Alumni 1984-85 Year Course 40th Reunion Reflections
Written by Susan Parkoff Canning, with support from: David Wilson, Walter Synalovski, Robin Freeman Nelson
At the 2023 75th Tel Yehudah anniversary celebration, a few camp and year course friends decided to pick a date and location for the next 1984-85 year course reunion. Washington D.C. was chosen as the location so the maximum amount of people could drive or fly direct, the 2nd weekend in August picked to ensure our core team could attend. Our group previously had a 10 year reunion in NYC, a 20 year reunion at Kutchers in the Catskills, a 25 year reunion in Las Vegas, and had planned a fall 2020 gathering in New Orleans that was canceled. A core group of four formed to develop a plan. We met monthly and started publicizing through our Facebook page and reaching out via email. Our year course was originally 120 strong and we were able to get in touch with a majority.
On August 9, 2024, 28 of us, including one of our former madrichim, gathered with some nerves and much anticipation. The joy of seeing special friends was apparent from the moment we interacted – all were welcomed with hugs and smiles. We each wore a lanyard name tag with a picture of our 18 year-old year course self, so we could connect past and present. We held Kabbalat Shabbat services and enjoyed a Mediterranean themed dinner, reconnected through shared memories, and remembered friends no longer with us. We looked at photo albums, scrap books, and t-shirts from the year and listened to a playlist of songs from the past, reflecting on how young we were.
Throughout the weekend, many of us expressed immense pleasure in re-connecting with people we had been close to, as well as forming new friendships with those who shared this unique experience. It is not easy to go to a reunion: not everyone wants to revisit the past, many are busy and caught up in present lives, it is hard to make the time or spend the money, some are already in touch with those they want to be. However a group experience is different and special. Many expressed gratitude that each one of us made the effort, showed up and spent time together. We caught up, prayed, sang and did Havdalah together, discussed Israel, shared, laughed, talked and remembered. We ended our weekend with a zoom including friends from around the country and in Israel, checking in to see how they are holding up.
Our final siyum included an old camp tradition of reflecting on our weekend. It was heartwarming and emotional. We are now discussing regional mini reunions and a 45th reunion in 2029. There is new energy and appreciation for special friendships made more than 40 years ago.
In memory of our friends from 1984-1985 YJ Year Course: Keith Berman, Marc Bloom, Andrew Schauer, Danny Savitzky, Joshua Tobman
