Young Judaea's 100th Anniversary Events
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Camp Young Judaea Texas and the Greather Southwest Region of Hadassah Honor YJ's 100th Anniversary
The weekend of September 11-13, 2009 was a jammed packed one for the Greater Southwest Region of Hadassah and Young Judaea. This weekend at CYJ Texas combined a Shabbaton, featuring our scholar-in-residence Rabbi Neal Katz, with celebrations honoring YJ's 100th anniversary. Despite the rain (which they had not had in months), it was a wonderful few days.
Ably planned by chair, Nada Chandler, attendees included members from all over the region. The Shabbaton included singing, services, study sessions by the rabbi, nature walks and yogo. The weekend also played host to the Fall Board meeting of the GSW Region.
The afternoon culminated with a celebration of Young Judaea's 100th Anniversary. Although many present had been in Young Judaea or have children and grandchildren also in the movement, the Young Judaea highlight was the Samet family with 9 family members present.
 Carol Samet relayed that her grandmother was in Young Judaea in 1915. Carol met her husband, Eric at Tel Yehudah. Eric's sister, Ameila, met her husband, Joe Kornfeld, at CYJ Texas. Eric's brother, Jeffrey, met his wife, Michele Maram on Year Course. Let's move to the next generation: All the Samet kids went through CYJ Texas as both campers and staff. Three of them went on Year Course, just as their mother, Carol, did. One participated on Machon. All four of the Samet children had their bar/bat mitzvahs at CYJ Texas with Josh being the first ever bar mitzvah at the camp. Gabriel Samet met his wife, Sara, at a Young Judaea convention. Talia Samet met her husband, Michael at CYJ Texas. The newest Samet, Liam, is the product of two Young Judaea parents and, as a future Judaean, he has already attended his first Shabbaton at the age of 7 months. Liam will be a 5th generation Young Judaean.
Quite a Young Judaea story, but it's also important to note that the Samets are three generations of Hadassah Chapter Presidents!
As the entire group relaxed, studied, met and participated in Selichot services, it was truly a time for reflection of the new year approaching - in a peaceful setting in the Texas Hill Country - we are glad to call OUR Camp Young Judaea Texas.
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Alumni Memories, 100th Anniversary Reunion
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By Shara Sheinberg (Sprout Lake '89-91, TY '92-93, 95, 98, CYJ Midwest Staff '95-97, YC '96-97), Current Member of the Meira Chapter, NYC
"Follow the car in front of you for parking, have fun today, enjoy the activities, and...welcome back!" Those were the words that greeted us into Camp Tel Yehudah on Sunday, August 16th for Young Judaea's 100th Anniversary celebration. What a welcome back indeed! Accompanying my father and me to the reunion was my 5-month-old daughter. We hope and imagine she, too, will be involved in Young Judaea, following in the footsteps of three generations of Judaeans in the family. (My maternal grandfather was a member of YJ in the late 30's!) We drove along the bumpy road in Machaneh Aleph, admiring the trees, fields and bunks around us, giddy and excited to arrive back to our roots.
As the daughter of an active Young Judaean from the '60s, it was almost second-nature to be involved in the movement, participate in summer programs and feel so strongly connected to Israel. After my own experiences at Sprout Lake, Tel Yehudah, and YJ Israel Programs, I understood the enthusiasm, ruach (spirit) and passion my father always expressed when reminiscing about Young Judaea, his experiences, and his friends from the movement. I feel the same way. Read the full story here.
Would you like to share your memory from any of YJ's 100th anniversary reunions, or your time in Young Judaea? Email alumni@youngjudaea.org. |
| Alumni Love Story |
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Sherrie Glassman Avitan and Sam Glass (z"l)
 I belonged to the Nassau - Suffolk region of Long Island in New York. I started out as a club member in 1968 and ended up on as the Hebrew Arts Coordinator of the region in 1970-1971.
