Author: Young Judaea

Year Coursers turned NYC Roommates

Edan Coben, Ilan Goldstein, Jared Schermer, and Jake Siegel were all brought together through various Young Judaea programs, culminating in having the time of the their life on Year Course! Now, the four of them live in New York City and recently hosted the 20’s/30’s Shabbat Dinner on October 20th (with over 50 attendees!)

We caught up with them to ask about their friendship, and favorite YJ memories.

How did you all meet? 

Edan: I met Jake and Ilan on our amazing Year Course. I met Jared shortly after (and many others) through my Year Course friends.

Ilan: Jared and I met for the first time at camp Tel Yehudah in 2011 but did not really become friends until 2018 during our first unofficial YJ winter trip. I met Jake in the summer of 2014 a few months before our Year Course started when he was visiting some of his camp friends who were my close friends from high school. It was then that I officially became his first friend on Year Course. I met Edan in the first week of Year Course at one of our Siyurim in Bat Yam and within six weeks we became roommates during the volunteer period shuffle.

Jared: Edan, Jake and Ilan went on Year Course with my best friends from Camp Judaea. So when they got back we became close over the years. I like to say I became friends with them without having to pay for it, but I definitely still have Year Course FOMO. 

Jake: I met Edan and Ilan through Year Course, and I met Jared through Coby Tuchman, Ari Lusky and Leon Faigenblat after YC in Miami. All of us have been brought together both directly and indirectly by Young Judaea.

 

What YJ programs did you do? 

Edan: I grew up going to CYJ Texas where I was a counselor for two summers when I got older and then had a blast on Year Course! 

Ilan: I spent two years at camp Tel Yehudah, where I first became convinced that I would go on Year Course. After coming back from Year Course I attended 3 annual JNF conferences as part of the YJ delegation. 

Jared: Camp Judaea (2006-2010, staff 2013 and 2015), TY and Machon. 

Jake: I actually hadn’t done any YJ programs in the past, me finding Year Course was a purely serendipitous happening. One that has had a profound effect on my life.

 

What are you all doing in NYC now? 

Edan: I’m working as a Software Engineer for an agriculture company and connecting with lots of amazing Jewish people. 

Ilan: I currently work in clinical research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and spend my free time exploring the city and introducing my YJ circle to other friends who live here. 

Jared: I work as a creative at an advertising agency. Edan also filled a wall in our apartment with like 120 restaurants, venues and experiences around NYC, so we’ve been trying to hit as many of those as we can. Ask him about it. 

Jake: Lots of time spent with the Young Judaeans in the city, playing soccer, and shredding up the guitar.

 

What’s the most unforgettable memory from Young Judaea? 

Edan: Celebrating my 19th birthday on Year Course in Jerusalem with so many amazing people. Love the friendships we built. 

Ilan: Walking around the Old City of Jerusalem during one of the first days of Spring with three friends who I had known for 18 years, 5 years, and 6 months (in order of oldest to newest) and feeling equal love for all of them and spiritual connection to the space around me. 

Jared: It’s got to be the Camp Judaea trip to NYC when we were in Kesher. A lot of stories have withstood the test of time from that. 

Jake: Sorry to be this way but truly the entire year of Year Course was unforgettable and something I’ll take with me for the rest of my life 

 

Can you share a funny or unexpected incident from a Young Judaea event or camp? 

Edan: The kitchen raids I led as a camp counselor, we had permission to sneak into the kitchen and “steal” ice cream but the kids had so much fun I’ll always remember how happy it made the campers.

Jared: One time a camper climbed a tree at CJ and people thought he was missing. For like hours. Turns out he just fell asleep in the tree, and he was really surprised when he woke up.  

Jake: I dropped Edan on his face while trying to spin him around on Year Course, luckily he forgave me soon after and we can laugh about it now.

 

How has Young Judaea influenced your Jewish identity? 

Edan: My time with Young Judaea has made me very proud to be Jewish. It has challenged me to think deeper about what is means to be Jewish and how it can enrich your life. 

Ilan: I have unofficially been a part of Young Judaea since I was in the womb. As a legacy Year Courser (Dan “Spor” Goldstein, ’79-’80) and former resident of Kibbutz Ketura, I’ve grown up with strong Zionist values and a drive to be part of Tikkun Olam.

Jared: YJ gave me my friends, spirit, life outlook and a sense of humor, all of which I’d say are pretty Jewish. It also gave me a strong connection to Israel that’s only grown since. 

Jake: YJ helped my communication skills while discussing Jewish life and Israel with others. It’s important because it’s a big piece of my identity and I’m grateful to my Year Course experience for growing that part of me.

