NOTED MILLENIAL PHILANTHROPIC LEADER JOINS BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION BOARD

NEW YORK – Birthright Israel Foundation (BRIF) has appointed Rachel Cohen Gerrol, a noted Washington, DC-based millennial philanthropist, to its board of directors.

Gerrol brings a long-standing history of Jewish communal leadership and passion for the Taglit-Birthright Israel program to her position, having been a participant on the first round of the program in 2000. Following her 10-day experience, Gerrol immersed herself into her local Jewish community and launched a “Shabbat Hoppin” program with the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington that encouraged young Jews to attend “learner’s services” at different area synagogues each month.

Gerrol’s appointment is a part of a larger strategy by BRIF President David Fisher, to engage a broader Jewish communal audience into the organization, to increase participation and support.

“Rachel’s experience with millennial programming within the Jewish community will be a tremendous asset to our leadership, professional team and participants,” said Fisher. “As an alumna of the Taglit-Birthright Israel program, Rachel understands first-hand how the life-changing experience of a free educational trip to Israel can impact a young adult’s life decision to be an active participant in their local and global Jewish community.”

Gerrol is recognized internationally for her work on millennial philanthropy, and her projects have been featured in The New York Times, The Financial Times, Forbes, Vanity Fair, Barron’s, Inc., The Atlantic, Haaretz, & The Huffington Post. She is Co-Founder and Global Curator of the Nexus Global Youth Summit, Founding Executive Director of PVBLIC Foundation, and Founder of The Survivor Initiative, a next generation effort to raise awareness and funds for U.S. Holocaust survivors living below the poverty line. Gerrol currently serves on Jewish Federation of North America’s (JFNA) National Young Leadership Cabinet and sits on the board of directors of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. She is a member of the JFNA speakers bureau and has given numerous speeches about her Taglit-Birthright Israel experience.

“15 years ago I had the incredible opportunity of participating in Taglit-Birthright Israel and my life and connection to the Jewish community was forever changed,” said Gerrol. “I am honored to be part of Birthright Israel Foundation’s board of directors so I can help pay this gift forward for generations to come.”

Gerrol resides in Washington, DC with her husband, who is also an alum of the Taglit-Birthright Israel program.

Birthright Israel Foundation (BRIF) provides and builds the base of financial support for the Taglit-Birthright Israel program. The US-based 501c3 aims to assure that the gift of a free 10-day educational trip to Israel will remain available to young Jewish adults for generations to come.

Taglit-Birthright Israel sends Jewish adults between the ages of 18 and 26 to Israel to strengthen each participant’s Jewish identity. The trip aims to build an understanding, friendship, and lasting bond with the land and people of Israel and to reinforce the solidarity of the Jewish people worldwide. Since its inception, more than 400,000 Jewish young adults have taken part in Taglit-Birthright Israel from more than 66 countries, all 50 U.S. states.