Birthright Israel Sets November 1 Start for Tel Aviv Business Summit

The organization behind one of the largest Jewish travel programs in the world is expanding its operations into corporate networking. Birthright Israel will host its inaugural Taglit Global Business Summit starting November 1.

The event, titled Shaping Our Future Together, runs through November 3 at the Hilton Tel Aviv. Organizers expect more than 350 attendees, including business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists from Israel and abroad.

More than 100 participants will arrive from 15 countries. These guests include representatives from Argentina, Australia, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates. They will meet with local Israeli executives to discuss innovation, philanthropy, and economic strategy.

The opening night on November 1 is designated as a Gala Evening of Recognition. The session honors the leadership and financial support behind the group. President Isaac Herzog is scheduled to speak during the ceremony. Other key figures include Meir Shamir, chairman of the Israeli Board of Donors, and Josh Nash, the international chairman of the organization.

Business representatives from NVIDIA, Wiz, Elbit Systems, El Al, and monday.com are also confirmed for the gala. Gidi Mark, the Global CEO of Birthright Israel, described the summit as a natural extension of the group's mission. He stated that bringing global leaders to the country is a strong statement of confidence in its future.

The primary program occurs on November 2. Speakers will cover technology, finance, and public life. The lineup includes Sir Ronald Cohen, co-founder of Apax Partners, and Eyal Waldman, founder of Mellanox. Yinon Costica, co-founder of Wiz, and Sean Rad, founder of Tinder, are also on the schedule.

Additional speakers include Yossi Cohen, former director of Mossad, and Amit Krig, the Israel site leader for NVIDIA. Ethy Levy, Vice President of Global Resource Development, noted that discussions at the event could lead to business partnerships or investments in the next generation of companies.

The agenda features alumni who have transitioned into high-level roles. Avinatan Or, an NVIDIA engineer held captive by Hamas for 738 days, will participate. Moran Samuel, a Paralympic basketball player and world champion rower, will also join the sessions.

On November 3, attendees will leave the conference hall for site visits. They will tour Israeli companies, innovation centers, and communities involved in recovery efforts. Participants can volunteer alongside current Birthright travelers and visit initiatives supported since October 7.

The summit builds on the group's existing Business Forum, which connects nearly 60 Israeli companies. Since 1999, nearly one million young Jewish adults from 70 countries have taken part in Birthright programs. The organization estimates these activities have added approximately $2.6 billion to the Israeli economy through travel and local spending.

A March 2026 study by the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University provided recent data on the program's impact. The study found that connection to Israel rose 60 percent among politically liberal young Jews who participated. In the same group, connection fell 26 percent among applicants who did not take part.