Networking with the ‘Excel Fellows’ in New York City

More than 300 Birthright Israel Excel Fellows from North America and around the world, including several Long Islanders gathered for the Excelerate22 Summit, the first in-person Birthright Israel Excel summit since 2019.

Birthright Israel Excel is considered a prestigious business fellowship that offer as summer internship, then membership in a community of peers that focuses on engagement with Israel, personal growth, philanthropy and professional development.

The internships typically lead to positions at what are called top-tier companies such as Bain & Company, Google and J. P Morgan Chase, where they develop strategic partnerships with companies in Israel, start their own businesses and more often than not hire other Fellows.

“It is a great honor for me to take part in the Birthright Excel Summit in NYC,” Oceanside resident Andrew Carlins wrote in an email. “I am super excited for the opportunity to meet and connect with other Excel alumni there from all the world.”

Among the participants were nearly 30 Fellows from Argentina, Africa, Israel, Mexico and the United Kingdom. The April 1 to 3 summit got under way with a festive Friday night dinner and other Shabbat customs on Saturday morning. Israel’s Consul General in New York, Asaf Zamir, kicked off the summit. On Saturday there were peer-peer workshops and a Saturday night social.

“Attending the Birthright Israel Excel Summit this weekend is something I was really looking forward to,” Lawrence resident Arye Lifshitz stated in an email. “Having the opportunity to spend a weekend with Excel Fellows hearing from influential business leaders and activities was highly impactful and energizing. I’m so grateful for this unique opportunity.”

Erin Schrode, an activist, social entrepreneur and Congressional candidate, and David Blitzer, global head of Blackstone’s Tactical Opportunities Group, spoke on Sunday.
Schrode, 30, ran for a California House seat in 2016. Her organization Turning Green propels her nonprofit Conscious Kitchen to serve more than 19 million organic nutritious meals to students and vulnerable populations in her home state.

Blitzer, 52, is also the founder and managing general partner of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment and managing partner of the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Devils.

“To match our Fellows’ varied interests, the speakers will each be presenting a different key perspective, from the Israeli lens to social activism to the cutting edge of business innovation,” Idit Rubin, Birthright Excel’s executive director said in a news release. “Our community is diverse in its interests, but united in its joint commitment to success, growth and giving back.”