|
Vatikim -
The Young Judaea
Alumni Newsletter
January 2012/ Tevet 5772
|
|
 |
Young Judaea Names Simon Klarfeld as our Inaugural Executive Director
In its latest move toward independence, Young Judaea announced on November 21, 2011 that Simon Klarfeld, a highly regarded community builder and innovative educator with critical skills in organizational change, will become its inaugural executive director. Klarfeld is taking the reins at a momentous time in the youth movement's 102-year history, as it branches off from its longtime  | | Simon Klarfeld - Young Judaea's Inaugural Executive Director |
parent organization, Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America. "Having lived a life devoted to pluralistic Jewish, Zionist ideals, leading Young Judaea is a real honor for me," Klarfeld said. "This is an absolutely crucial time for us to refocus and redefine our commitment to helping young Jews explore their identities and connections to Israel in profound, experiential ways. I take great pride in the work I have done in building and strengthening vital, passionate Jewish communities, and Young Judaea is the premier place to continue that work." Read more about Simon here |
|
Year Course 1971-1972 Celebrates 40 Years by Giving BackMembers of the 1971-1972 Year Course honored Young Judaea and the impact that the Movement has had on their lives by making a group scholarship gift for a
 | '71-'72 YC Reunion
|
scholarship to Camp Tel Yehudah. We thank the members of the Shichva for their continuing love and dedication to camp and Young Judaea. A special todah rabah to Fanny Korman who spearheaded this project. If you are a member of the 1971-1972 Year Course (or just want to give to YJ) and would like to contribute to the fund, please visit our secure donation site at www.youngjudaea.org/donate or contact Alana at acooper@youngjudaea.org
|
Alumni Membership has its Privileges You still have time to register for Year Course! Year Course is offering the 2011 price until January 31st, 2012 when prices will increase. All TY and YJ Israel Summer Programs alumni save an additional $1,000 by simply applying for Year Course. 
Visit the Year Course site at www.yearcourse.org for more information and to register
|
|
A Young Judaea Taglit-Birthright Israel Shares the "Gift of Life"
 | Mike Goldberg - Gift of Life donor
|
Mike Goldberg traveled to Israel with Young Judaeas's Taglit-Birthright Israel program in January of 2011. One of the many inspirational programs that Mike (and all of our participants) took part in was learning about and registering as a potential life saving bone marrow donor. As many people do, Mike thought that the chance of his being a match was tiny, but was surprised in September when he was contacted by "Gift of Life" as an exact match. If not for Young Judaea and Taglit-Birthright Israel, this connection would have never been made.
Read more about Mike and his incredible story here. If you would like additional information about registering for YJ's Taglit-Birthright Israel visit us here or email Yael
|
 Seeking Alumni to act as Advisors for Local YJ Clubs
Young Judaeans around the country are trying to form all the time, but they need advisors to work with the teen leaders. We need help nationwide - both club advisors and parent volunteers!! We have a special need in Pittsburgh PA. Can you help out? Please let Rachel Comstock know asap!!! |
|
Young Judaea's Sifryah - a collection of the newest works by Young Judeans
 Gary Rashba (WUJS '93) is pleased to announce the publication of his latest work HOLY WARS: 3000 Years of Battles in the Holy Land is now available. Holy Wars describes 3,000 years of war in the Holy Land with the unique approach of focusing on pivotal battles or campaigns, beginning with the Israelites' capture of Jericho and ending with Israel's last full-fledged assault against Lebanon.
 Ellen Levitt (TY '79-'82) has written her second photographic essay about the buildings of New York City that once housed synagogues and now are used for other purposes, primarily Christian churches (one of the ex-shuls is a mosque). Her first book, The Lost Synagogues of Brooklyn, was published in 2009. Now Ellen has published The Lost Synagogues of The Bronx and Queens. Look for a future book covering Manhattan. In addition, Ellen is excited to be sending her daughter to Sprout Lake this summer!
 Pinchas Giller (TY '88-'77, National Maz '69-'70, TY Staff '78-'81, YC Staff '80-'85) recently published his latest work, Kabbalah: A Guide for the Perplexed. Thinking about who had been his guide in life and Jewish learning, he could only think of one person - Mel Reisfield, his mentor and teacher in YJ.
Gila Silverman's (TY'84, Regional Maz '84-'85, YC '85-'86) new essay "Chanukah on Christmas Avenue: Raising a Jewish Family in Winterhaven" (first published in the Arizona Jewish Post, Tucson, AZ, in December 2010) won a Simon Rockower 2010 Awards for Excellence in Jewish Journalism, (First place in the personal essay category). The original article can be found here.
If you have written, been featured or know of an article or book written by a Judaean, please let us know at alumni@youngjudaea.org
* Please note that listings for books and articles are not to be construed as an endorsement by Young Judaea, Hadassah or any affiliate thereof. All listings are provided for informational purposes only.
|
 |
|
You Probably Grew Up in Young Judaea If...
