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Alumni In Israel Celebrated Their Connection to YJ |
Young Judaea had much to celebrate at its most recent alumni reunion on June 14, 2007 at the Judaean Youth Hostel in Jerusalem. This past year marked the 50th anniversary of Year Course, the 10th year since the establishment of Merkaz Hamagshimim, the addition of WUJS Arad to the Young Judaea family, the 25th year of FZY in Israel, 10 years of partnership with ATID, and last but not least, the new Beit Ar-El Center for Young Judaea in Israel at the Judaean Youth Hostel. Contact was made with YJ alumni spanning all the way back to the 1920s, hundreds of olim living all over Israel were invited, and shlichim who participated in YJ in the 1950s were located. Young Judaea staff, both in Israel and the USA, worked very hard to plan the event which turned out to be a great success; over 300 Judaeans participated! 
Pictured (L-R): Don Katcoff, Donna Goldberg,
Mimi Tsadok, and Eleanor Adika
The reunion began with guests mingling over light refreshments and the evening then moved outside to the beautiful courtyard. Rabbi Ramie Arian, the National Director of Young Judaea, spoke honoring all of the olim present. During his speech he requested a show of hands of those olim in the audience from as far back as the 1920s and three people raised their hands! Esther Rubins, who is 93 years old, was the oldest olah present and was presented with a bouquet of flowers on behalf of all generations by Keith Berman, the Director of Year Course. She commented, "The Reunion was wonderful. Unbelievable. It was beautifully organized and I was taken care of the entire night. I want to thank Young Judaea from the bottom of my heart." In addition, Judy Shereck, the outgoing Hadassah coordinator of YJ, was honored for her many years of devoted service.
The guests then joined in a festive dinner where they heard from various Judaeans and their journeys since being in the movement; many spoke about making aliyah, their families, and their powerful connection to YJ. The Tel Aviv Israeli Scouts performed classic songs and later in the evening Keith Berman led the group in Israeli folk dancing on the basketball court. The event lasted until midnight.
Left: Israel Alumni Reunion guests seated outside at Beit Ar-El Center for Young Judaea in Israel.
Roz Soltz, the national liaison for Young Judaea from Hadassah Israel attended the event. All four of her children were involved in YJ and so are her grandchildren today. "I thought the event was wonderful! People came from all over the country and I ran into friends whom I hadn't seen in years. It has been amazing to watch the movement grow and grow," Roz declared.
The evening was filled with fond memories, love for the movement, support for the new Young Judaea programs, and an overall appreciation of the strong connection that Young Judaea provides for alumni of all ages living around the world. |
| Recent and Upcoming Alumni Events |
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Once a Judaean, always a Judaean...
Over 30 alumni residing in Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas met in June for dinner and casual conversation, at the Edward and Rose Berman Hillel Jewish University Center. Judaeans of all ages were in attendance from Year Course, Camp Young Judaea Midwest, Camp Judaea in North Carolina, Camp Tel Yehudah and Camp Sprout Lake. Read more about this reunion!
Above (L-R): Jonathan Mayo; Sara Stock Mayo;
Jonathan Weinkle; Barbara Baumann; Howard Aizenstein
Save the Dates . . .
Friday, November 9, 2007 - Shatil Hadassah Mitzvah Day, New York City. Join New York Region Shatil Hadassah for a DOROT Thanksgiving Day package delivery to the elderly. To sign up or for additional information about this Tikkun Olam mitzvah day, please email Ruth Gursky.
Friday, February 1, 2008 - For the first time, the Florida Atlantic Region of Hadassah will be hosting a reunion for all YJ alumni in the area. To make sure you receive information, please email Ilana Green. Stay tuned for details!
| 608 Days and Counting . . . |
| There are 608 days left until Young Judaea begins celebrating its 100th anniversary! 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 once-in-a-lifetime celebration. We're excited to hear from you! | |
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From The SENIOR: In Young Judaea History ... |
42 Years Ago, February 1965 - Young Judaeans Marc Cohen and Art Lieb receive a reply letter from David Ben-Gurion requesting a meeting. It's the first of many between YJ participants and Ben-Gurion and culminates with the Prime Minister speaking to Year Course participants.
39 Years Ago, November 1968 - Hamagshimim's first convention takes place and establishes this movement for college-level members of Young Judaea.
