YJ Teens National Convention was such a fun and meaningful experience. First and foremost, I loved getting to see my friends, but the weekend was about so much more than that. The programming was engaging, and from a leadership perspective it was amazing to see how involved and invested everyone was in the conversations.

One of the biggest highlights of the weekend was the speakers. We were honored to have five incredible speakers lead workshops: Sarri Singer, Charlotte Korchak, Hava Tizazu, Kami Salman representing Talk Israel, and Shira Rosen. Each of them brought something unique, whether sharing personal experiences or offering education and guidance around Israel and antisemitism. One takeaway that really stuck with me was Charlotte Korchak’s explanation of antisemitism on the left. It can be incredibly painful to experience, but she emphasized the importance of standing up to it with facts, and that message really resonated with me.

Another moment that will always stay with me was Shira and Havdalah. There is something so special about ending Shabbat and starting the week surrounded by your favorite people and meaningful traditions. Overall, as a leader, it was incredibly rewarding to see how engaged everyone was and how productive the discussions were. National Convention was truly an amazing and educational weekend!

By Ruth Glaser, National ISAP

Last weekend, 130 teens from across the country and around the world came together for YJ Teens National Convention—and from the moment we stepped off the buses, the energy was undeniable. Friends reunited, new connections were formed, and excitement filled the room as we began an unforgettable weekend. Together, we celebrated Shabbat, deepened our Jewish identities, engaged in meaningful discussions about Israeli current events and our national initiative on human trafficking, and learned more about our role in the world. We sang and danced at Shira and Rikkud (one of the best Rikkuds of my YJ journey!), heard from powerful speakers, and elected the next National Mazkirut—leaders I know will bring passion and heart to YJ in the year ahead.

As National Mazkira, watching 130 teens come together in this moment filled me with immense pride.

Planning this weekend alongside the National Mazkirut was a labor of love, and standing in front of that room gave me so much hope for our future. I shared with the teens that there are times when the world feels overwhelming and helpless—but that YJ is how I push back against that feeling.

Through YJ, I’ve become more educated, more connected to my Judaism, stronger in my support for Israel, closer to my community, and more confident as a leader. Seeing these same qualities reflected in so many teens reminded me why this movement matters so much.

One moment that truly stayed with me was hearing from Sarri Singer, who shared her powerful survival story after being severely injured in a terrorist attack in Israel. After her recovery, she founded Strength to Strength, an organization that connects survivors of terrorist attacks around the world. Sarri reminded us that when trauma silences us, the terrorists win—but when we remain proud, open, and loud, they never can. Her message of resilience and strength is one I hope every teen carries with them moving forward.

Thank you to everyone who made National Convention so special—the weekend was incredible because of all of you. I’m excited for what’s ahead this year and can’t wait to see you at future YJ Teens events!

— Natalie Pittman, National Mazkira 2025-26

An interview with Steve Berman, TY 1969, 70 and 1972 YC/Machon 1973-74, TY Madrich 1974, YJ Florida Director 1977-79, TY Head Counselor TY 1979, YJG Board member 2012-2022

How many generations of your family have been involved in Young Judaea?
Three!

How has Young Judaea shaped your family’s connection to Israel and the Jewish community?
Starting in 1969, because of Young Judaea, our family has had a meaningful relationship with Israel with numerous family members living in Israel over the years including now.

Are there any lasting friendships or relationships your family made through YJ?
Some of our closest friendships have been established through YJ. We have had YJ friends by our sides at weddings, funerals, ski trips, milestone birthdays, b’nai mitzvah and beyond. We all feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to forge these meaningful friendships from such a young age. These are friends for life!

Do you have a favorite YJ story, memory, or anecdote from your family’s experience?  
There are too many stories to list here. In the Berman second generation (of three) a Berman daughter from Atlanta married a a wonderful guy who grew up in Texas Young Judaea. The family jokingly calls this “a mixed marriage”!

What inspires your family to stay connected to Young Judaea today?  
Young Judaea is still a relevant forum for American Jewish youth after all these years. Our five camps and our incredible and durable Israel programs offers a unique way to establish lifelong friendship and a lifelong relationship with Israel.

