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What are you doing in October 2009? Join us for YJ's 100th Anniversary Alumni Israel Mission |
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October 18-25, 2009
We're planning a YJ Alumni Israel Mission for YOU! Let us know what you're interested in doing/visiting on the trip!
- Reconnect and reminisce with old friends
- Visit businesses and organizations run by YJ alumni
- Tour new and familiar sites
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Young Judaea's 100th Anniversary... |
ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
Do You Have A Story To Tell About Your Time in Young Judaea? Did You Participate In A Milestone or Event That Shaped the Jewish Community? We want to hear about.
Young Judaea's Oral History proect will connect you with a current YJ member who will interview you for this special 100th anniversary project.
T-SHIRT COLLECTION
Do you have an old t-shirt that you're willing to give back to YJ? Be a part of this special project in honor of Young Judaea's 100th anniversary.
Please send an email to alumni@youngjudaea.org stating how many t-shirts you are willing to give back to Young Judaea.
Email alumni@youngjudaea.org or visit www.youngjudaea.org/100 to get involved!
** YJ is also looking for photographs, histories, dissertations or other memorabilia about Young Judaea over the years. Please contact alumni relations. |
| Alumni Profiles |
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 Jill CohenFundraiser (Retired)
Young Judaea Program(s)/Year(s): Member of Cincinnati club 1971-1977; Central States regional Tarbut officer 1976-77; Camp Tel Yehudah Alumin 1974, Machon 1975, Machaneh Avodah 1976; represented YJ to Hamachon le madrichei chutz la'aretz 1977-78 (instead of attending Year Course); worked at Camp Tel Yehudah as madricha in 1979 and Israeli dance specialist in 1980. Favorite Memory(ies) from Young Judaea: Sleepover events at the Edlins' home in Cincinnati or the Robbins' home in Columbus where we studied Zionist philosophy, sang Hebrew songs and stayed up all night talking about what we would do in Israel when we were on Year Course. ♦ Israeli dancing on Friday nights at TY. Dance instructor Tirza Hodes held up placards with the names of the dances written on them and we sang the melodies (no recorded music on Shabbat). ♦ Making Havdalah in one gigantic circle at TY. ♦ Coming home hoarse and with no voice after singing all weekend at conventions. ♦ TY Bet looking like an enormous green bowl upturned to the sky. ♦ Visiting friends in Maryland because we missed each other so much from camp. ♦ Waking up that first morning in Israel to the sound of sheep's bells in the hills outside Jerusalem. Tea in the Old City, jazz at Café Pargod, dawn over Kibbutz Ketura. ♦ Feeling that the friends I made in YJ would be with me forever. How has your Young Judaea experience impacted your life today? I believe that I owe my education choice (BA in Jewish Studies and MA in Jewish Communal Service) as well as my professional career to the impact YJ had on me at an impressionable age. I am an active member of a Conservative synagogue today because I learned in YJ how to daven, how to keep kosher, and how to be connected to the Jewish people.
Read Jill's complete profile here.
 Lou Krupkin
Counter Terrorism, Security Consultant / Sr. Terrorism Analyst, The Institute of Terrorism Research and Response Young Judaea Program(s)/Year(s): Camp Judaea, NC 1969, Tel Yehudah 1971, Ulpan, 1972, Machon, 1973, Machane Avodah, 1974 & Kitchen 1974, Year Course Section 1, 1975-76, IDF: 1979 : 1981 Favorite Memory(ies) from Young Judaea: Everything about Young Judaea from friends, local club to summer camp and conventions and ultimately Year Course.
How has your Young Judaea experience impacted your life today? Young Judaea had a tremendous influence on my life. The spirit and ideology lit a flame that has not gone out and continues to burn vigorously. I am a Young Judaean for life.
I grew up in Vineland, NJ where I followed both of my sister's footsteps to Camp Tel Yehudah as well as being active in my local club and the region. I also had the fortunate opportunity to go to Camp Judaea in N.C. for one summer. I went through the entire TY path including working one month as the assistant meat cook. After TY, I went on Year Course in 1975-76 and then came back to the US for one year before making Aliya. During that year, I studied in college, and also was a madrich for a local club with about 20 eleven-year old girls.