35 Years Ago, Summer 1972 - Young Judaea announces expansion of Year Course to include a five-month work period and new Ulpan program on Kibbutz Ein Harod. Over 130 participants, a record number, head to Israel for this new initiative.
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 ...
 Left: Betty Zimmerman donated this penny postcard to Young Judaea's archives. It's from the 33rd National Young Judaea convention, held in 1941 at Camp Young Judaea in Mt. Vernon, N.H.
Right: This photograph is from Camp Young Judaea in 1961, and was sent to YJ from Fran Mendler (nee Lake), who is pictured here. CYJ was at Kittiwake, in Biloxi, MS at the time.
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 Lifecycle Events |
MARRIAGES
Daniel Wagner (CJ '89, TY, Lamah Lo Pres., Or Hadarom Vice President, Machon, YC) from San Juan, Puerto Rico and Jennifer Brooke Saltzman (CYJ Sprout Lake) from Albany, NY, were married on May 26, 2007 in Miami, FL.
Anni Katz and Ari Gold were married on August 12, 2007 in a beautiful Oregon valley beside a flowing river and among family and friends. They both attended Camp Tel Yehudah, Machon and Year Course (6 years apart from one another) and met while working at TY in the summer of 2004.
David Boyer (TY '82-'84, Hadracha '83, YC '85-86) and Michelle Klee were married on June 17, 2007 in West Palm Beach, FL.
BIRTHS
Andrew Lesser (CYJ Sprout Lake '77-'79, Staff '82, Madrich '85, TY '80-'82) his wife, Ilyse S. Lesser and big sister Sara welcomed a son and little brother, Alex, born on April 3, 2007. The Lessers live in New City, NY.
Tammy Ben-Eliezer Baxter (Northeast YJ Office Manager) and Jonathan Baxter announce the birth of their son, Iyoshua Nyachai Baxter on August 2, 2007.
Abraham Silver (TY '71-'75, YC '75-'76) and Elissa Ash announce the birth of their twin girls, Shiri and Libi.
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Have you made Aliyah recently? Are you making Aliyah in the near future?
Please send an email to Dan Krakow and 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. | |
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Alumni In the News |
On September 9th, Stephen Friedland, a former Year Course participant and now paramedic in his army unit, received a Medal of Valor from the Israel Defense Forces for saving the lives of sixty soldiers during the Second Lebanon War. Steven is now in Melbourne, Australia for the year, serving as a Shaliah for the Masorti movement and implementing Zionist, leadership and Judaic programs for the schools and the Jewish community there. Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, a former Year Course participant and Tel Yehudah camper, is known as the Kotel Rabbi. Regularly, Rabbi Rabinowitz and his team, clear all the Kotel notes that visitors place in the Western Wall each year. According to the article, each collection fills about 100 shopping bags.
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| Record High Attendance of Alumni Children at Camp Sprout Lake in 2007! |
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This summer, Sprout Lake had a record high attendance of children of Young Judaea alumni! This phenomenon illustrates that Sprout Lake alumni stay committed to Sprout Lake, YJ and Hadassah in the most important way - giving the gift of a Sprout Lake summer. " The  decision, many years after leaving Sprout Lake, to send your own children there, is truly the best way to say that your experience was worth doing it all over again," Helene Drobenare, Director of Sprout Lake commented, when asked about the power of alumni.
Right: First Session 2nd Generation Judaeans! Visit the YJ website to see who the alumni children are in this photo, alongside their parents' names!
Left: Second Session 2nd Generation Judaeans! View the YJ website to see who the alumni children are in this photo, alongside their parents' names!
Did You Know? Almost 2,500 campers attended Young Judaea camps in the Summer of 2007! |
| David Weinstein and Camp Tel Yehudah Reunite! |
As the new Director of Camp Tel Yehudah, it is with great excitement that I return to TY to take on this role! Just like you, I am an alumnus of Young Judaea: I spent ten years as a chanich, kitchen staff worker, madrich and merakez at Tel Yehudah (see picture!), as well as three summers at Sprout Lake. I met my wife, Amy Itkin, in YJ when Sprout opened in 1976 and my oldest daughter just spent her first (amazing) month there. I was also on Year Course in 1982 to 1983. After all of these years, I still count Judaeans as many of my closest friends in the world. It is so very nice to be "home" again. I think I just landed the greatest job in the world.
