| Young Judaea's 100th Anniversary Reunion |
| Over 700 Young Judaea alumni, friends and family came to Tel Yehudah on Sunday, August 16th to celebrate YJ's 100th anniversary! The day was filled with memories and renewed friendships, shira and rikud, a tekes outlining the highlights and accomplishments of YJ's 100 years, a special concert by David Broza, a performance by the Tsofim Caravan, and much more. From the younger generation of Judaeans to alumni who have been a part of YJ for decades, everyone enjoyed being at TY and sharing this once-in-a-lifetime milestone.
A special portion of the day was dedicated to honoring Mel Reisfield. As an educator, leader and mentor, Mel continues to inspire us all to lives dedicated to social responsibility, filled with Jewish traditions and connected to the land of Israel, its language and culture. A $100,000 campaign was launched to honor Mel and YJ's 100th anniversary.
We'd like to thank the following people for making this day such a success. Generous donations were made by Seth Merrin and Anne Heyman, Steve Greenberg and Jennifer Sylvor, Adi Wilk and The Sweet Tea Leaf Company, and Bob and Helen Levine. The reunion alumni committee which included Jerri Blitzer, Eileen Freed, Leora Frankel, Jennifer Sylvor, Mara Strenger, Marty Davis, Allan (Avi) Mendelowitz, Rica Mendes, Fred Lazin, Michael Doppelt, Daniel Richter, Dan Rieger, Rachel Baum, Marty and Teri Davis, Dan Deutsch, Seth Finkelstein, Andrew Fretwell.
Below: Mel Reisfield with alumni
Below (L-R): Adam Deutsch and Noah Allen
Below (L-R): Tekes Emcees: Ben Freed, Bob Levine, Julie Baretz
Below Left: Tekes gathering at YJ's 100th Anniversary Reunion, TY
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| Young Judaea Alumni Love Stories |
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Gary and Eileen Freed
Gary and Eileen Freed first met at National Midwinter Convention, December 1978 at CYJ-Sprout Lake. Gary was a senior from Galveston, Texas and was Mazkir of TOLC. He had attended CYJ-Texas and TY. Eileen was a junior from Bloomfield, CT and was Bogrim Programmer of Connecticut Region. She attended Camp Judaea in Hendersonville, NC and TY. The two were introduced by their mutual friend, Jeff Cahn.
 Eileen was intrigued with Gary's Texas charm and thought he had promise. However, it turns out he was only interested in one thing, and she wasn't providing it. When asked the next day why he was ignoring her, his reply was "I don't chew my tobacco twice." There's Texas charm for you.
Left (L-R): Gary and Eileen, Ben, Michelle and Ariel
Fast forward five years.... Gary had gone straight to the University of Texas in Austin. Eileen finished high school, went on Year Course ('80-81) and spent a year at the University of Hartford. Dear friends of Eileen's from TY and YC convinced her that she would be much happier at the University of Texas where there was an active YJ Bayit and great football. Arriving on an August night with no place to live, she spent a few days with her friends at the Bayit where Gary happened to be living. He graciously welcomed Eileen with a great tour of Austin, and they quickly became an item. And the rest is history.
Gary and Eileen were married in 1985 and have three children, all of whom are involved in Young Judaea. This is probably because they started attending conventions at a very young age when the family lived in North Carolina; Gary served as the convention doctor. Ben, who is following in his parents' footsteps at UT, was National Bogrim Programmer in '06-07 and was on Year Course '07-08. Michele currently serves as National Bogrim Programmer. Ariel just finished her seventh year at CYJ-Midwest and will attend TY next summer.
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| Alumni Notes -- Where Are You Now? |
Alumni enjoy hearing about and reconnecting with friends. Tell the Young Judaea community where YOU are today. Email alumni@youngjudaea.org.
Renee Altman Fleischer, M.D -- I lived in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York, volunteered as a YJ leader for groups in the area and at the YJ office in Jamaica, NY. I attended YJ camp at a hachshara farm in Wappingers Falls near Poughkeepsie, NY and the following year at Tel Yehudah in New Hampshire. I could not afford to go to Israel with the group from YJ in 1951. But I did get there in 1952! A few names from the past that I remember are Debbie Shereshevsky, Pat Warshaw, Ruth Ruttenberg and Hillel Friedman. As a freshman at Barnard College I went by plane to Europe and then by steamer across the Mediterranean with the hastily formed American Jewish Collegiate choir to the First International Zimriya held at Rishon LeZion during the summer of 1952. I married my bashert, Elliot Fleischer in 1954 (3 children, two granddaughters one of whom went to Israel about two years ago). I got my AB in Chemistry from Barnard College, Columbia University and was a biochemistry research assistant at the Rockefeller Institute before I earned my MD from NYU School of Medicine and retired from the practice of internal medicine and geriatrics in 1997.