When I moved to Israel, I lived on kibbutz, and then went into the army for 3 years, met my wife (Orly was in the Tsofim) and after we were married, moved to Moshav Mi Ami. Besides military, and agriculture, I also worked in security. We returned to the US in 1987.
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Alumni Notes |
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Nadav Tanners (YC '97-98) received an MA in May 2007 in Environmental Management from the Yale University Masters Program in Forestry and Environmental Management. He began working in Boston in June of 2007 at a firm that consults on issues of the environment, and enjoys biking to work in good weather.
Marvin Krislov, Central States Mazkirut 76-78 became President of Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio. Marvin and his wife, Amy Sheon (Machon 78-79) have 3 children, 2 of whom are attending CYJ Midwest and one who is attending Tel Yehudah this summer.
Honey Stollman, Jerusalem - Within the past year I have renewed Camp Young Judea (New Hampshire) contacts that have laid dormant for many years...like over 40. Last summer I was visited by Batya Bauman who was the girl's area head during my teenage years at camp. Just recently discovered that Vivian Oradenke spends 6 months in Tel Aviv every year and we met there after a lapse of 60 years...( I was 6 when she was at camp). Met with Chuck and Judy Clayman from Swampscott last summer while we were in Boston. Of course there are those YJ friends with whom I have been in touch with over the years...No matter how long it has been since seeing some old friends the Young Judea connection makes the renewed contact instantly warm and welcoming. Deborah Blumenthal-Meshulam from Georgia, Camp Judaea, TY, Southern Region Mazkira, National Mazkirut, Year-Course 81-82. After 20 years of considering the move, a professional opportunity presented itself, and I finally made Aliyah with my family in 2005. Husband Yaron was with me for 17 years in the States, Georgia, West Virgina, NYC, and Utah, until I brought him back along with 3 children- Gabe, Shani, and Etai, and a bird that made aliyah (but was abducted probably by a terrorist cat within the first month). I am a physician, co-Director of the Neuro-oncology Service at Ichilov, Tel-Aviv Medical Center, and live in Tel-Aviv. I enjoy biking, swimming, skiing (in Utah, for battery-recharging!), dancing, sunshine, and all of our wonderful friends here. My email is deborahblumenthal@gmail.com if you'd like to contact me! |
| Record Number Alumni Children Attend Sprout Lake |
| This summer, we had a record high attendance of children of Young Judaea alumni! This shows that Sprout Lake and Young Judaea alumni stay committed to Sprout Lake, Young Judaea, and Hadassah in the most important way - giving the gift of Sprout Lake. We know the strong impact that Jewish camping can make on a child's life, and we want to thank you for your commitment to Sprout Lake, Young Judaea and Hadassah! Below are campers who are children of Sprout Lake and Young Judaea alumni.
 Pictured (not listed in order): Eliana Saidel, Rachel Powell, Ari Abramson, Gabriel Fekete, Simon Fekete, Ben Bronstein, Yoni Krakow, Aaron Krakow, Noa Krakow, Alex Costin, Nate Costin, Rachel Costin, Haley Schneider, Eden Luttenberg, Adam Bershad, Rebecca Bershad, Raanan Gurewitsch, Jonah Klempner, Leah Klempner, Noah Beller, Sam Dobro, Daniel Dobro, David Dropkin, Jacob Kibel, Zachary Kibel, Boaz Dolny-Lipsy, Talia Dolny-Lipsy, Rebecca Grossman, Sophie Jacobs, Ilana Jacobs, Tal Cohen, Amit Nacson, Josh Papernik, Roni Pitkowsky, Offek Sela, Stephanie Blitzer, Danielle Margiotta, Abby Park, Molly Borden, Orli Chitayat, Jordan Kleiman, Shoshana Preuss, Daniella Levitan, Maya Kliger, Tali Preuss, Allison Spandorfer, Robby Spandorfer, Rayna Landa, Joe Ehrenkranz, Adi Zivan, Noamme Zivan, Sarah Schneider, Josh Gertler, Mika Itkin-Weinstein, Kira Itkin-Weinstein, Danny Mizrachi, and Matt Basen |
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Upcoming Alumni Events |
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Want to Plan or Participate In Your Reunion?
