The three winners come from New Jersey, Florida and California 

August 24, 2020 – New York, NY – Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc. (HWZOA) announces that the 2020 winners of its Leaders of Tomorrow Award for Young Women are Manni Burach, 17, of Livingston, New Jersey, and Liora Tuchman, 17, of Plantation, Florida. Each will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Israel, to take place in 2021, to participate in Young Judea Machon’s annual summer leadership program. Runner-up Maya Yakovee, 17, from Woodland Hills, California, will receive a $1,000 scholarship toward the program.

The Leaders of Tomorrow program is a highly-selective, merit-based competition that exposes the winners to the rich culture and history of Israel and the Jewish people. Participants have opportunities to hone their leadership skills, meet with VIPs, and give back in meaningful ways. The program grew out of a partnership, now more than 100 years old, between Hadassah, the largest Jewish women’s organization in the United States, and Young Judaea, the country’s the oldest Zionist youth movement.

This is the sixth year Hadassah has given the Leaders of Tomorrow Award for Young Women to Young Judaeans who have shown the potential to go on to even greater leadership roles, potentially in Hadassah.

Hadassah President Rhoda Smolow states, “Since its inception, Hadassah’s mission has been to empower and inspire young women to take their place as leaders in their communities. Hadassah is proud to provide opportunities for leadership and personal growth for women of all ages. We congratulate these exceptional young women for their achievements, especially their passion for Israel and the Jewish people.”

“We are delighted to choose three young women who personify the passionate spirit and dedication of Hadassah’s values and mission,” said Lynn Davidson, Hadassah National Chair, Young Judaea. “We know that Manni Burach, Liora Tuchman and Maya Yakovee will continue to demonstrate their exceptional leadership skills as well as their noteworthy academic achievements as they grow to lead Hadassah groups in the future.”

Manni Burach, 17, is an incoming senior at Livingston High School in Livingston, New Jersey, where her extracurricular activities include serving as Head of Communications, Year-Round Young Judaea New Jersey Mazkirut – Pirsum (2018-2019) and President of Mazkira (2019-2020). She is in the running to become National Bogrim Programmer, was President of the Livingston High School Theatre Program (2019-2020 and is active with AM Wired, the high school’s morning television program, and the English Honors Society. In her spare time, she is a free-lance video producer for various music artists and agencies, including The Epic Soul Band.

Burach stated, “I am a proud Jewish woman and Zionist following in the footsteps of my mother and grandmothers, all of whom were members of Hadassah and Young Judaea. Growing up in Young Judaea, I have formed a connection to Israel through Israeli peulot and relationships with Israeli counselors and staff. I believe my Jewish identity and my connection to Israel will deepen when I step off the plane at Ben Gurion and feel the immediate connection.I want to participate in Machon because I believe going to Israel will complete the missing piece in my Jewish journey.”

Liora Tuchman, 17, is an incoming senior at Western High School in Plantation, Florida, where her extracurricular activities include serving as Young Judaea South Florida Co-President (2018-2020), Student Government Speaker of the House (2019-2020), Senator (2018-2019) and Founding Member and Secretary, Save A Child’s Heart (2019-2020). She is a member of the National Honor Society (2019-2020), the Jewish Student Union (2017-2020) and the Harvest Drive Committee (2018-2020).

Said Tuchman, “This award will help me realize my goal  of working in the Jewish community. Whether it is being involved in my temple or Hadassah, the leadership skills that I develop as a young adult will help me contribute to my community. Receiving this award will help empower me to purse my dreams to become a strong advocate for social issues, such as common-sense gun safety, woman’s rights and women’s health equity, and to advocate for the Jewish community.”