You have been excited to be involved in the alumni generated project on Facebook this summer! Long forgotten memories are being dug up, some funny, some sad, some that just make you go ohhhhh - a few of our new favorites are: ... you keep track of the passage of time with your YJ T-shirts ...if you freaked a little when you realized YOU are now "the Hadassah lady"! ... you stayed at Beit Riklas on Year Course!!! ... If you remember celebrating new year in israel and having the sabras think you were "so American" See the rest of the entries and join the group here |
| Alumni Updates
Shoshanna Schechter-Shaffin (TY Staff '99-'00, Sharsheret '00, YJ Staff '99-'01) is the new Director for Hillel of Richmond which includes mostly working with Virginia  Commonwealth University. I was very excited to staff one of the recent YJ Taglit-Birthright Israel trips this winter.
Jacob Scheer (Sprout '03-'06, TY '07, TY Staff '11) writes us: Hey YJ, I would like to let everyone know that the frequent updates I get regarding YJ make me feel like the movement is thriving in the virtual world, which warms my heart.
Judy Cohen (YC '68-'69, YC Staff '08-'11) made Aliyah after Year Course and is affiliated with "Language Connections" which is based in Israel and initiates programs for youth worldwide. Judy invites all Judaeans to visit the new site be-longing.net which focuses on self-expression in the digital age. Visit the site and learn more here.
American Jewish Committee's Atlanta chapter  welcomed its new executive director, YJ alumnus Dov Wilker (Sprout '91-'96, TY '96-'98, ISP '98, TY Staff '99-'03, National Maz '99-'00 YC '00-'01) in mid-November. It was actually a welcome back. Wilker was the group's assistant director from March 2007 to October 2009. "Jewish communal work is very important to help strengthen the Jewish community," said Wilker. "It's always been a part of my identity. It was a natural progression" to become a Jewish communal professional." Read more about Dov here.
|
Young Judaea Dances On!
 For 61 years, Young Judaea dancers have participated in the National Israeli Dance Festival in New York. Were you a member of the Young Judaea Dance Troupe?
Did you perform in the Israeli Dance Festival in New York City? We have photos and video. You may be able to see yourself in action. We'd love to be in touch with you. Please reply to ralbert@hadassah.org or send information to festival@israelidanceinstitue.org |
|
Young Judaea Employment Opportunities
Are you looking for a way to give back to Young Judaea? We are hiring for a variety of positions in the US and Israel. For more information on all of these positions, visit our YJ Employment page.
In the US In Israel
Summer: Summer:
Camp Judaea Israel Summer Programs
CYJ Texas
Camp Tel Yehudah Year Course
Year Round:
CYJ Sprout Lake Temporary Registrar
(while full time registrar is on maternity leave)
For more information on these opportunities and others please visit our YJ employment page
|
|
Looking for the summer of a lifetime?
Spend your summer with YJ in Israel
New for 2012:
*I Speak Israel- A 4 week program combining Israel Advocacy, peer leadership, and public speaking with the classic YJ Israel travel experience and itinerary. Brought you to by The David Project and Young Judaea
*International Special Interest Week - Now even more choices! Participants spend this amazing week with our sister movement from Great Britain - FZY (Federation of Zionist Youth)
|
 YJ Year Coursers Give Kol L'nashim (a voice for women) -By Talia Niederman
There are 20,000 cases of rape on sex slaves in Israel each month. Women are brought in by the hundreds every year to serve Israeli men. They come from a wide variety of countries, yet all face the same fate once they reach the border. Until they can no longer be used, they will be forced into the sex trade, being raped up to twenty to thirty times each day. Israeli women are also roped into the industry and abused equally. This is modern day slavery and it is happening all around us.
Over the past month, six of us on YJ's Year Course have formed a garin, Garin Kol L'nashim (A Voice for the Women) to fight against Israel's sex trade. Sex trafficking, a tremendous issue in this country, is extremely overlooked by most Israelis as well as Diaspora Jewry. We are calling on Judaeans (and all Jews) around the world to join together in taking on this cause. We believe that if we raise enough awareness about this industry, we will be able to turn the tables through public opinion and legislation.
Learn more about Talia and the amazing work she and others are doing here or visit the Garin Kol L'nashim blog.
|
Save the date for the
2102 Celebrate Israel Parade
in New York City
Join Young Judaea in our celebration as we show New York, the US and the world our love for Israel on June 3, 2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mitzvah, Mazel Tovs and More
Engagements
Elissa Degani (Sprout '90-'94) and Shmuel Shtal are happy to announce their engagement. The couple met after Elissa made Aliyah in 2011. They live in Jerusalem and are planning a Spring wedding in Israel.
Weddings
Lisa Katsir (YC '03-'04, TY Staff '05) and Marc Brooks (ISP '98, YC '00-'01, TY Staff '05) celebrated the simcha of their marriage on July 3, 2011. The couple now lives in NYC.
Michelle Cohn Levy (YC '06-'07) and Seth Levy (YC '06-'07) were married on November 11, 2011. A match made on Year Course - and in heaven .