Year Course 1978-1979: Please contact YJ Alumni Relations or Lisa Aiden if you're interested in reconnecting with friends from Year Course. A reunion might be in the works . . . To begin reconnecting now, join the Facebook group.
Year Course 1985-1986: If you participated in this Year Course, and want to reconnect to your friends, pleas join the newly active Facebook group!
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Year Course 1958-1959! Please contact Alumni Relations if you're interested in learning more.
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| Alumni Lifecycle Events |
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Tell YJ about your lifecycle events (or call 212-303-4589)!
-- Nadav Tanners (YC '97-98) is engaged to Dr. Leah Zallman. They will be married on August 31, 2008.
BIRTHS
-- Emil Zaidman (Central Shaliach) and his wife, Anat, announces the birth of a son, Ofri, on August 1, 2008.
-- Ishai Crane (TY '02-06, National Maz '06, YC '06-07, TY Tsevet '00) and Dorit Hertz-Crane (TY Tsevet '00) would like to announce the birth of their second child, daughter Yarden Sara, on June 10, 2008.
-- Tom and Suzanne Pensky (YC '72-73) announce the birth of their first grandchild, a boy, Max Simon in June.
-- Melissa (Isenburg) Blecker (Camp Judaea 1987-1991; TY 1992 & 1994; Machon in Israel 1993; Camp Judaea staff 1995) and husband Ira Blecker welcomed a son, Abram Justin, on June 14, 2008.
WEDDINGS
-- Noam Hirschberger (CYJ Midwest '90, ISP '93, YC '95-96) married Heather Byne Hirschberger in Summer 2008.
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| YJ Alumni: Lost And Found |
| Are you in touch with these alumni? Email alumni@youngjudaea.org ... their friends are looking for them!
- Mike Kotler
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| Alumni In the News |
Correction: Rabbi Bonnie Sharfman (TY '73-74, YC '75-76) received her ordination from the Academy for Jewish Religion, a transdenominational, pluralistic school in Los Angeles. Rabbi Sharfman is currently the secretary of the Board of Rabbis of Greater Phoenix and a participant in the national STAR PEER Rabbinic Executive Leadership Program. Read the full article. |
| Spread the Word About Young Judaea Birthright ... |
 Israel Now is our free, 10 day Israel discovery for Jews between the ages of 18-26 who have never experienced Israel on a peer trip. Our trips will focus on an experience of the real Israel: an unfiltered view of Israel as it really is; Israel as it is perceived by Israelis themselves. Each YJ Birthright group will be joined by Israeli peers, who will share their experiences and their perspectives on life in Israel. Participants will experience the country from the Kotel (Western Wall) in the Old City of Jerusalem to the night-life of Tel Aviv. They will climb Masada at sunrise, and hike the country from the Negev to the Northern Galilee, and much more. Give others the gift of Israel through Young Judaea and Taglit-Birthright!
Registration opens on September 10th, so tell your family and friends today! Trips will take place this upcoming December and January. SIGN UP NOW |
| Young Judaea Employment Opportunities |
Young Judaea Israel Programs is looking for full-time Israel Program Recruiters, to fill positions in Los Angeles, New York, Miami, and Chicago. The National Recruiters should possess a dynamic personality and have the ability to excite and inspire others in order to increase exposure to our programs and significantly increase applications. Send a cover letter and resume to dcohen@youngjudaea.org and be sure to include the job title in the subject line.
Young Judaea Israel Programs is looking for a Year Course Supervisor, in the New York office. Applicant should have experience working with teens and excellent organization and planning skills. Send all resumes to jobs@hadassah.org and be sure to include the job title in the subject line.
YJ is seeking full-time Area Supervisors in NYC. Salary and benefits. Responsibilities include developing YJ programs, building participation, organizing conventions and special events, recruiting for camps and Israel programs and working with Hadassah and other Jewish community organizations on joint projects. Please send letter and resume to Dan Cardonick, Director of Regional Programs, or fax to 212-303-4572. |
| Feedback and Suggestions |
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Email YJ Alumni Relations with your feedback and suggestions for future newsletters! | |
