Author: Young Judaea

Forever a Young Judaean

It is 1975. I am 18 years old and having Shabbat dinner in the home of a lively Moroccan family in Nazareth Illit, Israel. I have just completed the first two months of Young Judaea’s Year Course (Machon section) and my ability to speak Hebrew is minimal. We had just finished studying the differences between Mizrahi and Ashkenazi communities in the classroom, and now each member of our program went to stay for a weekend with Mizrachi families in development towns. Spending an immersive weekend with a non-English speaking Moroccan/Israeli family was an experience I recall and reflect on to this day, 46 years later.

During that weekend, the family took me in as one of their own. My Hebrew improved more in three days than in an entire semester of Ulpan. Over the weekend, I found myself comparing this family’s Judaism and Zionism with my own. My 18-year-old understanding of Israel, Judaism, and community were challenged in fundamental ways (my host family was adamantly anti-Golda Meir), and reinforced in other ways, (their love of Israel was deep and their warmth was overflowing). I was way out of my comfort zone, which is where profound learning takes place. To me, this experience is at the core of Young Judaea’s educational philosophy. Young Judaea is built on placing kids in experiential situations where they can learn, explore, and push the boundaries of who they are as Jews, and as people.

I, along with my two brothers, became involved with Young Judaea in high school. We were originally encouraged to join by our parents as a way to explore our Jewish identity and make friends, and I quickly found myself enjoying the program. The experiences gave me the feeling of being part of something larger than myself. Eventually, I became regional Mazkir of the Upper NY Region, a leadership role within Young Judaea that involves planning local events for teens. After that I then went on to attend Camp Tel Yehudah for three summers and later traveled to Israel on Year Course.

After college my girlfriend (now wife) and I made Aliyah and moved to Rehovot, Israel. Five years later we moved back to the States for career and family reasons and settled in Minneapolis where I pursued a career in the Medical Device field. In Minneapolis, I was actively involved in the Jewish community but my involvement with Young Judaea was mainly through my children, nieces and nephews who each attended Young Judaea’s summer camps and went on Year Course in Israel. I remained on the outskirts of the organization, only observing its impact through the next generation.

It wasn’t until 2011, 25 years later, that my personal involvement with Young Judaea picked back up. The organization was moving towards independence from Hadassah at the time, and I joined a group of Judaean alumni to envision what the Young Judaea of the future would look like. During those early gatherings I found myself being transported back to my time as regional Mazkir, my summers at camp, and my time exploring Israel as an 18 year old. I found myself asking, why is Young Judaea so special and how do we need to shape it to be relevant and impactful in the decades to come?

As Young Judaea adapts to the rapidly changing world, our core values are more important than ever; Clal Yisrael (engaging all Jews regardless of background), Pluralism, Social Action and Love of Israel. These are the values that bind us and are cemented through the immersive educational experiences that encourage our youth to wrestle with the real challenges facing the Jewish world. As a result, Young Judaeans develop a passion for and a lifelong connection with Israel and Judaism. Experiences like the one I had in Nazareth Illit in 1975 are still happening today for thousands of kids on Young Judaea’s Israel programs and our summer camps. In today’s hyper partisan world, our 110-year-old movement is more relevant than ever.

Mike Berman is the Chair of the Board Of Young Judaea Global and resides in Tel Aviv

Israel 73! Commemorations, Celebrations, and Ongoing Connections

In Young Judaea, our chanichim, campers and program participants, develop a lifelong personal connection to Israel. Many maintain their connection by integrating Israel intro their everyday lives, wherever they may be. This lifelong connection manifests itself in the choice or our professions, where we volunteer or lead, how we allocate our tzedakah, what we read, watch and listen to, and in what we transmit to our children and grandchildren.  And some choose to make Israel their home. In fact, according to a recent study, 12% of surveyed alumni across all Young Judaea programs, currently live in Israel.

Brenna Hymowitz, a recent Year Course participant, is currently in the process of making Aliyah.  

Here is her story.

Being a part of Young Judaea since I was eight years old, Zionism has always been an important aspect of my Jewish identity. It was the highlight of my year to return as a camper each year to Camp Young Judaea Texas and be a part of a Jewish community that kept me safe, educated, and happy to be a Jewish girl from Katy, Texas.

Following the footsteps of Young Judaeans before me, I spent my first real time in Israel through Year Course. The experience opened my eyes to a place that I had only dreamt of and yearned for in my heart. I was able to soak up what it means to be an Israeli through adventures to visit with various communities and conversations with the people I met there. In addition, living with Israeli’s gave me an extended family and granted me a new perspective on Jews from around the world.

I am so lucky to have been a part of a movement that pushed me to strengthen and learn more about my Jewish identity than I had ever done before. Year Course gave me the opportunity to create lifetime friendships, make incredible memories, and tangibly understand and experience the land of Israel. I fell in love with the culture, the people, the language, and the land itself. Young Judaea and Israel helped me bring out the best version of myself and follow my heart with the decision to make Aliyah. My heart and soul is drawn to serving and protecting the miracle that is this country. With that said, I plan to draft in the fall as I finish my first year as a student at IDC Herzliya. I am so grateful for the clarity my experiences have given me in making the most important and meaningful decision of my life.