Young Judaea was a wonderful formative experience. The chug to study the works of Achad Haam and Aleph Dalid Gordon, the Israeli dance and song group we formed to perform for Hadassah groups in the area, the intense discussions late into the night, and the summer camp experiences made us a very strong community. Elliot and I remain very involved with our synagogue, LimmudNY, the annual Zamir Choral Festival, and have been to Israel many times since 1952.
I am one of the founders of a five-year old ensemble, the Na'aleh Women's Chorus. We sing Jewish music in English, Hebrew, Ladino and Yiddish and perform for Jewish groups and give annual Winter and Spring Concerts each year at the Holocaust Resource Center of Temple Judea in Manhasset NY.
Ilana Levine, Year Course 1981-82 -- My husband, Dominic Fumusa, stars with Edie Falco in the new Showtime series - Nurse Jackie.
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| Alumni In The News |
Ben Dworkin On YJ's Lifelong Impact: On Being A Leader, and On Friendship
Growing up in Young Judaea provided Ben Dworkin many of the leadership skills he uses today and friendships that have continued throughout the years. As a camper at CYJ Sprout Lake and Tel Yehudah, National Mazkir from 1984-1985, and Year Course participant in 1985-86, Ben notes that being a peer leader in Young Judaea 'was honored and expected.'
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| Alumni Lifecycle Events |
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It it was sadness that we inform you about the loss of Susan Wehle (1968 Ulpan). She was one of the passengers and 50 casualties of the Continental Airlines crash in February 2009 near Buffalo, NY.
BIRTHS
- Susie (Kahn) Enteen (CJ 82,83,84,86, TY 85-87, YC 88) and husband Coby Enteen welcomed Sivan Leah Enteen on March 3, 2009. She was born in Hadassah HospitEin Kerem and is adored by her older brothers Aviv (8) and Ilan (6). The Enteen family made aliyah in 2006.
- Dan Deutsch, Director of Israel Programs for Young Judaea (Sprout Lake '86-91, TY '91-94, YC '95-96) and Amy Leichtner Deutsch announce the birth of their daughter, Abigail Shira, on June 29, 2009, 6lbs 9ozs.
- Rachel Elias Wein (CJ 88-96, Machon 95, TY 94,96, YC 97-98) and David Wein are proud to welcome their son Aaron Barbanel Wein, May 28, 2009, 7lbs 2ozs. Rachel can be contacted at RachelEWein@gmail.com. - Nomi (Pearlman) (TY '88, YC '89-90) and Michael A. Burstein announce the birth of their twin daughters, Elisheva Meira and Yael Batya, on 19 July 2009.
ENGAGEMENTS
- Lauren Davidson (Spout Lake '92, '93, TY '94, '95, '97, Machon '96, YC '98-99) recently got engaged to Daniel Hoffman (TY '95, Machon '96). Lauren was active on mazkirut throughout the years.
WEDDINGS
- Talia Krakow, who spent time at Sprout and TY in the 1990's, married Doron Hirshberg in July. Talia's an occupational therapist and Doron, an electronic engineer. They live on Moshav Givat Ya'arim.
- Adam Deutsch (former National Mazkir) married Ashley Boeri (former TY staff)on Sunday, August 2, 2009 in Topsfield, MA.
- Sheira Schlair (Midwest Mazkirut '92-95, CYJ Midwest 88-91) is marrying Shai Saul Crook at Temple Torah in Little Neck, NY on September 13, 2009 in a traditional Jewish ceremony. |
| Fourth Generation Young Judaean Family |
| Almost a 100 years ago, my great-grand mother (five generations ago), Mini Levine Bloom, came to this country with a love for traditional Jewish values and a dedication to her family. This love extended beyond her blood relatives and to all of the Jewish people throughout the world. She was dedicated to Zionism and in particularly to Hadassah.
What she began so long ago has only grown stronger with each generation. Mini's oldest daughter, Florence, was the next to bare the torch of Zionism in our family. Florence went to Young Judaea in her youth, and as an adult she became a life member, a founder, and President of the local Hadassah Chapter. Florence's twin daughters, Karen and Sharon, were also dedicated to the cause from an early age, each life members of Hadassah, each joining Young Judaea in the 1960s. This was a time when Zionism was at the forefront of international politics and the need for support was extremely high. I was Karen's only daughter and the love of Israel and pride in my heritage ran strong through my veins.
