Birthright Israel Hosts 350 Executives for Three Day Tel Aviv Summit

Birthright Israel will convene more than 350 business leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs in Tel Aviv from November 1 to 3. The event, titled Shaping Our Future Together, marks the first dedicated business summit in the organization's 26 year history. It will be held at the Hilton Tel Aviv.

Over 100 participants are arriving from more than 15 countries, including Argentina, Australia, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates. These attendees will join Israeli executives to discuss innovation, philanthropy, and economic strategy. Organizers describe the gathering as a milestone for the group.

The schedule opens with a gala on November 1 that honors the organization's philanthropic supporters. President Isaac Herzog is expected to address the crowd. Other speakers include Dr. Miriam Adelson, a long time supporter, and Josh Nash, the international chairman of Birthright Israel. Nash also serves as a managing member at Ulysses Management. Meir Shamir, chairman of the Israeli Board of Donors, will also participate.

The core program runs on November 2. Speakers include Sir Ronald Cohen, co founder of Apax Partners, and Eyal Waldman, founder of Mellanox. Yinon Costica, co founder of cybersecurity firm Wiz, and Sean Rad, founder of Tinder, are also on the lineup. Rad is a Birthright alumnus. Amit Krig, NVIDIA's Israel site leader, will speak alongside former Mossad director Yossi Cohen.

The agenda highlights the professional trajectories of past participants. Avinatan Or, an NVIDIA engineer held captive by Hamas for 738 days after the October 7, 2023 attack, will share his story. Moran Samuel, an Israeli Paralympic basketball player and world champion rower, will also present. These appearances illustrate how the ten day educational trips have led to lasting business and personal connections.

Gidi Mark, Global CEO of Birthright Israel, called the summit a natural extension of the group's mission. He stated that bringing global leaders to Israel is a powerful statement of confidence in the country's future. Ethy Levy, Vice President of Global Resource Development, noted that conversations at the event could lead to business partnerships or investments in the next generation of Israeli companies.

On November 3, attendees will leave the conference hall for site visits. They will tour Israeli companies and innovation centers. Participants will also volunteer with current Birthright Israel travelers and meet communities supported by the organization since October 7. The summit builds on the existing Business Forum, which connects nearly 60 Israeli companies.

Since 1999, nearly one million young Jewish adults from 70 countries have participated in Birthright Israel programs. The organization estimates its activities have added approximately $2.6 billion to the Israeli economy over the past 26 years. This figure includes spending on travel, accommodation, and local businesses.

A March 2026 study by the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University found a strong correlation between participation and national connection. Among politically liberal young Jews, connection to Israel rose 60 percent for Birthright participants. In contrast, it fell 26 percent among applicants who did not take the trip.