Vatikim: Young Judaea Alumni Newsletter, December 2007

Update the YJ and WUJS alumni community about where you've been and what you've been doing. Tell us about YJ or WUJS experiences that have changed your life, or other general updates for our community!

Write to us or call us at 212-303-4589 and we'll try to publish your items in the next alumni newsletter and post it on the YJ web site!

Also, please send us your suggestions for ensuring that Young Judaea celebrates its 100 years in style!

Thank you,

Arlene Freedberg,

YJ Alumni Relations Manager

Rickie Leiter
YJ Alumni Chair

Hila Levy, Former National Mazkirut Member Wins Rhodes Scholarship

A senior at the U.S. Air Force Academy recently was awarded one of 32 Rhodes Scholarships for 2008. Cadet 1st Class Hila Levy, from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, is a biology major with Cadet Squadron 9, and is graduating first in her class.

Article Continues Here.

533 Days Left ... Until YJ Turns 100!

Get involved! There are only 533 days left until YJ launches it 100th anniversary celebrations! How do we inform the world about this remarkable youth movement that has shaped and positively impacted thousands of Jewish lives over the years? How do we celebrate 100 years (and continuing) success?

Contact us today with your ideas, or to be involved in the planning or any other stage of this celebration. We're excited to hear from you! Visit our website to get involved today.

** YJ is also looking for histories, dissertations or other collected documents about Young Judaea over the years. Please contact alumni relations with any details.

** Share mementos or other photographs from your days in Young Judaea.

From The SENIOR: In Young Judaea History ...

48 Years Ago, March 1959 -- Abba Eban congratulates Young Judaea on its 50 years, acknowledging its "devoted service to the ideal of Zionism and the United States." He goes on to encourage Young Judaeans to continue strengthening Israel and Zionism.

42 Years Ago, January 1965 -- Young Judaea responds to the plight of Russian Jewry by joining with 20 other national Jewish youth organizations to form the American Jewish Youth Conference for Soviet Jewry. The goal is to develop and initiate programs to combat discriminatory treatment of Jews of the Soviet Union.

38 Year Ago, June 1969 -- Paul Greenberg (TY '53, president of the T.O.L. Region in 1953-1954) won the Pulitzer Prize for his Editorial writing during 1968. In 1968, Paul received the 'Best Editorial' award from the National Newspaper Association.

The SENIOR was the Young Judaea monthly newspaper, printed from 1941 - 1974, at which time Kol Hatnua was created as a successor.

From the (Personal) YJ Alumni Archives ...

Below: Laura Manischewitz and the goat used

for milk in Machaneh Avodah, TY July 1962.

Right: Barry Friedman's Chug, TY July 1961

Right: Machaneh Avodah, July 1962. This was part of the Hug Halutzi program, which included older seniors who wanted to engage in Zionism and Israel in a deeper way.

Thank you to Susan Marx (TY '61, '65, YC '63-'64) donated these photographs, and more, to Young Judaea.

Share Your Photos! Do you have any historical items from your days in Young Judaea that you'd like to donate to the archives? If so, please contact Arlene Freedberg, or mail the item(s) to Alumni Relations, Young Judaea, 50 West 58th Street, New York, NY 10019. Thank you for helping us share your memories!

Alumni Profile: Beth Land Hecht (CJ '72, TY '75, YC '77-'78)

Beth Land Hecht, Social Worker/Director of Matching Services, Jewish Big Brother Big Sister League

Young Judaea Program(s): Baltimore club member from late 1960's -mid 1970's, Member of Glil Yam Mazkirut mid 1970's, Attended Camp Judaea 1972, Attended Camp Tel Yehudah- 1975, Year Course 1977- 1978

David and Beth Land Hecht

Favorite Memories from Young Judaea: There are so many favorite memories especially from high school, attending conventions, going to TY, Israeli dancing, TY reunions in New Jersey, meeting great friends. Year Course was my first trip to Israel. The entire year was full of growth and opportunity to experience Israel first-hand and integrate all of my years of Jewish education.

How has your Young Judaea experience impacted your life today? I have a deep and profound commitment to Judaism and Israel both personally and professionally. Young Judaea helped to create the foundation for my life as a Jewish woman, a mother and member of the community. My daughter attends Jewish day school, my son (who has autism) attended a Jewish religious school program for many years. Both of my children have attended our local JCC camps and now my daughter is a counselor at that camp. I am blessed to have a strong Jewish family. We have been active synagogue members for many years. Professionally, I choose to work within Baltimore's Jewish community. My best friend is someone I met attending Tel Yehudah and she was my roommate on Year Course. Judaism is infuses every aspect of my life. My parents and Young Judaea provided me with the gifts of love for Israel and Judaism. Young Judaea has a very special place in my heart.

