Economic Ties: 350 Business Leaders Arrive in Tel Aviv

More than 350 business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists will gather in Tel Aviv next week for the inaugural Taglit Global Business Summit. The event, titled "Shaping Our Future Together," is scheduled for November 1 through 3 at the Hilton Tel Aviv. Organizers describe the gathering as the first of its kind in the organization's 26-year history.

The summit follows a long history of international engagement by the group. Since 1999, nearly one million young Jewish adults from 70 countries have participated in Birthright Israel programs. The organization estimates these activities have contributed approximately $2.6 billion to the Israeli economy over that period through travel, accommodation, and local spending.

Over 100 attendees will travel from more than 15 countries, including Argentina, Australia, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates. They will join local executives to discuss innovation, philanthropy, and the country's economic trajectory. The program links the event to the group's existing Business Forum, which currently includes nearly 60 Israeli companies.

The schedule begins on November 1 with a Gala Evening of Recognition. President Isaac Herzog is expected to speak alongside international supporters. The evening will honor long-standing backers such as Dr. Miriam Adelson. Meir Shamir, chairman of the Israeli Board of Donors, and Josh Nash, international chairman of Birthright Israel, are also expected to attend.

The main conference day on November 2 features speakers from technology, finance, and public life. The lineup includes Sir Ronald Cohen, a pioneer of impact investing; Eyal Waldman, founder of Mellanox; and Yinon Costica, co-founder of Wiz. Sean Rad, founder of Tinder, and Amit Krig, NVIDIA's Israel site leader, will also present.

Additional speakers include former Mossad director Yossi Cohen and former Microsoft Israel CEO Shelly Landsmann. The agenda also highlights alumni who have become key figures in industry. Avinatan Or, an NVIDIA engineer released after 738 days in captivity, will participate. Moran Samuel, a Paralympic basketball player and world champion rower, is also scheduled to speak.

Gidi Mark, Global CEO of Birthright Israel, called the summit "a natural extension" of the organization's mission. He stated that bringing global leaders to Israel is "a powerful statement of confidence in its future." Ethy Levy, Vice President of Global Resource Development and Partnerships, said a conversation at the event "could become a business partnership, a philanthropic initiative, or an investment in Israel's next generation."

On November 3, attendees will visit Israeli companies, innovation centers, and communities engaged in recovery efforts. Participants will volunteer alongside current Birthright Israel attendees and meet with initiatives supported since October 7. A March 2026 study by Brandeis University found that connection to Israel rose 60% among politically liberal young Jews who participated in the program, while it fell 26% among applicants who did not.