Birthright Israel convenes 350 business leaders for three-day Tel Aviv summit

Birthright Israel will host its inaugural Taglit Global Business Summit from November 1 to 3 at the Hilton Tel Aviv. The three-day event, titled Shaping Our Future Together, is scheduled to draw more than 350 participants, including business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists from Israel and 15 other countries.

Over 100 attendees will arrive from abroad, representing nations such as Argentina, Australia, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates. Organizers state that the gathering marks a milestone in the group's 26-year history and is the first of its kind. The program is designed to connect these international figures with local Israeli executives to discuss innovation, business strategy, and philanthropy.

The opening evening on November 1 will feature a Gala Evening of Recognition honoring the leadership and philanthropy supporting the organization. President Isaac Herzog is expected to address the crowd alongside supporters from around the world. Other key figures present include Meir Shamir, chairman of the Israeli Board of Donors, and Josh Nash, international chairman of Birthright Israel and managing member of Ulysses Management. Representatives from NVIDIA, Wiz, Elbit Systems, El Al, and monday.com will also attend.

The main conference program on November 2 will include speakers from the technology, investment, and public sectors. The lineup features Sir Ronald Cohen, co-founder of Apax Partners and a pioneer of impact investing, and Eyal Waldman, founder of Mellanox. Yinon Costica, co-founder of Wiz, and Sean Rad, founder of Tinder and a Birthright alumnus, are also scheduled to speak. Amit Krig, NVIDIA's Israel site leader, will join them on the panel.

Additional speakers include former Mossad director Yossi Cohen, ICON founder Yasmin Lukatz, and former Microsoft Israel CEO Shelly Landsmann. The agenda also lists author Dr. Micah Goodman, developer Danna Azrieli Hakim, and Angela Homsi, co-founder and president of Ignite Power. These participants will discuss how educational travel translates into lasting professional networks.

The summit will spotlight alumni who have advanced into roles as entrepreneurs and executives. Avinatan Or, an NVIDIA engineer who was abducted by Hamas from the Nova music festival in October 2023 and released after 738 days in captivity, will take part in the discussions. Moran Samuel, an Israeli Paralympic basketball player and world champion rower, will also share her experiences with the audience.

Gidi Mark, Global CEO of Birthright Israel, described the event as a natural extension of the organization's mission. He stated that bringing global leaders to Israel at this moment serves as a powerful statement of confidence in the country's future. Ethy Levy, Vice President of Global Resource Development and Partnerships, noted that conversations at the summit could lead to business partnerships, philanthropic initiatives, or investments in Israel's next generation.

On November 3, the program moves out of the conference hall. Attendees will visit Israeli companies, innovation centers, and communities involved in recovery efforts. Participants will have the opportunity to volunteer alongside current Birthright Israel travelers and meet groups the organization has supported since October 7. The summit builds on the group's existing Business Forum, which currently includes nearly 60 Israeli companies.

Since 1999, nearly one million young Jewish adults from 70 countries have participated in Birthright Israel programs. The organization estimates these activities have contributed approximately $2.6 billion to the Israeli economy over 26 years through travel and local spending. A March 2026 study by Brandeis University found that among politically liberal young Jews, connection to Israel rose 60% for Birthright participants, while it fell 26% for applicants who did not take part.