Can you list out which of your families members have participated in Young Judaea?
Steve Berman: TY 1969, 70 and 1972 YC/Machon 1973-74 TY Madrich 1974 YJ Florida Director 1977-79 TY Head Counselor TY 1979 YJG Board member 2012-2022, married to Gita Berman

Gita Berman: TY Sgan Merakezet 1979, married to Steve Berman

Michael Berman : TY 1971-4. YC/Machon 1975-6. TY Madrich 1977. TY Merakez 1978. YJG Board 2012-2026 (Chair from 2014-2022)

Lauren Berman: TY 1975, 1976, 1977. YC 1978-1979.

Daniel Berman: TY 1975, 1976, 1978, Kitchen 1979-1980, YC/Machon 1979-80 Rosh Machaneh TY 1985

Michael Maze: CYJ Texas 1993-96 TY 1997,99 Machon 1998 YC 2000-01 TY staff 2001-03 Summer programs staff 05 IDF 2008-09 Marriage to Mara Berman 2011- Current Parent of one (soon two!!!) CJ campers

Mara Berman: CJ 1994-1999, 2002-2004 Machon 2000 TY 99, 2001, 2004 YC 2002-2003 Staffed Israel Programs 2005, 2006 Staffed YC 2007-2008 Married to Michael Maze Parent of one (soon two!!!) CJ campers

Oren Berman: CYJ Midwest 1998-99 CIT at CYJ Midwest 2002 YC 2003-4 CYJ West in Oregon 2006

Aviva Berman: CJ 1996-2000 TY 2000-2002 Machon 2003 Year Course 2004-05 TY staff 2004-05 CJ staff 2005-06 Lev HaDarom Regional Mazkirut 2002-03 National Mazkirut 2003-04 Parent of CJ camper 2024-present

Eitan Berman: CJ 1999-2005 TY 2005-2006 Lev HaDarom Regional/Merchav Boom Boom Mazkirut 2005-2008 Machon 2007 YC 2008-2009 CJ Staff 2008-2009 Israel Army 2009-2012

Noah Berman: CYJ Midwest 2000-07 TY 05-07 Regional Mazkirut 05-08 National Mazkirut 08-09 YC 2009-10 TY Staff 2009-11 Midwest Staff 13 YJ Israel Staff 13-14 IDF 2014-2015 Married to Naama Dahari

Naama Dahari Berman TY 2009-2011 CYJ Midwest 2013 Married to Noah Berman

Shira Berman: CJ camper 2001-2006 TY camper 2007-2008 Machon 2009 Year course 2010-2011 CJ staff 2010-2013

Matan Berman: CJ Camper 2008-2015 TY Camper 2015-16 TY Staff 2018-2019 YC 2018-2019 National Maz 2018

By Chuck Fox, Tel Yehudah 1987-1988

I was here in Israel twenty-three months ago, in January 2024, three months after the start of the war, for a week-long Young Judaea Alumni mission during which we met survivors, families of victims, and thought leaders from journalism and politics, and volunteered by picking cucumbers and making care packages for displaced persons.

At that time, in Hostage Square, the large digital clock was at 115 days. Now I am here in December 2025. The art exhibits in Hostage Square have mostly been disassembled, but because we are all still short one final hostage whose body has not yet been returned, the clock continues to count upward. It is at 815 days upon my return.

Seven hundred days that I was at home, living in freedom and peace, not hiding in bomb shelters. Days that my two 20-something-aged kids were not serving in the IDF, but studying and working in the U.S., able to hug me when I came to visit them. Days that I worked as a volunteer as my synagogue board chair, in part trying to support Israel by fighting antisemitism and promoting Jewish pride within the United States. I am so glad to be back in Israel during a time when so many people here, collectively as a population, have (at least, maybe) started to exhale.

Although Israelis are still in a post-trauma phase after October 7th, I am not hearing from them that they are still in the trauma and reliving that day over and over again every day, the way that I heard from so many of them two long years ago. My stepfather lives in Jerusalem and, between COVID and the wars with Hamas and Iran, hasn’t felt safe traveling back to the U.S. to visit his grandkids for nearly six years. He’s finally starting to think about making the trek. Our good friends who live in Shoham, near Ben Gurion Airport, whose son had just finished his IDF training when I was here last time, are now able to sleep at night again, as he is almost done with his service.

