By Akiva Weinkle

My name is Akiva Weinkle and I am in 12th grade. I attended CYJ Midwest for seven years as a camper as well as Tel Yehudah for two. This past summer I worked as an MIT at Midwest and plan to work there again this summer as a madrich.

I am heavily involved with the Pittsburgh YJ club as a Bogrim member where I help to plan and run day events in addition to our annual Shabbaton. It was actually at this Shabbaton in 2012 that I first experienced YJ, ever since then it has been at the center of my life. I have served on Midwest Mazkirut for the last 3 years and am currently the Midwest Mazkir. 

A few weeks ago I had the privilege to gather with 50 other Judaeans from around the Midwest and all over the country to spend a weekend together at Midwest convention. Getting the opportunity to escape from the routine of the school year and step into the YJ world for just one weekend is a magical experience. Whether it be the peulot, shira, or just silly moments with friends I look forward to it everything all year and cherish it for the short time I get to live it. 

This convention was special for a number of reasons, the first being that it was the most attended Midwest convention in a long time. Bringing all these teens together meant old friends could reconnect and new friendships could be formed. It also meant that more people got to have their voices heard when electing the Midwest Mazkirut for the 2024-25 year. This was also my last convention, and having a chance to lead it as the Mazkir was truly special. I got to make sure that as many people as possible felt the incredible joy YJ can provide. While I will not be at convention next year what I saw this year gives me incredible hope for the upcoming years of the Midwest region. I saw so many 8th and 9th graders creating friendships and memories that will last them for years and keep them coming back to YJ for years. 

Seeing those chanichim enjoy convention is the exact reason why I love being on Midwest Mazkirut; getting to see the next generation of Judaeans appreciate all that it can offer as a pluralistic Jewish space is, for me, the most rewarding aspect of Maz. Over my 12 years in YJ, I have taken all that has been offered in terms of Jewish experiences and connecting with Israel and to have the opportunity to give back to the movement that gave me so much means the world to me. This desire to share the incredible things YJ has to offer stems from being a second-generation Judaean. My father was heavily involved with YJ in high school and worked at CYJ Midwest for many summers, and his decision to share this incredible movement with my brothers and me is what has made me so passionate about sharing it with the next generation of Judaeans.

I signed up for the Young Judaea Young Professionals volunteer trip not knowing what to expect. People around me had more questions than I could count leading into my trip, while I didn’t have too many. I was taking part in a Young Judaea trip, and that has always been good enough for me. I knew that I would be well taken care of and was fixing to take part in a meaningful experience. 

My name is Barak Levy, and I have been a Young Judaean since I was eight years old. I was a camper at CYJ Texas for eight years, Tel Yehudah for two, and staff at CYJ Texas for four years before deciding to work at CYJ Texas full-time after college. Young Judaea turned me into the person I am today, so it only felt natural for my first time in Israel to be with Young Judaea.

Like many of my peers I felt somewhat helpless since October 7th and was wanting to find a meaningful way to support Israel. Because of this I felt an immense amount of pride volunteering on farms throughout this trip. I was able to pick produce and nurture crops at farms whose workers had been called to the IDF, called back to Thailand, or who were forced to stay in Gaza and I am extremely proud of the work I accomplished. It was incredible to be able to literally get my hands dirty and help Israel in my own way. It was an amazing experience to talk with the farmers every day and their gratefulness and positivity in times of uncertainty were something I’ll always remember. I enjoyed every second of our volunteer work and I truly fell in love with farming on this trip. Maybe there is something in the air in Israel, or maybe it’s my Texas genes, but farming was a spiritual experience for me. While the greenhouses could be hot and the work itself could be tedious, my mind often went to a meditative state where I found myself thinking about my Jewish journey, what’s going on in Israel, and the type of person I want to be. 

So much of what made the trip special were the conversations I had with Israelis. Every day, I shared my experience volunteering with Tel Aviv locals who would ask me about it and they would often share their perspective of what had been going on in Israel with me. I have never had that many spontaneous yet genuine conversations with strangers while living in America, and I’ll always charish those talks. Young Judaea even had a few Israelis join our trip to create bonds with us throughout our volunteering which helped create an extra level of meaning and connection to our trip.

There are a number of volunteer opportunities in Israel put on by various organizations, but Young Judaea trips are unique. In every Young Judaea program I have been a part of, I have made incredibly fast and strong relationships with my peers. For this trip, participants were ages 20 to 40. While this is a big age difference, it never seemed to matter, and by the first Shabbat, only two days into the trip, it felt like we were a family. From Shabbat prayers, conversations while farming, spontaneous Rikud (Israeli Dance) sessions, and long group walks around the city, our volunteer group built a tight-knit community that could only have been fostered through Young Judaea.

While there were so many amazing things I did and saw on the trip, I also couldn’t help but feel the sadness all around the country. Everywhere I looked, there were hostage photos and Bring Them Home murals. There was an extra level of sorrow, mourning, and anger to everything that has been going on by stepping into Israel for myself. I ate at a small falafel shop a hostage frequented every day, I spoke with a Nova survivor, and I took part in a Havdallah service with parents of hostages. I had been thinking of the hostages since October 7th, but there was a degree of separation and it was hard to put myself in the hostage’s shoes. Once I stepped foot in Israel this was no longer a challenge.

A couple of weeks after the trip, I can say that I’m glad I didn’t come on the trip with any expectations; I couldn’t have dreamed up a trip like this one. I got to give back to the country that is home to my people, create amazing friendships with fellow volunteers and Israelis, explore the country with new friends, feel what is happening in Israel for myself, and have a spiritual journey along the way. Every day, every step of the way, my time in Israel was incredibly impactful to me, and I have Young Judaea to thank for this amazing opportunity.

By Barak Levy, CYJ Texas Staff, Former CYJ Texas and Tel Yehudah Camper

In a whirlwind adventure through Israel, I recently had the privilege of staffing a young professional volunteer trip that transformed my understanding of the community and shared values of Young Judaea. Though I didn’t grow up within the movement, my two years of working with Young Judaea have been a journey of discovery and connection that has transcended the boundaries of just a job.

A diverse group of Judaeans, aged 19 to 40, came together for a shared purpose; to support Israeli citizens. The camaraderie formed during our volunteer work was nothing short of magical, but it was an impromptu Shabbat dinner that truly encapsulated the spirit of Young Judaea. Picture this: individuals spanning a decade in age, united in song and dance, passionately embracing the same Rikkud tunes. In that moment, a shared identity as Judaeans took precedence.

What struck me most during this journey was the convergence of Young Judaea’s core values—Tikkun Olam, the love for Israel, and an open tent where voices can challenge each other in deep discussion. These principles were not merely ideals; they were the driving force behind every action and shared moment. The farms we worked on became a canvas for Tikkun Olam, where our hands in the soil were a tangible contribution to Israeli society.

The realization dawned upon me that many of the participants might not be on this journey if it weren’t for their formative years within the movement. The values instilled by Young Judaea are what allowed the young professionals on this trip to communicate and connect on a profound level. After two years of working with Young Judaea, I can confidently say that I have become a true Judaean. This journey has transformed me, not just as an employee, but as an integral part of a community that believes in the power of change, leadership, and compassion for Israel. I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity.

By Taylor Wishnov, Development and Alumni Engagement Associate, Young Judaea Global