Birthright Israel’s Inaugural Global Business Summit Concludes in Tel Aviv

Nov 5, 2026 by Susan Rosenbluth

TEL AVIV, Israel (November 3, 2026) – Birthright Israel’s inaugural Global Business Summit concludes today in Tel Aviv, capping three days that brought together approximately 350 philanthropists, investors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders from more than 15 countries for a first-of-its-kind, invitation-only gathering at the Hilton Tel Aviv.

It is the first time in the organization’s 26-year history that its global network of supporters has been convened in Israel as one community. Participants arrived just days after Israelis went to the polls in general elections, at a moment when questions about Israel’s security, economy, society, and relationship with world Jewry could hardly be more consequential.

The Summit opened Sunday night with a Gala Evening of Recognition honoring the leadership and philanthropy that have sustained Birthright Israel over the past 26 years, with remarks from Israeli President Isaac Herzog alongside major supporters from Israel and around the world.

From left: Gidi Mark, Prof. Miriam Adelson; President Isaac Herzog. Photo Credit Shooka Cohen, Courtesy of Birthright Israel.

During the gala, Professor Miriam Adelson received the Lifetime Champion Award in recognition of 20 years of support for Birthright Israel. Professor Adelson and her late husband, Sheldon Adelson, began supporting Birthright Israel in 2006, enabling tens of thousands of young Jewish adults to experience Israel on a 10-day Birthright Israel trip.

On Monday, participants heard from some of Israel’s most influential figures in business, technology, finance, security, and public life, alongside international entrepreneurs and investors. Speakers included Sir Ronald Cohen, pioneer of impact investing and co-founder of Apax Partners; Eyal Waldman, founder of Mellanox; Amit Krig, NVIDIA Israel site leader and senior vice president of networking software; former Mossad director Yossi Cohen; investor and ICON founder Yasmin Lukatz; former Microsoft Israel CEO Shelly Landsmann; Dr. Micah Goodman; entrepreneur and investor Yoel Cheshin; real estate developer and philanthropist Danna Azrieli Hakim; and Angela Homsi, co-founder and president of Ignite Power.

Alongside the speakers, participants heard the stories of Birthright Israel alumni, many of whom have gone on to become entrepreneurs, investors, community leaders, and philanthropists in their own right. Their stories show that a Birthright journey’s impact can unfold over decades, not just the ten days spent in Israel.

On the Summit’s final day, participants are leaving the conference room for a Field Day in Israeli communities. They will meet with Israeli innovators and industry leaders and volunteer alongside current Birthright Israel participants in communities Birthright Israel has served since October 7, engaging with the country’s ongoing recovery firsthand.

For 26 years, Birthright Israel has been built on a simple premise: there is no substitute for experiencing Israel firsthand. Nearly one million young Jewish adults from 70 countries have taken part in the program. The Summit extends that same premise to the global community of philanthropists, business leaders, and partners whose support has made those journeys possible. The Summit also highlighted Birthright Israel’s economic impact: over 26 years, the program has contributed an estimated $2.6 billion to the Israeli economy, with many participants returning to study, intern, invest, or build companies in Israel.

Birthright

“For 26 years, we have brought young Jewish adults to Israel because we believe that experiencing Israel personally creates a connection that lasts,” said Gidi Mark, International CEO of Birthright Israel. “Now we have brought together the people who made those journeys possible. This Summit gave our global community the opportunity to experience Israel again for themselves, to meet the people shaping its future, and to ask what we can build together for the next generation – not to talk about Israel from afar, but to be in it.”

“Combining business and purpose has been my life mission, and the first Birthright Israel Business Summit is the culmination of 26 years of impact on nearly one million lives and tens of thousands of supporters from around the world. It is our way to give back to our supporters by providing an exclusive and intimate platform for networking, doing business, and doing good together,” said Ethy Levy, VP, Global Resource Development & Partnerships, Birthright Israel.

Nearly one million journeys. Seventy countries. An estimated $2.6 billion in economic activity. And countless friendships, careers, investments, organizations, and acts of Jewish leadership that trace part of their story back to a first encounter with Israel through Birthright.

About Birthright Israel:

Birthright Israel is the largest educational tourism organization in the world. Founded 25 years ago with the dream to provide all young Jewish adults with opportunities for transformative and immersive shared experiences in Israel and a foundation for ongoing Jewish connection. Birthright offers multiple short- and mid-length programs in Israel for Jewish young adults. More than 950,000 young Jewish adults from 70 countries participated in one of the Birthright Israel programs. The gift of a Birthright Israel trips is made possible thanks to an innovative partnership between Jewish philanthropists, Jewish communities and Federations, the people of Israel through the Government of Israel, tens of thousands of alumni, their families, and individual donors from around the world.