To learn more about Beth and how Young Judaea impacted her life, please visit our website.

Be profiled today! Email Arlene Freedberg.

Crossroads Comedy: Raising Funds to Help English-Speaking Youth At Risk

The Crossroads center is often associated with the more intense parts of life, however; through our comedy shows, we connect ourselves to the most important type of medicine- laughter. When people think of Crossroads it puts a smile on their faces. -Caryn Green (TY '84-'88, YC '88-'89), Founder & Director

Every year, hundreds of English-speaking youth in Israel end up on the streets. The Crossroads Center, founded by Young Judaea alum Caryn Green, is located in the heart of downtown Jerusalem and is the sole intervention program targeting at-risk Anglo teens. The Crossroads staff of social workers and volunteers helps roughly 700 teens in Israel each year through a variety of services, including active outreach, psychological therapy, rehabilitative social activity, educational enrichment, and emotional support. These teens are offered an alternative to the drugs and violence of street life, the support they need to start over, and the services that will help get their lives back on track.

Caryn Green grew up in Tyler, TX. She attended Camp Young Judaea Texas for many years, Camp Tel Yehudah, Year Course, and was the Regional Director of T.O.L. - Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. In 1997 after graduating with a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Texas and completing a master's degree in social work from Yeshiva University, she made aliyah and lived at Merkaz Hamagshimim. In 2001, she founded the Crossroads Center and has been dedicated to its growth and development ever since.

For the past three years Crossroads has been working with Young Judaea alum and comedian Avi Liberman (Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and Comedy Central's Premium Blend) to put on stand up comedy shows in which all of the proceeds go toward the Center. This year the shows have grown from three performances in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Ra'anana to shows in six different cities around the country. Green says, "The first shows did not make any money, but it did get the word out about what we do. This past June we made about $10,000 and we are still spreading the word and hope to grow even more." Liberman has managed to bring in renowned comedians. This December's show will feature Mark Schiff, who has appeared in Mad About You, Roseanne, and was an opening act for Jerry Seinfeld, John Mulrooney, Reggie McFadden and Liberman himself. Green and Liberman went to camp together as children. "It is fun to have a childhood friend invested in the project that I founded. We both get a lot out of putting together the shows," Green shared.

Green believes that the reason all of the proceeds are able to go towards the Center is because of the generous people behind the project. However, much more is still needed in

order to keep the shows operating at such a high level. Visit the website to find out more about Crossroads and upcoming comedy tours.

"When talking with other YJ friends, one of the things that always comes up is the fact that YJ taught us to lead, speak in front of groups, and move the world around us. I am sure that the foundation that I built from my experiences in YJ, helped me to envision and reach toward the creation of Crossroads. Ani v'atah neshaneh et haolam!"

-- Caryn Green, Founder & Director, Crossroads Center

Where Are You Now? I Am ...

Jarah Moesch (WUJS '97-'98) is currently living in New Jersey and is excited to annouce the completion of her MFA (in Integrated Media Arts) thesis project, Ritual Effects. This piece, which explores post-binary gender in Jewish spaces will be on exhibit in NYC in December. The opening reception will take place on December 13, 2007 from 6-8 PM, 508 West 26th Street, Gallery 9E, New York. She has shown her work internationally, including Thailand, Brazil, Canada, Slovenia and the United States.

Ritual Effects is a re-performance of a Jewish museum which investigates intrinsic systems of gender and religion through the repetition, performance, and ritualization of the apparatus of knowledge, culminating in the transgression of knowledge through the same performance that produces them. The exhibit functions as a museum, where the objects are actions and performances revolving around post-gendered Jewish space, and questions the concept of group identity within the museum/exhibition space.

Erick Reihs (CJ NC '80-'97, TY '86-'89, YC '89-'90)
is living in South Florida working as Recruiter for Traveling Medical Staffing. I have a 5 year old son, Max, and things are pretty good. I have been working on my first book and it is nearly complete and should be for sale very soon. There are two working titles, "Memoirs from a Big Blue Couch," or "If it weren't for Camp I'd still be a Virgin." Beware some of you are in it, however your names have been changed to protect the innocent. Anyway, I will give you all a heads up and when its available. In the meantime, I'd love to hear from you ... so contact me!