This year, for me, Yom Ha’atzmaut will feel different. This year I will dance in the streets and sing alongside the waving flag of a country that is now my home. I will feel the land beneath my feet, I will smile with its people, and I will celebrate the freedom of being a Jew in the land of Israel.

Young Judaea helped me to pave the path of my Zionism, bring depth to my Jewish identity, and make Israel my home, as it was always meant to be. I believe in Young Judaea and its power to allow people to explore who they are as a Jews, and as people. This Yom Ha’atzmaut, I encourage everyone to pause and reflect. Embrace your freedom to be a Jew and reflect on what Israel truly means and serves to you and your Jewish identity.

Chag Sameach!

Brenna Hymowitz, Year Course 2019-2020

Covid-19 Inspires Young Judaea Alumnus to Give Back

Humans of Young Judaea Feature: Sindy Wayne

 

When COVID-19 hit and I witnessed the economic impact and the corresponding rise of people facing food insecurity, I began volunteering at the Newton Food Pantry, helping to prepare bags of produce for distribution to clients. Despite Newton’s image as an affluent suburb, too many of our neighbors struggle to put food on their tables. During that time volunteering, I learned about Newton Food Pantry’s desire to start a supplemental food resource for the community. In January, I agreed to take on the role of volunteer coordinator.

The Newton Community Freedge, a free outdoor refrigerator and pantry is open 24/7 for all and is a collaborative effort between individuals, organizations, and businesses in Newton, MA. Based on the operating principle of “take what you need, leave what you can”, this volunteer-run initiative opened on 3/14/21 and is being led by the Newton Food Pantry (an all-volunteer run organization) in collaboration with teams of volunteers from organizations across Newton.

As the volunteer coordinator, I set up and manage all of the processes and procedures for volunteer teams to monitor, clean, and stock the Freedge, including picking up donations from local restaurants and businesses. In addition, I manage social media and marketing to encourage individuals in the community to contribute food to the Freedge and to encourage users to take advantage of this new supplemental food resource.

My lifelong passion for social justice and activism and the skills that I use to lead and mobilize others in both my volunteer and professional life are a direct result of having grown up in Young Judaea (Central States participant and Mazkirut, camper and staff-member at CYJ Midwest and Tel Yehudah, and year in Israel with my Young Judaea kvutzah on Machon L’Madrichai Chu’l). In particular, my high school summers at Tel Yehudah fueled my desire to “repair the world” and helped me gain the knowledge and skills to put my desire into action. I am honored to “pay this experience forward” by currently serving on the Tel Yehudah Board of Directors.

Sindy Wayne is a former Central States Mazkirut (1977-81), CYJ Michigan Camper (1976-78), Tel Yehudah Camper (1978-80) and has served on the Tel Yehudah Board of Directors since 2015.

Listen to the Next Generation: Shabbat Message from the CEO

O beautiful, her spirit dimmed

As dawn was in our sight

With hatred near, we take our fear

And bend it toward the light

America, America, let’s live up to our creed

For equity, and people free

In work and soul and deed.

These are words from rising young songwriters Eliana Light, Eric Hunker, and Debra Winter written in the aftermath of Thursday’s events and posted on Facebook.

Reading these words closely, I hear deep disappointment tinged with steadfast hopefulness. It is a soulful plea by a generation growing up in a constant state of attack. An attack on their safety, an attack on their sense of justice, and an attack on their idealism. This is the world in which our young people are growing up.  And yet, they plead. When will we hear their cries? Or as we read in this week’s Parshat Shemot, when will Gcd hear their cries?

So, what is our responsibility as a pluralistic youth movement in this moment? We aim to create safe spaces for empathic dialogue and conversation. We listen and we teach them how to truly listen with open minds and hearts. Yesterday, we brought together the advisors and shlichim who work with our teens, to prepare them as they convene their teens around the country and plan the right peulah, activity, for this moment.

Together, they grappled with what it means to be a pluralistic movement at this moment of extreme polarization. Can we model what it means to honor many different perspectives under one tent? Are there any boundaries or limitations to how big the tent can be? Are there things that are clearly outside of the tent? Who decides?

They also grappled with how exhausting it is to constantly weigh competing values. As a movement committed to Israel and social justice, there are times when we find ourselves in a state of cognitive dissonance. The current political climate contributes to this as we are often forced to choose a single allegiance. Do we need to resolve the dissonance? Push away one value for another? Is it hypocritical not to live our competing truths?

In our daily work, whether in our year-round programming, camps, or Israel experiences, we have the privilege and responsibility of asking these difficult questions and creating emotionally safe spaces where the next generation can answer them for themselves.

As we step into 2021, we wish to thank all of you who support Young Judaea’s mission driven work and who made gift in 2020. If you did not have a chance and are now inspired to support our important work of building the next generation, support us here.

Praying for peaceful times ahead.

Shabbat Shalom,

Adina

Adina H. Frydman
CEO | Young Judaea Global