Frequently Asked Questions
about the Newly Independent Young Judaea

GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUNG JUDAEA

What will the “new” Young Judaea look like?
Young Judaea in the 21st century is an evolving movement. Its design will start to take place in the coming months by a commission comprised of its youth and young adult leaders with visionaries from the broader Jewish community as well as Young Judaea alumni and dedicated Hadassah leaders. Plans for the new Young Judaea include expansion and development of a cohesive summer camp network; broadening the scope of Israel program offerings; and reaching out to its vast alumni network and Jewish community leaders worldwide to participate in and to support the re-envisioning process of an exciting, independent youth movement.

How exactly will Young Judaea be run as an independent organization?
Young Judaea will be managed by a professional staff led by inaugural Executive Director Simon Klarfeld, who reports to a board of directors. We anticipate a seamless transition and all scheduled programs and camps will continue without interruption both in the United States and in Israel.

I thought Young Judaea was already independent from Hadassah. Why the announcement now?
Last June, the national board of Hadassah voted to allow Young Judaea to become its own not-for-profit entity. Since then, negotiations have been taking place and the legal and financial agreements were being finalized.

What will be the relationship between the two organizations going forward?
For the next three years, Young Judaea and Hadassah are linked through a legal transition agreement. As part of that plan, Hadassah will provide transition funding, will continue to raise funds for scholarships so Young Judaea can connect as many Jewish youth as possible to Israel, and its top leaders will be working members of Young Judaea’s boards as part of the partnership. During this transition, the two organizations will work together to develop additional programs and initiatives to keep them connected as they share a common mission and both look forward to a strong, ongoing relationship.

Who is on the board of the new Young Judaea and how were they chosen?
An 11-member Nominating Committee worked for almost six month to create a slate for the inaugural board of Young Judaea. The new, 24-member board is comprised of a group of lay leaders and supporters of Young Judaea, Hadassah, and the greater non-profit community, as well as leaders in the corporate and academic arenas. To read the profiles of the board members, please click here.

What type of youth leadership will there be in the new Young Judaea?
Young Judaea has always been – and will continue to be – a peer-led youth leadership movement. It has youth boards nationwide with high school leaders who govern the movement under the guidance of a professional staff. In addition, the national mazkir – the high school student elected by his or her peers to lead the movement — will have an ex-officio place on the Young Judaea inaugural board.

What role will alumni play in the new Young Judaea?
Young Judaea endeavors to engage its vast network of alumni in a variety of exciting and unifying ways, including through a strong alumni association, creative programs in the United States and Israel, and meaningful lay leadership roles. The alumni will be asked to support the movement and its programs, and to help fund growth initiatives and scholarships so that Young Judaea can expand its reach to even more Jewish children. One of the first steps is to create a new national database of Young Judaeans and friends and family. We invite you to join the conversation now.

What about ties with other youth movements?
Young Judaea looks forward to continued strong relations with the Tzofim in Israel, the Federation of Zionist Youth in the United Kingdom, and Canadian Young Judaea. In addition, it will seek to form new coalitions with other like-minded organizations.

What can I do to help?
Your first step is to join the conversation by registering for Young Judaea’s new national database. There will be many opportunities for volunteers and leaders to help and support the movement, and when these opportunities become available, we will communicate through our new national database.

QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUNG JUDAEA CAMPS AND PROGRAMS IN THE UNITED STATES

How will this affect the Young Judaea camps – Camp Judaea, Camp Tel Yehudah, Camp Young Judaea Midwest, Camp Young Judaea Sprout Lake, and Camp Young Judaea Texas?
Families who send their children to Young Judaea camps this summer will not notice any changes related to the transaction. Going forward, the camps will continue to run fun, exciting, and strong programs. The professional staff and boards of the five camps will continue working together to create new and innovative Jewish camping programs and leadership development initiatives with a focus on pluralism, Israel, peer leadership, and community. Going forward, the camps will be working more closely together to benefit from joint marketing strategies, fundraising, group purchasing, and similar initiatives.

Are you bringing back Young Judaea clubs?
While we continue to support clubs and regions through the development of youth leaders, we plan both to reinvigorate that process as well as to explore new experiential methods of engaging teens beyond the traditional weekly activity.

My family relies on Hadassah scholarships in order to send our children to camp. How will these changes affect scholarships now and in the future?
Hadassah has funded scholarships for campers throughout its history and is continuing to fulfill this important responsibility. It is one of its top priorities as the organizations move forward independently.

Who do I contact if I have questions about one of the camps?
Please continue to use the same camp contact information, which can be found at each camp’s website or www.youngjudaea.org.

QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUNG JUDAEA PROGRAMS IN ISRAEL

How will the operations of Year Course 2012-13 be impacted?
Young Judaea is excited about its 57th year of Year Course, which begins at the end of the summer. The 2012-13 program will operate as it has been promoted. There will be a seamless transition provided by experienced staff members and in the same locations throughout Israel, as well as a continued academic affiliation through the American Jewish University.

What will Hadassah’s role be in Young Judaea’s Israel programs?
Hadassah’s top leaders serve on the Young Judaea inaugural board and the two organizations are excited about working closely together during a three-year transition period and beyond.

Will my child still be able to count on the Hadassah scholarship he received for Year Course or an Israel program this summer?
Yes. Hadassah has funded scholarships for campers throughout its history and is continuing to fulfill this important responsibility.

What about the Taglit-Birthright trips to Israel that are operated by Young Judaea?
Young Judaea looks forward to continuing to bring hundreds of young adults to Israel each year through its influential, award-winning Birthright programs.

Who do I contact if I have questions about Year Course or Young Judaea’s other Israel programs?
Please continue to use the same contact information you have been given as part of the program or go to www.youngjudaea.org to find additional contact information.

If you have additional questions, send them to answers@youngjudaea.org or call 212-303-7448.