Birthright
University of Pittsburgh students show their pride while visiting Israel. (Photo courtesy of Hillel JUC)
January 9, 2026, 3:14 pm
Hillel JUC students return from Birthright Israel emboldened and connected
When students spend time in Israel it 'allows them to connect with their heritage, culture and identity in the most experiential way'
By Adam Reinherz
After living abroad, Sadie Hilf recently accepted a position with the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. (Photo courtesy of Sadie Hilf)
December 25, 2025, 8:24 am
Getting to know: Sadie Hilf
'The Jewish community is as strong as its people...We've been here for 3,000 years, and we'll be here for another 3,000 years, as long as there's leaders in every generation that take up that mantle'
By Adam Reinherz
Hillel JUC visited Israel in 2019 as part of Birthright Israel before COVID-19 forced travel to stop. (Photo by Hillel JUC.)
January 9, 2024, 4:20 pm
Chabad at Pitt, Hillel JUC plan to take part in relaunched Birthright trips
“Birthright is one of the most transformative programs in the Jewish world to strengthen and broaden Jewish identity and personal connection to Israel,” he said.
By David Rullo
In 2022, Rabbi Shlomo Silverman led a group of CMU students to Israel for the first time in two years as part of the Birthright Israel program. (Photo provided by Chabad of Carnegie Mellon University.)
December 20, 2023, 4:12 pm
Birthright is resuming its free trips to Israel for the first time since Oct. 7
Around 350 participants, primarily from the United States, are expected to travel to Israel beginning the week of Jan. 5, 2024.
By Deborah Danan
Hillel JUC student leaders welcome new students to campus. Photo courtesy of Hillel JUC
August 18, 2023, 12:41 pm
At Hillel JUC, campus life restarts with orientation activities and bagels
Semester begins with push to help students 'gather together, celebrate together and create communities'
By Adam Reinherz
Hillel JUC visited Israel in 2019 as part of Birthright Israel before COVID-19 forced travel to stop. (Photo by Hillel JUC.)
December 7, 2022, 9:24 am
The Birthright imperative
Perhaps this is the wake-up call needed to remind us of the importance of the program and to make clear why no one should take it for granted.
In 2022, Rabbi Shlomo Silverman led a group of CMU students to Israel for the first time in two years as part of the Birthright Israel program. (Photo provided by Chabad of Carnegie Mellon University.)
June 3, 2022, 5:51 pm
Students experience Israel with Chabad of CMU
Two-year pandemic pause ended
By David Rullo
Students from University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon and Duquesne University on a 2018 Birthright trip. Future trips may include smaller numbers of students after Birthright Israel announced it would be cutting funding for the program. (Photo courtesy of Hillel Jewish University Center)
March 8, 2022, 12:23 pm
Birthright Israel to lower its age limit back to 26
This summer will be the last chance for Jews 27 to 32 to participate , with the exception of anyone older who registered for a trip that was canceled because of the pandemic.
By Andrew Lapin
Some of the students from Onward Israel's Pittsburgh cohort in Haifa, 2021 (Photo courtesy of Etan Cohn)
January 7, 2022, 4:33 pm
Onward Israel merges with Birthright to magnify reach and increase impact
The goal of the merger is to strengthen the relationship between Diaspora Jews worldwide and the Jewish state.
By Toby Tabachnick; Faygie Holt | JNS
Students from University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon and Duquesne University on a 2018 Birthright trip. Future trips may include smaller numbers of students after Birthright Israel announced it would be cutting funding for the program. (Photo courtesy of Hillel Jewish University Center)
April 22, 2020, 11:00 am
Birthright, other group trips to Israel, canceled for the coming months
Pandemic forces cancellations, postponements
By Justin Vellucci
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