Runner-up Maya Yakovee, 17, from Woodland Hills, California, is an incoming senior at Oak Park High School and a student in a criminal justice dual-enrollment course through Moorpark College. Her extracurricular activities include serving as Israel Affairs Vice President, USY Chapter (2018-2020) and Vice President and Event Planner, Oak Park High School’s American Sign Language Club (2019-2020), and she participated in the Israel Ambassador program, the 2020 AIPAC conference and the Teen Ambassador Program of the Israeli consulate (2019-2020). She attended the Los  Angeles Hebrew High School (2016-2020) and is a Teen Planner for the school’s upcoming Shabbaton (2020) and a member of the American Sign Language Honors Society (2019-2020) and the National Honor Society (2019-2020).

“I am a product of a mixed marriage,” said Yakovee. “My father was raised in a religious Yemenite family in Israel and served in the Israeli army. My mother grew up in a conservative Jewish family in New York and was a devoted Young Judaean. Finding my own connection to Israel and Judaism has been an exciting journey. From exploring my heritage and religion through involvement in Jewish organizations to researching Israel’s history and current events, I have always been engaged by Judaism and Israel. Through Machon, I hope to gain first-hand insight by exploring the country alongside fellow Israelis and teens.”

• The seven Young Judaea camps ran a wide array of innovative, virtual programming to keep kids connected throughout the summer. To learn more about the creative and courageous ways in which the camps responded to the pandemic and their exciting plans for summer 2021 please click here.
• Year-Round Young Judaea programming pivoted to virtual activities bringing together Judaean teens from across the country.
• Young Judaea alumni and families reconnected in monumental fashion through Chaverim Online, a platform connecting thousands of Judaeans around the world through engaging virtual content.
• Young Judaea Year Course welcomed 225 participants to Israel just twelve days ago – the largest group since Young Judaea became independent from Hadassah – kicking off a year of personal growth and unforgettable Jewish experiences.

• Our initial emergency campaign has already raised 90% of the goal set for December 2020.
• Families across Young Judaea camps donated just over $900,000 of tuition paid and many families rolled over their camp tuition to summer 2021, thereby reducing the financial impact of Covid-19.

Dear Young Judaea families, participants, alumni, and friends,

When I was asked to assume the role of Interim Executive Director in April, there were so many unknowns. Would it be safe to continue year-round programs, or open Young Judaea summer camps? Would we have to cancel our summer Israel programs for teens and college students? What would happen to Year Course 2020-21? How could Young Judaea survive the financial fallout of so many cancelled and postponed programs?

Like so many of us have had to do these past seven months, the entities that make up Young Judaea found numerous paths forward.  Young Judaea camps, unable to open for an in-person summer, pivoted to virtual camp and family experiences. In response to the closure, our families donated nearly 20% of all tuition – just over $900,000 – back to camps, with many more rolling their payments over to Summer 2021.

Year-Round programs quickly turned to online activities, engaging thousands of current participants, families, alumni, and friends through Chaverim Online, Young Judaea’s virtual programming platform. Together, we confronted the social challenges in both the US and Israel, learned skills, reunited with old friends, and built community at a time when it was what we needed most. Year Round programs, through the leadership of our newest National Mazkirut, will continue to engage with participants around the US in virtual programming through January 2021.

In early September – three months ahead of schedule – we exceeded our goal of raising $500,000 in emergency funding by December 2020. With the generous help of our donors and supporters, we have been able to continue doing the important work of empowering a new generation of Jewish American children, teens, and young adults. We are continuing to raise funds and now turn to our attention to strengthening and growing our programs with the support of all of you.

Just a few weeks ago, the largest Year Course group since we became independent from Hadassah arrived in Israel, along with our Fall 2020 WUJS Internship cohort.  The road to get them there was not without its challenges – but with the help of important partners along the way and the commitment of participant, families, and staff, 225 Year Course participants have begun their life-changing journey together in Israel.  Many would tell you that their plans for the year had been looking very different before they made the choice to apply to Year Course – but after just a few  weeks together, they would also tell you that the disruption in their lives provided the incredible opportunity to spend their gap year with us.

