Birthright Israel and Birthright Israel Foundation named Rabbi Gershon Litt the recipient of the 2025 Jeffrey R. Solomon Prize. The prestigious annual award recognizes an exceptional Jewish communal professional who has made a profound and lasting impact on the Jewish journeys of young adults, both as a madrich(a) (trip staff) on the classic 10-day Birthright Israel trips and through their professional work.
Director of William & Mary Hillel at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Rabbi Litt is being honored for his nearly two decades of transformative work in Jewish and Israel education, having staffed more than 40 Birthright Israel trips.
According to Birthright Israel, the organization believes that the most effective Jewish educators are those who inspire others through their actions. The Jeffrey R. Solomon Prize is an expression of Birthright’s appreciation for individuals who are strengthening Jewish continuity and perpetuating Jewish Peoplehood.
The award was presented at the Taglit Birthright Israel Education Committee meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at the TBI office in New York City. Rabbi Litt is a member of that committee.
Gidi Mark, International CEO of Birthright Israel, praises Rabbi Litt’s influence: “The Jeffrey R. Solomon Prize celebrates the finest educators in our field, and Rabbi Litt is a shining example. As a veteran madrich, he has consistently helped young Jews transform the Israel experience into a profound moment of identity-building. His commitment to creating meaningful connections embodies the founding vision of Birthright Israel: ensuring a strong Jewish future through extraordinary encounters with the Land and People of Israel. We are immensely proud to recognize his invaluable contribution.”
“It is such an honor to receive this award,” says Rabbi Litt. “I firmly believe that Taglit Birthright Israel is the most powerful educational tool we have today to connect our young, Jewish adults to Israel and their heritage.
“Through TBI, almost one million Jewish adults 18 – 26 years old have participated in an Israel educational experience. I know the impact that the trip has on my students,” he says.
“Rabbi Litt is a truly exceptional Jewish communal professional and a fitting recipient of this award,” says Elias Saratovsky, president and CEO of Birthright Israel Foundation. “He models the exact standards of leader ship and mentorship that our dear friend, Dr. Jeffrey R. Solomon, has always championed. Rabbi Litt’s work, both on our trips and in his daily role as a Hillel director, reinforces the idea that a positive Jewish role model can inspire a lifetime of engagement. He doesn’t just teach values; he lives them, securing a vibrant future for the next generation of Jewish leaders.”
The core of Rabbi Litt’s success lies in turning a 10-day trip into an enduring, personal journey for participants-a process he sustains through his Hillel work. Rachel Dornfest, a Birthright Israel alumna and former student at the College of William & Mary, says, “Before Birthright, I had never felt a personal connection to Israel; it was just a distant country. But Rabbi Litt fused my Jewish identity with the land. He didn’t just teach the history; he showed us how the Kotel is a living avenue of connection and Tzfat is a place of unimaginable spirituality. That experience, combined with his ongoing mentorship afterward, fundamentally changed the kind of Jew I aspired to become.”
“The gift of Birthright Israel is lasting and powerful,” says Rabbi Litt. “That is why I continue to lead trips twice a year and why it is a vital component of my campus work. I encourage every Jewish young adult to go as soon as they can and, if they are in the Tidewater area, they should give me a call. I would love to take them with me.”
The prize, named in tribute to Dr. Jeffrey R. Solomon, a lifelong Jewish communal professional and one of Birthright Israel’s earliest and most consistent champions, includes a $5,000 award and up to $1,800 toward professional development.