I joined Young Judaea in 1983 and it has been one of the most influential organizations in my life. I served on the local chapter board for two years, and would eventually marry a fellow Judaean. Young Judaea was there for me at a time in when I needed it most, and I promised myself that my children would one day join in the tradition.
25 years later, my oldest daughter, Genessa Taub, has become one of only a few 4th generation members of Young Judaea in the country. She was also one of the first 5th generation lifetime Hadassah members in the US. 
Genessa, only 10 years old, has already started to demonstrate the tradition of her family's proud Jewish heritage. She dreams of her visit to Israel and of one day sharing the gifts of Hadassah and Young Judaea with her own children. What started out, almost 100 years ago, as one women's dedication has become part of the dream of a child five generations later. And although they never met, Genessa and her great-great-grandmothers both share the same blood and both share a love of Hadassah and Young Judaea.
Michelle Taub (TY '84-85, '87)
Right: Michelle Taub's grandmother, Florence, and Michelle's daughter, Genessa. |
In Honor and Celebration of YJ's 100th Anniversary...
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Celebrate a Century of Young Judaea, Honor Mel Reisfield 
Become a part of the $100,000 Campaign! For over 60 years, Mel Reisfield has played an integral part in the lives of hundred of thousands of Judaeans. As an educator, leader and mentor he continues to inspire us all to lives dedicated to social responsibility, filled with Jewish traditions and connected to the land of Israel, its language and culture.
To be part of the $100,000 Campaign to honor Mel Reisfield, Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Young Judaea and enable Young Judaea to continue to meet the challenges of the next 100 years with strength, vitality and joy, donate here.
Hadassah & YJ Offer Special Hadassah MembershipHadassah and Young Judaea: The Perfect Match. Become a Hadassah life member or Hadassah associate today! In honor of Young Judaea's 100th anniversary and to celebrate their special relationship, Hadassah welcomes alumni and current participants of any Young Judaea program to join at this special price. Pay $200. $100 goes directly towards Young Judaea scholarships, and $100 to Hadassah for a lifetime connection. Join or learn more today. |
| Save the Dates--Upcoming YJ Alumni Events |
| Sunday, August 30th -- Northern California 100th Anniversary Reunion. From 1-5 PM at Congregation Sherith Israel (2266 California Street, San Francisco). All proceeds go towards the Western Merchav and Camp CJY West. Register TODAY! Questions about the event, please contact cpcr@hadassah.org.
Sunday, September 13th -- Greater South West Region. Celebrate YJ's 100th anniversary with CYJ Texas. Join YJ alumni, friends and family to honor this milestone in your region. For details and more information, please contact Barbara Shurberg at barbara.shurberg@hadassah.org. |
| Experience your FREE winter vacation with Taglit-Birthright Israel: Young Judaea! |
Calling all Jewish university students and young professionals: Sign for for this free, 10 day trip! Live true Israeli culture while hiking, kayaking, volunteering, and making friends for life! All Jewish young adults, age 18-26, who have never participated in a peer group Israel trip are eligible. 
Registration for our Winter trips will open on September 9th at 12 PM EST (noon), for a VERY limited time. Priority is given to those who sign up promptly. Learn more today and join our mailing list for up-to-the-minute details: www.toisraelnow.org/. Know anyone who is interested? Contact us at dan.fast@yjimpact.org or 212-303-8170.
This summer, Young Judaea sent 120 participants on Birthright! |
| WUJS Israel Hadassah |
 Missed your chance to go on Year Course? It's not too late!
Young Judaea's adult Israel program for 21-35 year olds, WUJS Israel Hadassah, provides the ultimate Israel Experience for young Jewish graduates and professionals from around the world. Newly based in the simultaneously ancient, historic and modern cities of Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv, WUJS Israel Hadassah provides you with a 6-month opportunity to combine study, volunteering and professional internships all within a dynamic, safe environment.
Whether you want to study the Hebrew language, volunteer with special needs children or find an internship in one of Israel's leading companies or organizations, the WUJS Israel Hadassah program will give you the framework to succeed.
For more information please go to www.wujsisrael.org or contact recruiter Amy Gross at info@wujsisrael.org or 516-478-9659. |
| Opportunities to Help Young Judaea Programs |
| We are looking for YJ Alumni who are savvy with marketing. We are putting together an alumni circle, a team of our alumni who want to help us cultivate recruitment opportunities for Young Judaea Israel Programs throughout the US. If you are interested in joining our circle please contact Dan Deutsch, Director of Israel Programs at ddeutsch@youngjudaea.org. |
| Feedback and Suggestions |
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Email YJ Alumni Relations with your feedback and suggestions for future newsletters! | |