I went to Israel in the summer of 1971 to visit my friends who went on Year Course. My parents wouldn't allow me to participate in that program. I was visiting and traveling across Israel. On a bus going from Tiberius to Haifa I had an interesting encounter. I was with a friend, we were talking, all of the sudden a person was tapping me on the shoulder, opining on our conversation. In typicial Israeli style, he asked to meet me the following day for dinner. I did not show up. I had given him my address, however. Upon arrival back in the United States; there was a letter waiting for me. He was in the army and we wrote for years. After he fought in 1973 he came to the US. We were married 8 months later.
Our 2 boys went through Young Judaea, CYJ Midwest, Tel Yehudah, Machon, and worked at Camp Judaea. My husband always encouraged activity in Young Judaea as without it we would never have met.
We were married for 33 years when a motorist took his life on a highway in Georgia. That was a little over a two years ago. I mourn his loss. I watched my eldest son get married in his tallit last year. I am indebted to Young Judaea for the happiness that I had in my life. I would have never met this amazing man had I not been a part of a movement that was so powerful.
Sherrie Glassman Avitan |
| Alumni Notes -- Where Are You Now? |
Debbie Smith (nee Goldstein) -- Originally from New Orleans. I went to Camp Judaea in Hendersonville, NC from 1964-68. I live in the Washington, D.C. area now, and would love to hear from any YJ ex or current New Orleanians or see you if you come to D.C. I am a social worker in the adoption field and my husband Gary Smith is a technical writer and massage therapist. We have a daugter Talia, and a son, Justin, who is married to Becca and they have a son, Leo. smithmatters@comcast.net.
Ora Gladstone (MA '70, Machon L'Madreichey Chu'l machzor Mem Zayin) -- I am looking for Judaeans who were in TY the Summer of 1969 and went to Woodstock. Contact me at gladstone@brandeis.edu.
Susan Schein Wachman, YC '65-66, West Orange, NJ -- I have just read and watched with great love and joy the newsletters and videos of your 100th year celebration. It has brought back so many memories of my days in Tel Yehudah (1963-'65) and also of my Year Course (1965-66), where I met my husband Zeev, from Kibbutz Sde Boker. We have lived in Israel for the last 42 years and I am sure it was only because of Young Judaea that I ended up making aliyah. I remember with great love Mel Reisfield.
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| Alumni Lifecycle Events |
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BIRTHS
-- Yoav (CYJ Midwest, CYJ West '85-92, YC '92-93)and Tali Kaufman announce the birth of their daughter, Romy Leah, on July 7, 2009.
-- Annette Powers (CYJ Midwest '83-86, Hadracha '87, TY '87-88, YC Staff '94-95) and Jed Hamilton announce the birth of their son, Noah Riley Hamilton on March 20, 2009.
ENGAGEMENTS
-- Noah Allen (Sprout Lake '93-97, TY '98-99, Machon '00, Sprout Staff '01-06) and Rena Weisman (Sprout Lake '96-98, TY '99-00, Sprout Staff '01-04) announce their engagement. Rena and Noah met at Sprout Lake when she was 10 and he was 12. They became friends in in high school through YJ's year round programming and conventions and our years as Staff at Sprout lake where we were co-counselors. A March 2010 wedding is planned.
-- Dori Moss (CJ '91-96, TY '96, TY Staff '01-02, CJ Staff '99-00, '03 & '05, YC '99-00) married Ryan Mendel on August 29, 2009. We live in Atlanta, GA.
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Alumni In The News
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Deborah Kenny Welcomes Bill Cosby to Harlem Village Academies
Special guest Bill Cosby visits Harlem Village Academies, a charter school in NYC founded and run by Deborah Kenny (TY '76-80, YC '80-81). Following his visit, Cosby and Kenny appear in this MSNBC piece about the future of children and education in America. Watch it here.
Ben Dworkin Featured Speaker at Hadassah Luncheon
At a September Hadassah Luncheon, Ben Dworkin (Sprout Lake '78-80, TY '81-85, YC '85-86) spoke to the group about how growing up in Young Judaea contributed to his confidence and skills in being a leader in his community. Dworkin is a "veteran of New Jersey politics and a frequent media commentator on the political scene." The full article is available here.
