For nearly two decades, Rabbi Gershon Litt has led hundreds of students on more than 40 birthright Israel trips to guide and educate them about their heritage and culture.
The director of Hillel at William & Mary was recently honored for his work in Jewish and Israel education with the 2025 Jeffrey R. Solomon Prize, which recognizes Jewish professionals who make a “profound and lasting impact on young adults.”
Litt was honored during a multi-day celebration of Birthright Israel’s 25th anniversary earlier this month in New York. Birthright Israel and its supporting foundation fund 10-day trips for young Jewish adults to Israel. Gidi Mark, the international CEO of Birthright Israel, called Litt a “shining example” of educators in the field.
“It’s a huge honor,” Litt said in a phone interview. “I have a lot of gratitude for what Birthright Israel has offered to the Jewish world. … It’s a tremendous investment in young Jewish students and I’m honored to be a part of it.
“It’s the single most powerful tool that we have as Jewish educators today to engage and affect Jewish people.”
Birthright trips, sometimes called heritage trips, introduce participants to the Holy Land in an immersive experience, Litt said. The trip usually includes spending time in Jerusalem for Shabbat and a visit to the Western Wall and Tel Aviv, hiking or ATVing in Masada and swimming in the Dead Sea. Students are joined for some of the trip by Israelis their age to get to know one another.
“It’s not only academic,” Litt said. “It’s a lot of fun, there’s growth and bonding. … My hope is that students really care and understand their deep connection to their homeland. It’s a personal adventure to really connect.”
Litt leads trips of about 40 students in the summer and winter. Many are from William & Mary, but some students come from other schools in the region such as Christopher Newport and Old Dominion universities as well as from other schools on the East Coast.
Litt has also been involved in Hillel organizations at CNU and ODU, meeting students and serving as a class instructor. Rachel Dornfest was a student at CNU in Litt’s “Introduction to Judaism” course when they first met. She took her Birthright Israel trip the summer before graduating in December 2018 with a degree in environmental biology.
Litt and the experience itself had a tremendous impact on her, Dornfest said.
“The main thing was it connected my Jewish identity to Israel,” Dornfest said. “That’s a main part of the trip and Judaism. He fused my identity with the land of Israel and made me want to go back and explore and learn about it, and develop a relationship with the land.”
Rabbi Gershon Litt, pictured with his wife, Sara, was named the recipient of the 2025 Jeffrey R. Solomon Prize, which recognizes Jewish professionals who have made a profound and lasting impact on the Jewish journeys of young adults. Birthright Israel Foundation
Dornfest said she attended seminary in Israel and has been back multiple times, including for her one-year wedding anniversary with her husband, Alex.
“I have such a gratitude to Rabbi Litt, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without him,” Dornfest said. “He helped grow my faith. I was culturally connected (before my birthright trip), but him being there to support me as I grew my observance was key.”
Dornfest and her family occasionally visit the Litt family from Atlanta for Shabbat, and he attended her and Alex’s wedding.
In addition to Dornfest, Litt’s family has gotten to know many students, both from the birthright trips and Litt’s involvement in Hillel organizations. Students visit Litt’s home for dinners, to learn more about their heritage and to celebrate holidays with Litt, his wife Sara and their five sons.
“I’ve done a lot of these trips and someone recently told me I’ve spent 3% of my life on a birthright bus,” Litt said.
Litt said the students keep each birthright trip fresh — even after 40 and counting.
“Yes, we go to the same important, significant sites (each trip), but I see them differently through the group lens,” he said. “It’s why I work with young Jewish adults — to inspire, teach and transform where they’re at to where they could be in spirituality and adulthood. All that is part of birthright experience.”
Dornfest said even now when she and Litt talk about his recent trips, he always is excited to share what’s new from each one. His next trip is scheduled for Dec. 21.
The Jewish Center at William & Mary opened about seven years ago, and Hillel is 650-students strong, Litt said. The center hosts dinners and a variety of social and cultural events.
“It’s incredible to see community build as a result of their efforts,” Litt said. “It’s a team — staff, myself, fellow students. As a team, we create a very dynamic program for Jewish students at William and Mary.”
Education remains at the forefront for Litt. The Solomon Prize included funding for professional development.
“I hope to use it to be a better Jewish educator,” he said. “I’m appreciative of the opportunity to use it.”
