Do you want to help guide, shape, educate and build your Jewish Community?

Apply to become a Taglit-Birthright Israel Madrich today!

Application for 2011-2012 will be available in May 2011.

If you have any questions about the MIT program please contact Ortal Reuveni at 514-345-6449 ext: 3210

David Deckelbaum:
My name is David Deckelbaum, and I am 26 years old. Recently, I went on birthright as a participant in the summer of 2008.  Considering it was my last year to apply, my friends persuaded me to try it out. 
The trip was one of the fondest experiences of my life and this was all the motivation I needed to get more involved with the BIEC office and to obviously have the possibility of leading a trip and going back to Israel.
I went to school in the US for 6 years to pursue a good business degree and to play competitive ice hockey. During my time there I lost a large amount of my Jewish identity that I had developed while going to private Jewish school for my elementary and high school years.  The birthright trip really encouraged me to become more involved with the community and understand the importance of young Jewish adults. I hope to stay involved with this great organization for years to come, and to also encourage others to join in.

Debbie Heilpern:
I am someone who thrives on social contact and on building relationships with people from diverse backgrounds. I became involved with Birthright because I wanted to use these interests for the good of the Jewish community. As someone who feels a strong connection to religion, tradition and Israel itself, I believe it is my responsibility and within my ability to expose other people to these things so that they are given the opportunity to fall in love with them as well.

Carly Berlin:
Hi! I'm Carly, a 23-year-old McGill student who's graduating (!!!) in May with a major in History and minors in Education and Political Science. PLEASE don't ask me what I plan to do when I graduate - I have absolutely no idea! I'm also an MIT here in Montreal with some amazing people. "This one time, at Jew Camp..." was how all my summer anecdotes started for ten years... until 2008. I stopped going to Jewish day school when I was twelve, and since high school, I've had very few Jewish friends. Camp was the place where I got excited about being Jewish. So this one time, when I WASN'T at Jew Camp and feeling kind of lost, I skimmed one of those Birthright- Israel Alumni newsletters and something amazing jumped out at me: BE A MADRICH/A ON A CIE BIRTHRIGHT- ISRAEL TRIP! Sounded too good to be true. It STILL sounds too good to be true. Anyway, so I applied on a whim - the day before the application was due I scrambled to update my CV and write a cover letter - and BOOM! Three weeks later, I was sitting in Montreal's Birthright- Israel office at an interview. Six months later, I'm in the middle of MIT training and having a great time. I'm excited about being active in Montreal's Jewish community, making new Jewish friends and getting back to Israel - which is unquestionably the greatest place in the entire world. And hey, next summer's anecdotes will hopefully start with "This one time, in Israel..." - a pretty good step up from Jew Camp. :)

Liel Navi:
Hi my name is Liel and I joined the birthright family as an MIT. I came here from Israel at the age of 8, so I am very much attached to the country. Going on birthright allowed me to explore parts of the country I would have never seen otherwise and form bonds with amazing people that I am still very much in touch with today. The amazing thing about birthright is that it's not just a 10 day trip that ends in the Ben Gurion airport; it is something much much more!!!!!!!

Mitch Sohmer:
As of 2008 I had never been to Israel, I knew all about it but didn't really care. I had been out of school for a few years and took the decision to go back. To celebrate my decision, I decided I would go to Israel and applied to do so with birthright. I really had no expectations going to Israel, but I learnt very quickly that it was a home I had neglected for way too long. Upon my return, I knew I needed to get involved directly with Israel. I wanted to share it and to help take care of it. So by staying in close contact with my madrich from my trip, I applied to become a madrich... and now I’m here. My closest friends are now people who I was able to experience Israel with for the first time. Since returning I’ve also been involved in Israel advocacy at Concordia University. 
I'm a very open person, I love experiencing and learning new things, and I never hold myself back. My guideline for life is NO-STRESS. I'm currently enrolled at Concordia University. I love eating, cooking, sports, meeting and being around people!