Amos Glick (TY '85, YC '85-'86). After living in the Bay Area for 17 years where I worked as a professional actor (most notably with the Tony award-winning, political comedy theater company, the SF Mime Troupe) I have run away to the circus. I now live in Las Vegas and perform as a clown in Le Reve at the Wynn Casino. I am still in touch with Joshua Israel and Rusty Jacobs from Year Course, and would love to hear from other YJ friends. Visit my website to find out more about me.

YJ Alumni: Lost and Found

Are you in touch with these alumni? Let the Alumni Relations team know ... their YJ friends are looking for them!

Frances Fox (nee Rosen), Chicago, IL
Molly Grinfeld, Connecticut
Linda Entes Bressler, Boston, MA

Upcoming Alumni Events

Save the Dates!

Friday, February 1, 2008 - Young Judaea-Junior Hadassah
-- The Florida Atlantic Region of Hadassah will be hosting the First Reunion of Young Judaea-Junior Hadassah in Boynton Beach. The theme of the event is "The Lion Continues to Roar" and will bring together alumni of all Young Judaea programs in anticipation of the 100th anniversary of YJ in 2009. Carmela Kalmanson, past National Hadassah president, will be the keynote speaker. For additional details, or to RSVP, please email Ilana Green.

Year Course 1977-1978 -- April 4-6, 2008 in New York City. Did you participate on YC in 1977-1978? Are you interested in attending or getting involved with the upcoming reunion? Contact Alumni Relations for details.

Year Course 1985-1986 -- Did you participate on YC in 1985-1986? Are you interested in attending or getting involved with a reunion? Contact Alumni Relations for details.

Year Course 1987-1988 -- Did you participate on YC in 1987-1988? Are you interested in attending or getting involved with a reunion? Contact Alumni Relations for details.

Are you interested in planning an event in your area or for your YJ program? Please contact the Alumni Relations Team to get started today!

Alumni In the News

Visit the Young Judaea website to read complete articles and other alumni in the news stories.

Hila Levy (TY '01, National Mazkirut '03-'04) Receives Rhodes Scholarship

Hila Levy (TY '01, National Mazkirut '03-'04) was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship, representing the state of Colorado. Hila is a senior at the United States Air Force Academy, where she is first in her class. She is an accomplished linguist, minoring in Arabic, French and Spanish while fluent in Italian, Portuguese and Hebrew. Additionally, Hila has done research on Dengue and hemorrhagic fever in Venezuela.

Read the complete press release to learn more about her academic and other achievements. Mazal Tov!

Bob and Roberta Meissler Celebrate 50th Anniversary, Met In YJ in 1954

News Day - December 2, 2007 - Bob and Roberta Meissler, formerly of Lindenhurst, didn't miss the boat when it came to love and a happy marriage. Bob explains.

During the summer of 1954, I had gone to many Queens Young Judaea functions. The group was made up of teens from different communities. At one group get-together, I noticed a very nice girl, but I was a little shy and did not speak to her.

In July, the group organized a night trip around Manhattan on a Circle Line boat. My friend and I showed up early. When it was time for the boat to leave, though, we were the only ones there from Young Judaea. We decided we did not want to go by ourselves.

Read the complete article.

Alumni Lifecycle Events

With profound sorrow, Young Judaea announces the death Dr. Norman Nisan Schanin in Jerusalem on October 28th (י'ז בחשון). Dr. Schanin was National Director of Young Judaea from 1947 to 1952. As director at the time of the establishment of the State of Israel, he was responsible for numerous pivotal actions in Young Judaea.

In 1948 he founded Camp Tel Yehudah, then in Hendersonville NC. Shortly thereafter, he dispatched the first group of Young Judaea leaders to Israel for a summer of study and Zionist experience. In 1951 he sent the first group of Young Judaeans to Israel for a summer program - thereby establishing the format - the Israel travel mission - which has become one of the most powerful and most often emulated educational vehicles in all of the Jewish community.

With his wife Rahel, Nisan made aliyah in 1968, and served as Dean of the David Yellin Teachers College in Jerusalem until he retired in 1988. יהי זכרו ברוך - May his memory be a blessing.

Visit the YJ website for additional Young Judaea
lifecycle events, simchas, connections and accomplishments!

Tell YJ about your lifecycle events (or call 212-303-4589)!

Weddings

-- Kami (Wolfe) Schneider (CYJ Midwest '90-'95) and David Schneider ... May 27, 2007.