 

Words from our YJ National Mazkir

Shalom Chaverim,

My name is Jonathan Jentis and I am the new National Mazkir for 2023-2024. I am a High School Senior in New Jersey. Growing up, I went to Camp Sprout Lake for six years and then continued my YJ journey to Camp Tel Yehudah. Unfortunately my first year of TY was ripped away by COVID, leaving me longing for more Young Judaea. While TY-fi (virtual TY) was a fun substitute, it was not nearly enough, until I discovered the wonders of year-round YJ (now known as YJ Teens).

Instantly in love with YJ Teens, I decided to see how I could get involved in my regional chapter, but I found that, after COVID, New Jersey didn’t have a Maz (teen board). Jumping into action I contacted the LINYC (Long Island/New York City) mazkirut to find out how to create my own. I gathered a group of camp friends to set out and create something; the only problem was that none of us had ever done any year-round events and were completely lost. Bumbling around, we planned some great events including our very own Purim Party. The next year at the Northeast convention we were able to elect a full New Jersey Maz! I felt as though I had done my job but I wanted to do more to bring the YJ experience to even more people. After two years as New Jersey Mazkir, I have now made my way up to National!

Young Judaea is a place for teens to grow and discover themselves. In an ever-changing world where Judaism and all religions are fading in newer generations, Young Judaea allows young teens like myself to keep that connection.

The National Maz and I are working to create easier entry points for people into Young Judaea events. Often teens are hesitant to risk entire afternoons or weekends if they don’t know if they will enjoy it. One entry point we want to create is through fundraising for the kitchen that caught fire at Tel Yehudah this past summer by creating merchandise and donating the proceeds; this will be an easy way for teens to link together their camp and YJ experiences. Another opportunity we want to explore is Zoom events like Challah baking; this could be a calm and easy activity for everyone to join.

A goal of mine is to expand to reach teens outside of Young Judaea. Establishing a stronger YJ teens presence in places like the Southwest and Southeast would allow for more participation across the country. I am excited to continue building our already established regions like the Midwest and Northeast, and strengthen all of the regions’ connections to one another. On a more regional level, attempting to work with organizations outside of Young Judaea like JCCs and synagogues could create a steady and easy way to reach a new base of teens we would never have been able to reach before. All this is to say, throughout this year I am looking forward to working with the rest of National Maz to bring the Young Judaea experience we all know and love to more and more teens across the country!

As the song of YJ says ‘ani v’ata neshaneh et ha’olam’, you and I will change the world. I look forward to working with everyone in and out of YJ to build an even stronger and wider community!

Jonny Jentis
National Mazkir, 2023-2024

Bring back that summer feeling

By Adina Frydman, CEO of Young Judaea Global

As we turn the page on summer and try to hold on to the final moments of sun,  we feel the shift from pre to post Labor Day (well, at least if you are in the Northeast). For those in the South or West, you are already deeply in the routine of school.

As I head into the office in 94-degree weather, although it still feels like summer, I know that the truth is, my summer is over. For YJ campers each year, the end of summer doesn’t just signify the start of school, it means the end of camp!

This summer, I had the pleasure of touring all seven camps and was reminded again of what is so unique and special about a Young Judaea camp. Let me tell you what I saw.

Unadulterated joy and laughter throughout the day. The playfulness of wearing pajamas all day, making string bracelets, having mud fights, bug juice, cheers and song, and of course the magic of a camp Shabbat. Not to mention the staff are sometimes sillier than the campers (to make it fun for the kids of course…)

I saw kids getting out of their comfort zone to try a new sport, meet a new friend, and challenge their existing perspectives by encountering different opinions.

At camp I witnessed incredible sportsmanship, balanced with healthy competition. While the joke is that we are all winners in Young Judaea, that is actually not true in color war, bikurim, and maccabiah. But most impressive is that the winning teams cheer on everyone else with as much enthusiasm as they cheer for their own win.

Lastly, I saw exemplary role modeling from our tzevet (camp staff). And while this applies to all staff, I am particularly talking about the young seasonal staff who would do anything to make sure that every chanich (camper) has the best experience possible: no camper left behind.

From the early morning wake up rituals to peulot laila tov (good night activities), they are the heroes that make every moment count. And it is only sweeter because they are part of a long chain of Young Judaeans passing on the traditions that their madrichim (counselors) gave to them.

These are just some of the highlights of what I saw at camp this summer. No wonder we are sad to let it go! Perhaps we can hold on to that camp feeling as we go back to our year-round lives.

As we wind up another fabulous season with over 3500 campers, I want to thank…

All the staff who gave their all this summer.

All the parents for trusting us with their kids.

All of YOU for supporting each of our camps and Young Judaea to make these magical summers a success!

See you in the summer of 2024!

Camp Registration is open already with early bird discounts – don’t wait!