Current Year Coursers volunteering in Israel

WUJS Interns touring Tzfat

Year-Round participants in a virtual activity

On October 12^th, Young Judaea’s new CEO, Adina Frydman, will take the helm of our movement and steer us into a new and exciting chapter in our history. It is a thrill to welcome our first female CEO, and I wish her much success as she continues not only to find the paths for YJ to move forward, but to lead the way for all of us who call this movement home. I will be returning to my role as Director of Young Judaea Israel and look forward to continuing to strengthen and grow our Israel programs.

As you know, the work we all do is never done. The consequences of Covid-19 will continue to impact our families, our programs, and our organization. Our staff, senior leadership, and lay leadership – both in the US and Israel – will continue in their steadfast commitment to sustaining Young Judaea, for which which I am grateful beyond measure.

I encourage you to get involved – whether through camp, year-round, or Israel programs; supporting our movement, or hopping on a virtual alumni event to re-connect. Forward, together, we are building Young Judaea!

Wishing you all a meaningful Yom Kippur and G’mar Chatima Tova.

Sincerely,

Moshik Toledano
Interim Executive Director of Young Judaea Global

The Sprout Camps

The Sprout Camps had quite the unusual summer! Once we all departed the NYC office and began working remotely, we brainstormed how we could best engage all of the Sprout Camps families during their time stuck indoors. From setting up bunks zoom meetings, to community wide virtual Kabbalat Shabbat’s,  Havdallah and Rikkud sessions, book clubs and virtual escape rooms, the Sprout Camps were there to support our families during this difficult time and provide meaningful, fun activities.

To stay connected with our Sprout Camps this summer we offered Sprout BaBayit  a FREE 4 week virtual program. Over the span of four weeks, we offered more than 25 virtual classes, including fitness, cooking, art, podcasting, virtual tours of Israel and so much more. With the help of more than 25 volunteer staff members, Sprout BaBayit was a tremendous success, engaging over 100 different Sprout Camps families every single day.

In the month of August over the course of 2 weeks, the Sprout Camps staff delivered special edition – Sprout Camps 2020 T-Shirts to families throughout the Northeast.  We popped up in North Jersey, Metro West NJ, Brooklyn, Long Island and Westchester. We were so excited to see our campers (from a distance!) and be able to give them a little piece of Sprout to take home and wear throughout the year.

We are proud to announce that for Rosh Hashana we are partnering with Temple Israel of Northern Westchester to produce a socially safe service at our Sprout Westchester campus.  The event is open for anyone to attend and will have shofar blowing, taschlich and a family friendly service.

For our fall program, we are offering Socially Distant Sundays at Sprout Westchester. These are courses for campers age K-5 in a safe outdoor environment led by professional instructor. Classes include art, fitness and nature.

Camp Tel Yehudah

Camp Tel Yehudah had a very successful summer of TY-fi, our three-week physically distant, socially together online session, including a special construction of the camp grounds in Minecraft!

Registration is now open for 2021 which includes our new 6-week Full Session and three 2-week Blocs.

We are also getting ready to launch Gesher TY and Gesher Israel, a new five-week opportunity for current 11th graders to spend two weeks at TY and three weeks in Israel at one amazing cost.  See more information here and stay tuned for further updates!

Camp Judea

Camp Judaea’s registration for 2021 is OPEN! With 485 campers already enrolled, we are eagerly looking forward to returning to our beautiful summer home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Hendersonville, NC.

When the reality set in that our summer season would not be able to take place in person, our team of professionals, with the support of our volunteer board members and a talented handful of college-aged staff, put together a calendar of virtual events and programs to keep our camp community connected. In preparation for the summer, our madrichim for virtual programs participated in training and program development presented by The Nachshon Project. Each Monday and Wednesday, our campers met with their madrichim online for activities and games infused with Israel and Jewish education. In keeping with tradition, our Bogrim campers and Offarim campers were paired off and participated in BO programming each Friday– it was heartwarming to witness the high-school campers teaching the younger campers about CJ traditions and already exhibiting such wonderful leadership skills. Every weekend, our community joined us for either a peaceful Kabbalat Shabbat service or an energy-packed Shira, Havdallah, and Rikkud experience. On Sunday nights, parents and campers battled it out through games of Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, Bingo, and Trivia. We were joined one weekend by the Ben Gurion Heritage Institute for a virtual tour of David Ben Gurion’s home in the Negev.