Births
Shoshanna Rubinstein Cohen (CYJ West '93 - '94, TY '95 and '97, Machon '96, YC '98/99, CYJ West Staff '96, CJ Staff '00- '01, CYJ NW Staff '98 - '01, TY Staff '03) and Joshua Cohen (CJ '90 - 95, TY '95 and 97, Machon '96, YC '98/'99, CJ Staff '97 - '02 and '06, TY Staff '03 - 05, CYJNW '99 - '00) are excited to announce the birth of their son Eyal Bennie Cohen! He was born on July 2nd, weighing 8lbs. 4oz. Mom, dad, and big sister Ava Bailey are super excited for the new addition.
Miriam McKinney (Thompson) (CYJ-Texas '82-'88, TY '89, YC '93-94, CYJ-Texas Staff '94-'96) and husband Eric McKinney welcomed a baby boy, Jude Levinson McKinney on July 1, 2011, 7 lbs, 3oz.
Other Mitzvot
Andrew and Dana Kapustin (YC '90-'91) celebrated the bat mitzvah of their Daughter, Danielle Ana, December 3, 2011 in Charlotte, NC. She and her brothers attend CJ NorthCarolina, Danielle will be in Kesher summer 2012.
If you have a mitzvah you would like to share with the Young Judaea community, please email it to alumni@youngjudaea.org.
If you notice that your information is incorrect - including years of participation, please let us know so that we can correct it!
|
|
Reunions, Events and More
For more information on any of these events or would like to be involved in one, please contact Alana at acooper@youngjudaea.org or check out our website
Upcoming Reunions and Events
Meet Us at RAVSAK in Atlanta - If you are attending the RAVSAK conference, or will be in the Atlanta, GA area January 15 -17, 2012 or live in the Atlanta area, don't miss the opportunity to meet and speak with Young Judaea staff members Sharon Schoenfeld, Director of Operations (TY '82-'85, National Maz '84-'85, YC '85-'86, Sprout Staff '86-'89, TY Staff '93-'95, Former director of Merkaz Hamagshimim) and Casey Baker, Sr. Manager for Long Term Israel Programs (CYJ West '95-'96, TY '98, '00, ISP '99, Sprout Staff '00, Regional Maz '00-'01, YC '01-'02) will be there too. Stop by the YJ booth or email Sharon or Casey to schedule a time to reminisce about the past and learn about the future.
Tel Yehudah NYC Benefit - February 29, 2012 6:00 PM at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City. Join us on February 29, 2012 in New York City for an exciting event to celebrate TY's past, present and future! For more information, please visit the TY benefit site or contact telyehudah@youngjudaea.org Camp Young Judaea Sprout Lake 36th Birthday! - Grab your old yearbooks, dig up a faded (but cherished) Camp Young Judaea Sprout Lake t-shirt, call your best friend from camp, and head up to Verbank, New York, for a giant 36th Anniversary celebration this summer on Sunday, July 22, 2012! Stay tuned for more updates and email us at info@cyjsproutlake.org so we can send you details as they become available.
Camp Young Judaea Texas 60th Anniversary - Will take place the weekend of April 20, 2012 at CYJ Texas. Contact Jessica Starkschall at jessica@cyjtexas.org to stay connected and learn about the plans and progress. Do you live in an area with lots of Young Judaea alumni? Do you think you are all alone? Would you like to host or be involved in the planning for an alumni event? Please let Alana know! We are in the process of planning events in DC, New York, New Jersey, Minnesota, California and are always looking to plan more! We need committee members for all of these exciting events! Let us know how you want to help at alumni@youngjudaea.org Year Course Reunions If you would like to be involved in planning your Year Course Reunion, or already involved in planning one, let us know! We can help with logistics, finding lost Year Coursers, ideas and much more! Just email Alana at alumni@youngjudaea.org
YC 1981-82 Reunion - Has it really been 30 years? Section I - After 30 years, we decided that it was high time for a reunion! Although it is still early in the planning process, the excitement is building and we want to hear from all of our Chavarim! For more info (and to make sure that we have all of your current contact information) please feel free to email Lee Kaplan at leeskaplan@gmail.com YC 1977-1978 - The 1977-1978 Year Course Alumni group will gather together at the Newport Beachside Resort and Spa on Sunny Isles Beach in Miami on March 2-4, 2012 as they CELEBRATE the 35th anniversary of their Year Course. If you want to assist in planning, are going to be there or are just looking for more information please contact Robin Mendelson at YearCourse77.78@gmail.com YC 1992-1993 - It's never to early to start thinking about the future, or the past. It's coming up on 20 years since we first met on that ELAL flight to Tel Aviv and we need to celebrate! If you are interested in helping to plan our reunion, or just want to share some ideas please email Alana at acooper@youngjudaea.org
|
|
Share the Gift of Young Judaea - Give to the Alumni Scholarship Fund
|
|
Feedback and Suggestions
Email YJ Alumni Relations with your feedback and suggestions for future issues or
if you would like to submit any information for the next issue of Vatikim or be profiled, please let us know!
Be Sure to Join our Facebook Page Here!
|
|
|
|
|
