excited, inspired, and full of dreams. I saw the change in her and I wanted to understand it. Perle became a madricha (counsellor) for Taglit and encouraged me to join a trip. I finally planned my year around it, arriving in August to Israel and staying on after the trip to immerse myself even further.

Growing up, I always felt our family was different, but could never explain it. Being in Israel helped me understand this difference – my family’s lost connection. It feels like a missing piece of my identity has fallen into place.

Isis Audry

I’m the older brother. I was raised by our grandmother who always warned me “Never tell anyone you are Jewish. It’s dangerous.” So, I never explored my Jewish roots. When Perle decided to go on Taglit, I was skeptical and afraid. But when she came back, her stories challenged everything I thought I knew, making me curious instead of fearful.

In 2024 I took the leap and joined a Taglit volunteer trip. Even before I left, I could feel something shifting inside me, and once I arrived, I felt immediately at home. Being at the Kotel, and putting on tefillin for the first time, these experiences were so powerful. That day was one of the most beautiful days of my life. I’ll never forget it.

Dorian Francois

Rebecca Starr & Benjy Katz

Rebecca and Benji engagement

For Rebecca Starr and Benjy Katz, Jewish identity and a deep love for Israel have always been central to their lives. Benjy, from Boston, attended Maimonides High School, spent a gap year in Israel, and earned his B.A. from Drexel University. Rebecca grew up in Montreal, attended Herzliya High School and was active in Young Judaea. She joined her first Birthright Israel trip in 2017 while at Concordia University.

This past year, their individual journeys led them to the same place, at the same time – a Birthright Israel Volunteer trip that changed everything.

“On October 6, 2023, I got a call from Birthright Israel inviting me to staff a winter trip. I was thrilled, but the very next morning, we woke up to the horrific events of October 7, and it was clear the trip wouldn’t happen.

A month later, I received an email from Birthright Israel Onward about volunteering in Israel. After October 7, I felt so helpless; I needed to do something meaningful. The volunteering dates matched exactly with the trip I was supposed to staff, and I felt an undeniable pull to join.

That’s how Benjy and I met, on a Birthright Israel Volunteer trip. We hit it off instantly, bonding over our shared love of hockey (despite our rival teams!). We were both placed at Pitchon Lev, an organization supporting displaced families and soldiers on the front. That first day, we packed over 300 boxes.

Later, I met up with my Israeli friend, Omer, who had been serving in Gaza. When he told me their food came from Pitchon Lev, it suddenly hit me – I was making a real difference.

Our cohort included participants from Denmark, England, France, Canada, the U.S., and more. Hearing everyone’s stories reminded me that we’re not alone, and we quickly formed our own little community.

The trip ended, but for Benjy and I, it was just the beginning. Back home, we navigated a long-distance relationship until I relocated to Miami (where Benjy lives), and began teaching at a Jewish Day School.

In December 2024, we returned to Israel together for another two weeks of volunteering. We reconnected with friends from our 2023 cohort, some of whom have since made Aliyah, and experienced that same incredible sense of purpose and community.

When we signed up to volunteer through Birthright Israel, we never imagined it would lead us to each other. Now, we’re engaged and can’t wait to celebrate our wedding this summer!”

Personal Stories

Elias Gibson

The Audry Family Journey

Rebecca Starr & Benjy Katz

Elias Gibson

The Audry Family Journey

Perle Audry

Isis Audry

Dorian Francois

Rebecca Starr & Benjy Katz

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