Maya Tapiero:

Denise Kling:
I was born and raised in a small Jewish community in Colombia. My mother, who is also from Colombia, was able to convince my Israeli father to return with her to a country that many people deemed as highly dangerous. Not only did my father find a way to enjoy the country, but he also found a way to convey his Zionist beliefs to my two sisters and myself. This, combined with my strong Jewish background and education, shaped me as a person.
At first, when I arrived to Montreal to pursue higher education, I found it hard to cultivate my Jewish identity away from home and my family. When I came back from an advocacy program in Israel two summers ago, and after many years of not visiting, I knew I had to find a way to live and celebrate my Jewish identity in my new Canadian home. Visiting Israel made me realize how important it is for me to get involved and that I could rekindle my Jewish life, no matter the place. I subsequently decided to contact the Bronfman Israel Experience Centre, where I was welcomed with open arms. I quickly identified myself to their mission and off course to their programs. Now I am very glad I was invited to join the MIT team and sincerely hope I can help others experience Israel the way I did and help them rekindle their Jewish identity too.  

Josh Landau:
My name is Josh Landau, I got involved with the BIEC office, for a couple reasons. Mainly so because I like to help out and give back to the community, especially to a wonderful organization, who allowed me to go on a Birthright experience which was the best time of my life. Also, I know a few people inside the office so I would always help out whenever needed. I'm a very outgoing, loud, energetic person. Sometimes to loud and hyper for some people, but they get used to it. I ALWAYS have a smile on my face, and I truthfully believe that my life's reason is to make people laugh and smile.

Michelle Grostern:
My 'relationship' with BIEC began as a participant on a Montreal Birthright bus (MTL BUS 2!) in winter 2005-2006. I'll never forget spending New Year's Eve in the Tel Aviv airport! The trip was such a success that I decided to become a madricha. One year later, I was given the wonderful opportunity of co-leading the first-and-only fourteen day, national, extreme Birthright trip (Extreme 2). Upon my return home, I began to actively volunteer for the BIEC office, helping with Super Sunday, the Montreal Mega Event... whatever was needed. Most recently, I initiated, planned, and led ATID 2008, a volunteer mission in Be'er Sheva for 25-35 year old young adults from Montreal. The experiences that I have gained through my participation in BIEC have been extremely valuable. They have helped me to grow personally and professionally, to meet new people, and to become more actively involved in community. I look forward to meeting all of the new madrichim, and wish everyone good luck in the process.

Stu Guttman:
I was approached by BIEC during the summer of 06. Shortly after, I led the 1st trip out for the summer of 07.  Since then, I remained involved and was lucky enough to go back to Israel as a leader on Machanayim in 08 and I in May, I will be a leader on March of the Living 09.

Nathaniel Haeems:
I lead a birthright trip in 2008 with an incredible group of people from all different backgrounds. I am born and raised in London, UK and immigrated to Canada in 2002. Of course the first place I contacted when arriving was the Bronfman Israel Experience Centre. I have been fortunate enough to visit Israel many times and each time adds another dimension to my understanding of Israel and to our community in Canada.

I am currently completing my MBA at McGill and look forward to working with the centre for many more years to come.

Courtney Sculnick:
My name is Courtney Sculnick and I am an integration aid working with students who have Autism. I became involved with the MTL Birthright office about a year and a half ago and quickly felt at home with the birthright family. The people are warm, friendly and inviting and there is always someone to talk to or hang out with. I made the decision to become involved with Birthright because I know how important it is for everyone to fulfill their birthright and be given the opportunity to do so. I was lucky enough to be a part of Shorashim 1999, and March of the Living 2000. I had two incredible experiences in Israel and decided that I wanted to play a role in creating those same experiences for someone else. Israel Experience trips truly help young people form a connection to Israel that they might not have had an opportunity to do otherwise. They also allow people to have life-changing experiences while making life-long friendships! I have met wonderful people along the way and look forward to meeting all of you!