Engagements

-- Rebecca Budner (WUJS '94 Machzor) and Ben Darling.

-- Paul Greenberg (Sprout Lake '86, TY '87-88, Machon In Israel '89, TY Staff '97-98) and Rhea Zuckerman.

-- Shannon Lipp (WUJS '06) and Ari Rosenstein (WUJS '04).

-- Tanya Cawthorne (WUJS '03) and Doron Strusberg.

Births

-- Sonny and Merle Hacker (TY '48) announce the birth of their sixth grandchild, Morgan Reid Hacker. She was born on October 3, 2006.

-- Mitchell Cohen (WUJS January-July 1995) and Lauren Adilev (YJ Pittsburgh, '74-'85) announce the birth of their son, Naphtali Shmuel Yitzchak, on May 24, 2007. They also have a girl, Meira Chana Rivka who was born on March 4, 2003.

!מזל טוב

Miscellaneous

I am conducting research for a book about "ex-shuls," former synagogues that closed and became houses of worship for other religions (in most cases various Christian denominations). Primarily I am looking for those who attended (or know people who attended) synagogues in parts of Brooklyn such as Brownsville, East New York, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Flatbush and East Flatbush. Most of these became churches, as well as schools and day care centers. I would also like to hear from people who went to "ex-shuls" in other parts of New York City as well as other locales (for instance, Chicago, Detroit and Newark). Ellen Levitt (YJ '79-'82, TY '80) Thank you.

For the past two summers I have returned to Camp Judaea in Hendersonville, NC (where I had started out as a camper when I was 7 years old) as the camp physician. I returned there after 30 years with my kids as campers and had a blast and am already signed up for next summer. I am also the chair of the newly formed Hadassah Physician's Council and we are having a medical conference in Jerusalem at Hadassah Hospital this coming March (the link to Hadassah). I did my year course volunteer work at Hadassah Hospital when I was 18 years old and am thrilled to be returning as a moderator of one of the conference sessions. Diane Snyder Steren (always a Judaean at heart)

Have you made Aliyah recently? Are you making Aliyah in the near future?

Please send an email to Dan Krakow or Adi Rom letting them know about your move, and how we can help you settle down in Israel! We have many resources and opportunities available to you.

YJ Impact! (formerly Hamagshimim)

Young Judaea is proud to introduce YJ Impact!, its college-aged and young professionals program arm, formerly known as Hamagshimim.

YJ Impact! signals a change in the way we are "branding" Young Judaea's programming after the high school years. The YJ Impact name was chosen to emphasize that our programs are IMPACTFUL on our participants, and that through our programs, participants can have an IMPACT: on Israel, Zionism, the Jewish community and themselves.

The new name signals a shift in the programmatic emphasis of Young Judaea's offerings after the high school years. Unlike its predecessor organization, YJ Impact! is a provider of powerful programs, but does not seek to be a membership movement. Unlike its predecessor organization, YJ Impact! does not limit its reach to the college campus, but rather opens itself to young professionals from age 18-35. Through YJ Impact!, young professionals will have opportunities to experience, understand, and deepen their engagement with the REAL Israel, as we say, "beyond the conflict and beyond the hummus". That is, YJ Impact! programs will explore engagement with Israel in ways that are not limited to advocacy on Israel's behalf ("beyond the conflict"), but also in ways that are much deeper than simple exposure to surface-level Israeli culture ("beyond the hummus").

For 2007-2008, YJ Impact offers the following programs:

Israel Fellowship -- Year-round leadership training and Israel Activism on select college campuses.
Kinus and Fellowship Retreat -- Annual gathering offering 3 days of Israel inspiration for YJ Impact leaders hosting British and Israeli college students.
Taglit-Birthright Israel - Beginning in the summer of 2008, YJ Impact! will offer its own Birthright trips to the Hadassah and general communities.
Pride In Israel - A 10-day summer trip exploring Israel's GLBT community.
Mesamnei Shvilim - A 10-day winter leadership mission to Israel designed for leaders of the various campuses and YJ regions.
Amirim - An extended summer experience of living and volunteering in the Tel Aviv area of Israel. Participants may choose from 4-week, 5-week, 6-week and 8-week options.
WUJS Institute in Arad - An International 5-month program of true Israel immersion offering specialized tracks in Arts, Peace & Social Justice and Land, Language & Society.
The Merkaz of YJ Impact! - Our Community, Absorption and Activism Center in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.