This is a joint letter from Abe Silver, Lonny Baskin, and Daniel Ginensky, all YJ alumni.  We are writing to you about Asaf Carmi, who was a Young Judaea shaliach in the 1970's and was recently diagnosed with a form of cancer for which treatment is not covered by Israeli national health insurance.

Asaf was the shaliach in Long Island (Nassau-Suffolk) Young Judaea from 1973-75 and was a Merakez both at Camp Young Judaea in Texas and at Tel Yehudah.  This was an especially difficult time for Israel and for American Jews.  The Yom Kippur War broke out and this period was traumatic for Asaf, who wanted to take his place among his army comrades. He knew that he was serving a vital role strengthening the life line between Israel and the Diaspora. He stayed with us when his heart was calling him to protect his home. He fulfilled his duty with an abundance of dedication to Israel and the Jewish people. 

Asaf has been fighting cancer for 3 years, which he has faced with bravery befitting a former paratrooper. He is currently paying $7,000 a month for the treatments that are keeping him alive.  

This is an opportunity to give back to someone who has given so much to us all.

Click here for more information on ways to help Asaf.

Asaf Carmi can be contacted at: aharoni1@netvision.net.il

OLAMI 2

Join Olami 2 and visit four extraordinary "Lost Jewish Communities" by traveling to Portugal, Uganda, India and South Africa.  Visit with local Jewish communities, tour well known points of interest and have a life changing adventure.  Explore the physical, cultural and spiritual survival of a variety of small communities who lived for many centuries in secrecy and isolation.     

Young Judaea Gears Up for an Adventurous Summer Program

We are quickly approaching capacity!

For those who seek a shorter Israel program, we have two sessions of Nofim which run for three weeks at the beginning and end of the summer. Unlike our other programs, Israelis will stay in your group for the entire trip. You can get college credit for this program too!

Join us this summer for an adventure of a lifetime.

For more information about YJ's summer programs please call 1-800-725-0612 or email summerprograms@youngjudaea.org

Mesamnei Shvilim - Trailblazing in Israel

Hamagshimim's winter leadership mission tour to Israel, Mesamnei Shvilim ("Trailblazers"), took place December 18th to the 28th.

Twenty two dedicated and committed Zionists, leaders of the Hamagshimim campus-based Israel Fellowship Program and of the YJ regions, led by the Hamagshimim staff, participated in this year's mission that explored the notion of borders, both physical and spiritual.

Touring Israel from north to south, participants examined and inspected Israeli political, cultural and moral borders: understanding the underlying need for their presence and venturing to look and think beyond them.

Meeting high-profile speakers throughout the tour, participants looked deeply into the pressing matters Israel is facing and the efforts being made to resolve them.

Participants were also challenged to creatively present their own personal perspectives on the notion of borders.

Hamagshimim Fellowship Retreat

On April 14-16 2007, Hamagshimim held its annual International Hamagshimim Fellowship Retreat in NYC. British university students of FZY (Federation of Zionist Youth), as well as Israelis and members of the Tzofim, joined current and prospective fellows from North America on a very rich program that fortified participants' love and inspiration of Israel and Israeli culture. 

The group focused on issues such as bringing the positive and stimulating aspects of Israel into the campus setting, as well as extending and deepening the dialogue on Israel beyond the conflict on the one hand and beyond the hummus on the other.

The program included meetings with Harel Skaat, chosen as Israel's best male performer for 2006-2007, Etgar Keret - one of Israel's leading young writers, and Sharon Eylon Shahar who is the human rights officer at the Israeli Delegation to the UN. In addition, participants also visited the UN, as well as enjoyed "BE by Mayumana" - a purely theatrical event, originated in Israel that combines elements from various art disciplines based on music, movement, acting, dance and rhythm, currently on Off Broadway.

For more information about Mesamnei Shvilim, the Retreat and/or other Hamagshimim programs, please email us at Hamagshimim@hadassah.org or call 1-877-GO- HAMAG

You can also visit us at www.http://youngjudaea.org/html/about_us.html

"I was already an atypical tourist in the country. I had decided to give up a promising celebrity journalism job to spend a year exploring a foreign country where I felt connected, but not completely comfortable."

"I came upon the WUJS Institute in Arad. What interested me in the program? Aside from the ability to learn Hebrew intensively, be among a group of blossoming college graduates in their twenties and explore Israel, it was within a small, intimate city that was different from all the others," says Simona Kogan in an article on Jvibe. Click here to read more about Simona's experience)

Sheila Chalegua is another recent WUJS graduate.  She described her experience on the program in a JTA article:

"On the second semester I relocated to Tel Aviv. WUJS set me up with a dorm room in Ramat Aviv with a friend from the program. I worked in Jerusalem at my request.  It was a great way for me to learn the ropes of the real working world in the country.  It also allowed me to make amazing connections and meet people outside the group."

The Center for Social Activism, which works within Merkaz Hamagshimim Hadassah, creates a framework suitable for Olim and potential Olim who are interested in a variety of educational and enriching programs. The center strives to create a social awareness among Olim and tourists, making them feel part of Israeli society. In creating this awareness of the social needs in Israeli society, the center supports those who cannot fight for themselves.

One of the leading projects at the Center is a campaign to raise awareness of sex trafficking in Israel. Sex trafficking is a terrible phenomenon affecting an estimated 3,000 women who are smuggled into Israel each year for the sole purpose of being sex slaves.  

Last year, The Center for Social Activism held informational evenings, tours of the brothel area in southern Tel Aviv and organized a demonstration of about 200 people from across the country in front of one of the brothels. Zehava Galon, Knesset member and the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Inquiry Committee on the Trafficking of Women was the main speaker in the demonstration and personally invited the group of activists from the Merkaz, to participate in the Inquiry committee.  

This year, the Center will focus on creating informational materials to raise awareness among potential customers on the consequences of their actions. The project is solely funded  by the profits from the recently opened second hand store at the Merkaz.

For more information about Merkaz Hamagshimim Hadassah and its programs, please contact info@themerkaz.org