Staff a Trip

Staffing a Birthright Israel trip is rewarding, challenging, exciting, and a great responsibility. Juggling logistics, while also supporting your Birthrighters on their personal journeys, while also helping foster a sense of community among participants? It’s no easy task! Staff, or madrichim in Hebrew, are carefully selected, as they have an enormous impact on this life changing experience for participants. The position is unpaid; however, all expenses are covered in the program and in most cases, LA Way madrichim will receive a stipend from the Federation and many can extend their tickets.
 
Madrichim have many responsibilities, including: managing all airport travel, supporting the Israeli tour educator, ensuring smooth running of the group (logistically, socially, and experientially), serving as a role model for participants, and assisting in leading discussion groups and programming.
 
Staffing a Birthright Israel trip is rewarding, challenging, exciting, and a great responsibility. Juggling logistics, while also supporting your Birthrighters on their personal journeys, while also helping foster a sense of community among participants? It’s no easy task! Staff, or madrichim in Hebrew, are carefully selected, as they have an enormous impact on this life changing experience for participants. Interested specifically in staffing an LA Way Birthright Israel trip with the Federation? Learn more here!

General Expectations & Responsibilities: 

• Applicants must be aged 24 years or older
• Past Israel experience is required (ideally other than participating in your own Birthright Israel trip)
• Flexibility, as trip dates and staff may change up to one month prior to a trip.
• Ability to follow the guidelines and responsibilities laid out by your assigned Trip Organizer.
• Managing all airport travel.
• Supporting the Israeli tour educator.
• Ensuring smooth running of the group: Logistically, socially, and experientially.
• Serving as a role model for participants.
• Assisting in leading discussion groups and programming.

This is an unpaid position, but most expenses are covered by Birthright Israel and your Trip Organizer (the organization or travel company running the trip – each with their own unique flavor and style), including the round-trip international flight from the trip’s origin, most meals, hotel, and more. Each Trip Organizer has their own additional eligibility criteria and application. Check out the Trip Organizer sites below to learn more.

• Amazing Israel
• Ezra World
• Hillel International
• Mayanot
• OU – Israel Free Spirit
• Sachlav – Israel on the House
• Shorashim- Israel with Israelis
• Tlalim – Israel Outdoors
• Yael Adventures

The trip may be only ten days, but the experience lasts a lifetime!

BRI Israel Fellows

The Birthright Israel Fellows program provides invaluable, hands-on training for Jewish leaders and educators interested in staffing future Birthright Israel trips. The program includes a 4-day, all-expenses-paid seminar, with workshops in storytelling, leadership, and Jewish and Israeli studies. Participants are given the opportunity to practice experiential education skills, like recognizing and using teachable moments, and developing their own personal narrative. To further support them on their journey, Fellows are connected with a nationwide network of accomplished Jewish leaders and educators.

The Birthright Israel Fellows program develops an elite cadre of North American experiential Jewish educators to enhance Birthright Israel experiences and the broader field of Israel and Jewish education.