Business Leaders Gather in Tel Aviv

Birthright Israel will host its first Taglit Global Business Summit in Tel Aviv from November 1 to 3. The event, titled "Shaping Our Future Together," is scheduled to take place at the Hilton Tel Aviv. Organizers expect more than 350 participants, including business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists from Israel and abroad.

More than 100 attendees will travel from over 15 countries. These international 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 group views this gathering as a milestone in its 26-year history.

The program opens on November 1 with a Gala Evening of Recognition. This event will honor key supporters, including long-time backer Dr. Miriam Adelson. President Isaac Herzog is expected to address the group. Other notable figures attending the opening include Meir Shamir, chairman of the Israeli Board of Donors, and Josh Nash, the organization's international chairman and managing member of Ulysses Management. Representatives from NVIDIA, Wiz, Elbit Systems, El Al, and monday.com will also be present.

The main conference sessions occur on November 2. Speakers include Sir Ronald Cohen, a pioneer in impact investing; Eyal Waldman, founder of Mellanox; and Yinon Costica, co-founder of Wiz. Sean Rad, founder of Tinder, will join as a Birthright alumnus. Other speakers include Amit Krig, NVIDIA's Israel site leader, and former Mossad director Yossi Cohen. The lineup also features Yasmin Lukatz, founder of ICON, and Shelly Landsmann, former Microsoft Israel CEO.

The agenda highlights alumni who have become entrepreneurs and executives. Avinatan Or, an NVIDIA engineer released after 738 days in captivity, will participate. Moran Samuel, a Paralympic basketball player and world champion rower, will also speak. Gidi Mark, Global CEO of Birthright Israel, described the summit as a natural extension of the organization's mission. He stated that bringing global leaders to Israel serves as a statement of confidence in its future.

On November 3, attendees will visit Israeli companies and innovation centers. They will also volunteer with current participants and meet communities supported since October 7. Ethy Levy, Vice President of Global Resource Development, noted that conversations at the event could lead to business partnerships or investments. The summit builds on the group's existing Business Forum, which includes nearly 60 Israeli companies.

Since 1999, nearly one million young Jewish adults from 70 countries have joined Birthright programs. The organization estimates these activities have added $2.6 billion to the Israeli economy over 26 years. A March 2026 study by Brandeis University found that connection to Israel rose 60% among politically liberal young Jewish participants. Among applicants who did not take part, that connection fell 26%.