Camp Judaea received a generous amount of love and support from the CJ family this summer. Members of the CJ community shared words of encouragement and support, messages of fond memories of summers past, sentiments of excitement for future summers, and two campers even made Camp Judaea the beneficiary of their tzedakah project. Lila and Gideon from Miami, FL decided to make and sell masks as their tzedakah project to celebrate their B’nai Mitzvah. They designed masks with the Camp Judaea logo and made some with tie-dye designs! After creating a website and commercial, they made their masks available for purchase and were able to raise over $1212 that they donated to CJ.

As we shift our efforts to planning for Summer 2021, we will absolutely continue to find and create opportunities to connect with the CJ community this year. We can’t wait to finally celebrate our 60th summer — together — at Camp Judaea!

Camp Young Judaea Midwest

Camp Young Judaea Midwest Summer 2021 registration is now open! We are excited that our Session 1 and Session 2 will now offer four Shabbat experiences each!

During summer 2020, CYJ Midwest transitioned to our Virtual Explorers program, which included:

• Seven weeks of virtual programming
• Eighteen dedicated staff from nine different states and Israel connecting with our campers
• More than 30 activities offered including Top Chef: Israel Edition, krav maga, camp trivia, scavenger hunts, escape rooms and more
• Engagement from over 50 current and new familiesWhat’s Happening for the 2021 season?

• Bigger Archery Range and new location
• New shoreline area and dock exclusively for fishing
• New agriculture program for 2021 to include chickens and gardens
• Updated tiyul (camping) program for all ages
• All camper bunks have a new paint facelift
• New bike trails within camp
• Third speedboat added to the waterski and tubing program

Looking forward to seeing you at camp in Summer 2021!

Camp Young Judaea Texas

Registration is now open for CYJ Texas Summer 2021! This coming year, we have increased our 3-week program to 3 1/2 weeks.  Thats more CYJ fun for all!

Just like the year 2020, our summer at CYJ Texas was an unusual one! After we announced that we would not be opening in-person camp this summer, we quickly transitioned to planning for our Summer Virtual Experiences. We had a fantastic team of summer tzevet who put together six weeks of innovative and fun online programming for our campers over Zoom. We went into the summer with over 200 campers registered! Some of our favorite programs were Jewish Celebrity Jeopardy, a virtual escape room, an all-camp Zoom carnival, and, of course, rikud. We were so lucky to partner with our friends in the Israeli Scouts and the Jewish Agency to bring the scouts and other Israeli staff in to run Israel education programs throughout the summer as well.

Another highlight of the summer was our “Shabbat in a Box” project. With the help of summer staff member Mia Raskin, we planned a Shabbat Across CYJ weekend for our community, with the option for our families to purchase a Shabbat box to enhance their Shabbat experience. The weekend consisted of a pre-Shabbat challah bake and Kabalat Shabbat service on Friday afternoon, and Shira Shketa, Havdallah, and Rikud on Saturday night. All these events were hosted on Zoom so the entire CYJ Texas family could join in on the fun. The box itself had ritual items such as Shabbat candles, a kiddush cup, a Havdallah candle, and some do-it-yourself projects such as a challah cover and spice bag making kit. We also curated an all-encompassing Shabbat packet that had Shabbat-friendly activities, discussion questions, and prayers to help guide families through the Shabbat weekend.

Now that we’re headed into the fall, we are in full-on planning mode for Summer 2021. We cannot wait to welcome our campers back through our gates next year!