I have spent the last two weeks here mostly just trying to “live like an Israeli” for a little while, as much as a middle-aged American who speaks broken Hebrew can in the heart of Tel Aviv. My wife, Amy, and I rented an Airbnb. She worked a bit during the first week, but mostly we’ve spent time with family and friends—walking the city and boardwalk, eating our way through falafel, pizza, sushi, Chinese, and Italian food, soaking up the sun by day, and watching the Mediterranean sunset in the late afternoon. We have perused art galleries in Florentin, had a prix fixe menu on New Year’s Eve, rented “MetroFun” bikes, toured the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and the ANU Museum on the campus of Tel Aviv University, and met up with friends from back home in Atlanta and from growing up in Maryland, here and there.

When I am at the beach in Tel Aviv, I can see the Dan Panorama Hotel where I stayed with my Young Judaean friends for six days two years ago. I can see the yellow-domed gas station at which we were loading onto our bus when the tzeva adom alarm sounded and we had to run back into the hotel and hide in the mamad until the Iron Dome shot down rockets coming from Gaza to South Tel Aviv. I can look at the hotel and know that it’s filled with tourists now, and not the hundreds of refugees from Israeli towns on the border of Lebanon who lived there for months after the start of the war, and with whom we shared our accommodations and meals during the week we were here volunteering as Judaeans in 2024.

I am extremely fortunate to be good friends with several IDF soldiers, as many of them have worked with Amy as Shinshinim in Atlanta during their gap year between high school and army service, through a program with the Jewish Federation of Atlanta via the Jewish Agency. It has been so great to see them, give them a hug, treat them to coffee or meals, hear stories of their time in basic training or about their jobs (what they’re able to share!) in the army, and hear what they miss about America. And to know that we are being protected by the best of the best, and that things are a little calmer for them now due to the ceasefire than they would have been last year.

I had lunch today in the heart of Jerusalem with the daughter of one of my best friends from high school. She is a lone soldier who is four months away from finishing her army service, and she just got engaged. It gave me such incredible pride to spend time with her and hear about her experiences and her fellow soldiers that, after we parted ways, my heart was pounding to the point where I thought it was going to beat right out of my chest.

Two days ago, Amy and I took our 23-year-old daughter, Sydney, to the Gaza Envelope for the day to tour the border kibbutzim, the car museum, and the Nova Festival site. So many innocent Israeli children were taken from us in one morning 815 days ago—mostly Jewish people, but also a diverse group of Thais, Druze, Bedouins, and Christians, as anyone who has been following the war knows. People who, while beautifully and tastefully memorialized in the south of Israel so that we can pay our respects and bear witness, have been silenced forever.

But there is hope here now. Next to our Airbnb there is a preschool whose kids are dropped off at about 8 a.m. every morning. It is such a treat to hear the happy voices of small Jewish children filling our street as they start their school day. On the beach are young men and women going for a jog or a bike ride, walking arm in arm with their partners, or joyously playing beach volleyball—using their hands, heads, shoulders, and feet—sometimes yelling as they dive for the ball. As I hear these sounds, it fills my heart to know that, at least for the moment, they are able to live their lives carefree and full of enjoyment.

I spent some of the afternoon today walking around the Old City, and tonight I will be back on the Mediterranean, having dinner in the heart of Jaffa. These are two places where Jews, Muslims, and Christians are strikingly and beautifully able to coexist peacefully day after day, year after year (even if it’s complicated!). My prayer for Israel, for the Middle East, and for the world is that we can use their example to inspire us to continue to uphold the ceasefire, continue to pick up the pieces, and find meaning and joy in life in the wake of the disaster that befell this country and our people in 2023.

Let Ran Gvili be returned. Let the clock in Hostage Square be stopped, turned off, and taken away—maybe even taken to the trash dump, crushed and incinerated, and forgotten forever. Let it be soon. As Young Judaea inspired me and enabled me to come back to Israel in the wake of the war many months ago, I hope that those of you reading this will find a way to use your YJ connection to come back to Israel soon—bring your kids, contribute to the economy, and help our people and our homeland continue to regain a sense of normalcy in 2026.