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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, donate here.
Hadassah & YJ: Special Lifetime Membership Offer Hadassah 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. Craig Schneider (YC '81-82) said, " It is an honor to become an Associate Member of Hadassah. I have tremendous appreciation and pride for what Hadassah has accomplished, and I am grateful for their support of Young Judaea. Being a member of Young Judaea truly changed my life, and it is critical that young Jews continue to have this transformative experience." Join or learn more today.
YJ is 100
Happy 100th Anniversary Young Judaea! For 100 years, Young Judaea has been connecting American Jewish youth to Israel and to each other. Won't you help us celebrate with an anniversary gift of $100? Details available here. |
| YJ Employment Opportunities |
Attention Year Course 2002 through 2007 Participants It is that time of year that you need to be thinking about what are you doing next year. Luckily I am writing you just in time to remind you that a few amazing graduates of the program will get to be Year Course madrichim (2010-2011). Yes YOU can be one of the proud and few. I will pay you to go to Israel. That is a sweet deal. If you are interested please email me. Our first priority are people who speak Hebrew so you should have paid attention in ulpan class like we told you. And to all the rest of you, please come back soon to Israel. Sincerely, Keith Berman, Director of Young Judaea Year Course in Israel |
| 10 Steps To Giving Back, Israel Programs Dept. |
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Young Judaea's Israel Programs Department is looking for alumni to help local recruiters reach more young adults to spend time in Israel. Here is how you can help:
1. Are you a musician or author? Donate your CD's, books, or other giveaways, and we will give them as gifts.
2. If you are well connected to your community, share your resources with the local Recruiter.
3. Speak to your Rabbi, friends and family about the programs Young Judaea offers.
4. If you have a child between the ages of 15 and 35, our Recruiters would love to speak with your child and his or her friends about all of our programs.
5. Join your local Recruiter to speak at Israel Fairs and Information Nights about our programs.
6. Host an info session in your home.
7. Share your story of how your life has been impacted by your YJ Israel Program experience.
8. Offer to be a reference to those interested in the program.
9. If you work in a high school, synagogue, or university, you can assist with campus recruitment.
10. Add Israel Programs information to your Facebook page, blog, email signature, etc.
Our local Recruiters are looking forward to hearing from you! New Jersey: Omer Givati, 212-303-4581; New York: Diana Diner, 212-303-4580; Southern California: Jennifer Weinstein, 310-709-8015; West: Yossi Terbelos, 212-303-4580; Washington D.C. & Baltimore: Jennifer Putterman, 240-601-0738, Miami & S. Florida: Danielle Rubinstein, 786-269-8999, Sigalit Noakh, 347-573-2802; Texas: Gil Yaari, 713-723-8354; Boston: Meital Fischer, 617-734-4838; Midwest: Meytal Ozeri, 847-492-9604; Shalem: Russell Heller, 212-451-6215.
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. |
Alternative Winter Break -- December 23-30, 2009
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 Young Judaea's 3rd annual Alternative Winter Break (AWB) community service program for teens (9th-12th grades) will be held in South Florida from December 23-30, 2009.
AWB is a program that immerses participants in an entirely different environment to engage in intensive community service, youth leadership development and experiential Jewish learning that is both enriching and transformative. This powerful experience provides participants with opportunities to learn about problems faced by members of communities with whom they may have little or no direct contact. By integrating the service learning element into the program, AWB participants build community and leadership skills, explore their Jewish identity. They leave with a deeper commitment to service where the tenets of tikun olam (repairing the world) and tzedek become a part of their daily life.
South Florida has diversified communities with many social concerns. This is particularly true within the Latino and Caribbean immigrant communities, many of whose members came to the U.S. as refugees. Issues we will concentrate on include poverty and the Jewish value of helping those who "are strangers in a strange land." Miami is home to one of the highest poverty rates in the U.S. with roughly 27% of the population living below the poverty line.
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| Feedback and Suggestions |
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Email YJ Alumni Relations with your feedback and suggestions for future newsletters! | |