 I know that most of us spent some of our best summers at Tel Yehudah. While so much has changed over the years at TY, the essence of camp, its ruach, its intensity, and its beauty are very much intact. I am convinced that TY is still the best place for Jewish high school kids to spend their summers. I look forward to reconnecting with friends from the "old days" and getting to know many other alumni who I was not fortunate to know during our earlier Judaean days. There are many exciting plans going forward at TY including significant new building projects and new programs. You will be hearing more about these in the coming months. I am fortunate to be working with my old friend, Jennifer Sylvor (YC '82-'83), and the Friends of TY committee to realize our exciting plans for the future.
I hope you still feel that TY is your home. Please be in touch by email or visit our website, to find out more about what's happening at our camp, our plans for the future, or about sending your own children to camp.
Above: David Weinstein at Camp Tel Yehudah in 1981! |
| Regional Programming |
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GET YOUR KIDS INVOLVED IN YOUNG JUDAEA'S YEAR-ROUND REGIONAL PROGRAMS FOR 2007-2008
Does your child or teenager want to turn a plain old weekend into a dynamite retreat similar to when you were in YJ? Do you want them to meet Judaeans from all around the country? Are they interested in leadership, social action, sharing ideas, celebrating Shabbat, playing sports and games, doing arts and crafts, Israeli music and dancing? As you know, Young Judaea conventions offer fun and exciting interactive programs related to Israel, Judaism and Jewish culture.
Please visit our website or contact Dan Cardonick, Director of Regional Programs for Young Judaea, for dates and information about upcoming regional programs (Ofarim = 3rd-5th grades, Tsofim = 6th-8th grades, Bogrim = 9th-12th grades), and for more information about year-round programs. |
| YJ Impact (formerly Hamagshimim) |
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Over the course of the summer YJ Impact filled Holon and Bat-Yam (two suburbs of Tel-Aviv) with over 60 college students and young professionals who came to experience authentic Israeli life while giving back to the community through meaningful volunteering, made possible by the Activism Center of Merkaz Hamagshimim. Read about our Amirim volunteers on YNET's Activism Section.
YJ Impact is preparing for another meaningful year!
-- The October session of Hadassah - WUJS Institute in Arad program has 40 participants coming from North America as well as Argentina, Canada, France, India, Russia, Scotland and Turkey - all eager to immerse themselves with Israeli society through unmediated experiences of study, arts and activism.
-- The YJ Impact Israel Fellowship peer-lead program recently started on 17 campuses across the country. Students are geared up for a year in which they will make an impact on the way Israel is perceived and experienced at their colleges and in their communities. Please contact us to find out how you can be a part of this significant work.
Check out College and Beyond on the Young Judaea website, or call 212-303-4585, to learn about our educational Israel tours and other programs. |
| Merkaz Hamagshimim-Hadassah |
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The past year at Merkaz Hamagshimim-Hadassah has seen our activities continuing with great success, providing English-speaking olim and visitors alike with the opportunity to engage in cultural and social events in the heart of Jerusalem. Our popular 'Beit Caf�' nights, with evenings focused on comedy, music and art, have turned up large numbers, as well as our fantastic theater, which so far this year has shown "Some Girls" and "Much Ado About Nothing." In addition to our regular programming - yoga, kung fu and choir chugim - our Aliyah Information Unit continues to assist and provide information for potential or new olim. In fact, our Alumni have shown themselves to be of great assistance to our Aliyah Information Unit by providing career and employment counseling to those seeking advice.
"I am very happy to help any new or potential oleh. One of the most important things a potential oleh can do to increase their chances of success career-wise in Israel, is to make sure they have the right qualifications for their given profession. Another important thing is to speak to Israelis in their field. That is the goal of the YJ alumni career mentoring program." Naomi Leitner, 1973-74 National President of YJ, and Year Course participant in 1974-75.
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Are you living in Israel and interested in serving as an adoptive family for new olim? Do you want to join the YJ alumni career mentoring program?
Please email Shira Barzilay at Merkaz Hamagshimim-Hadassah, if you'd like to help new olim or YJ alumni in Israel! |
And lastly, The Merkaz has been undergoing renovations which will soon result in a new Activism Center, where anyone interested in engaging in social activism projects can turn to for ideas. We invite you to stop by if you are in Jerusalem, and to contact us for more information on all our programming.
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| Feedback and Suggestions |
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Email YJ Alumni Relations with your feedback and suggestions for future newsletters! | |
