What a new play gets right about ‘Birthright’ and our anguished Jewish conversation - opinion

Jonathan Spector's new play, "Birthright," now showing at MCC Theater, uses the popular free trip to Israel as a springboard for exploring the complex and often anguished Jewish conversation surrounding Israel, Judaism, and friendship.

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The play captures how, whatever the goals of the trip organizers or the intentions of the participants, every Birthright alum walks away with a different story.

The play tracks six American Jews through three distinct moments in time: 2006, immediately after their Birthright trip; 2016, during a wedding rehearsal dinner; and 2024, following a shiva. All three acts unfold within the same house, a setting that acts as a portal, connecting the audience across the decades.

These six individuals form friendships on Birthright and maintain contact for the next 18 years. The play offers glimpses into their real lives, illustrating how the discourse around Israel has evolved significantly over the past two decades. It captures the reality that regardless of the trip organizers' goals or the participants' intentions, each Birthright alum departs with a unique story. While organizations have their objectives, individuals ultimately forge their own connections with Israel and each other, asking their own questions and deriving personal meaning in unpredictable ways.

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People hold a giant Israeli national flag at the Western Wall in Jerusalem Old City, on the eve of Jerusalem Day, May 14, 2026.

The narrative showcases diverse paths: one character experiences a spiritual awakening and a deepening, though not always straightforward, engagement with religious thought. Another, initially disengaged from Jewish life in college, rediscovers a profound connection to Jewish peoplehood. A third character, deeply committed to social justice and human rights, evolves from being critical of Israel to becoming increasingly anti-Israel. A fourth character, inspired by a romance formed on the trip, decides to make aliyah.

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For so many Jews, Israel isn’t a topic we pull out and discuss in a vacuum. It’s woven into friendships, family stories, celebrations, losses, and all the mundane conversations in between.

These evolving relationships with Israel shape the characters' lives, friendships, and family narratives, influencing celebrations and losses. The play artfully integrates discussions about Israel into everyday conversations, mirroring the organic and sometimes painful way it surfaces in real life. Both Zionist and anti-Zionist viewpoints are presented, creating a dynamic and relatable portrayal of contemporary Jewish identity and its relationship with Israel.

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At one point, I thought, “Why am I doing this to myself? Haven’t we all had enough of these conversations?