Sincerely,

Adina

Seeking solace through solidarity

By Adina Frydman, CEO of Young Judaea Global

I am writing you not because I have the perfect conciliatory words, but rather because I am at a loss for words and feeling, perhaps as you are, a desperate need to be in solidarity with fellow Young Judaeans. As it slowly sinks in that this is really happening in our precious Israel, that tomorrow will be quite different than today, and that this is only the beginning of a new and ruptured Israel, I feel a deep sense of loss.

As an American Jew in particular, albeit one who occupies herself daily with the pursuit of the Zionist dream through the sacred work of our movement, I feel like a witness, a bystander to what has been happening in Israel and the reality that they/we will have to live with heretofore. Perhaps we will wake up tomorrow and reason will prevail? No, that is fantastical thinking and likely not helpful at this point.

29 weeks of sustained protests by our brothers and sisters in Israel as they took part in a living democracy, broadening the patriotic tent, bringing different factions together under one flag. For what? To what end? And what now?

Not living in Israel, it can sometimes feel easier to turn it on or off, to pay attention or to ignore the headline alerts on my phone about Israel. But I know as well as you that the ramifications of this moment will be felt by all of us, those living in Israel and those outside of Israel. There is no limit to how off the rails this can go at this moment, because without limitation and reasonableness, there will be little justice and balance.

We will all need to become Rodef Tzedek and Shalom – pursuers of justice and of peace.

In just another day, we will enter Tisha B’Av, the timing, uncanny. Whether we equate this moment to a 3rd horban, destruction of the Temple, is still too early to know. But we do know that some of the same forces that are attributed to having caused our earlier historical downfalls, are now at play too. The lack of achdut, Jewish unity and the pervasiveness of sinat chinam, baseless hatred, both are rampant, and we must all take responsibility for that.

I often find it hard to connect to this day, but this year feels different. This year, I am strangely grateful for the timing of this day. Because I feel like I need a day of personal mourning and we need a day of communal mourning. It is tempting to try to find the silver lining and to jump to the comforting words. But we will get there. Soon enough, it will be Shabbat Nachamu and we can turn to the words of the prophets to find our nechemta, our comfort. But not before going through the narrow straits of Tisha B’Av.

Whether it has been your custom to fast or to engage in the mourning practices of the day, I invite you in the 25 hours of Tisha B’Av to find time for personal reflection, to think about the importance of this moment, to feel the brokenness, and to long for a return to our people, a return to Zion, that we may merit it once again.

Hashivenu Adomai elecha v’nashuva chadesh yameinu kekedem.

YJ Alum is awarded the Luxembourg Peace Prize

Recently, YJ alumnus Gershon Baskin, Ph.D. was awarded the “Outstanding Peace Activist” award under the Luxembourg Peace Prize for his continuing efforts for peace in Israel-Palestine. We spoke with Gershon to find out about his current efforts below!

  1. What YJ programs are you an alum of?

I joined YJ in 1970 when I was in 9th grade. I joined the Smithtown Club in Long Island.  It was a new club that year and soon turned into the one of the largest clubs on Long Island despite the relatively small number of Jews in the area. I went to Camp Tel Yehudah for my first time that summer to what was then called regular. In 10th grade I was elected to the Mazkirut of Long Island – we then adopted the name Gesher Shalom. In the summer of 1972 I went to Machon (Bet) and worked in the kitchen in order to stay in Camp. The following year I was elected Senior programmer on the mazkirut and went to MA in the summer and worked as assistant Dairy Cook.  The following year I was elected to be Mazkir Gesher Shalom. In Dec. 1973 we had national convention in Israel for the opening of Kibbutz Ketura. I worked in the kitchen the whole summer as Dairy cook I went on Year Course – section 2 in 1974-75.

After YC I worked as Dairy cook in alef.  I did my first year of University at Tulane in New Orleans and work with YJ down there.  The following year I moved back to NY to live together with our group from Year Course in a Bayit on the Upper West Side.  I was Senior Program Director for Long Island YJ.  I worked one summer as dairy cook in Sprout Lake – its first summer and my last summer in the States I was a merakez in Camp Judea Michigan (summer 1978). I made aliya in September 1978.

  1. Tell us a bit about your career.

You can read it all in my bio:

Gershon is the Israel/Palestine Director of the Holy Land Bond (www.holylandbond.com) and the Middle East Director for International Communities Organization – Middle East (ICO) https://internationalcommunities.org/

He was the person responsible for the secret direct back channel between Israel and the Hamas that successfully negotiated the release of abducted Israeli soldier Gilead Schalit.

From 2012 until 2020  served as Country Manager for Palestine in Gigawatt Global working to develop mid- and large-scale commercial solar energy projects Palestine.

From 1988 – 2011, he was the Israeli Co-Director and founder of the Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information (IPCRI) – a joint Israeli-Palestinian public policy think- and “do”- tank located in Jerusalem.

During the Premiership of the late Yitzhak Rabin, he served as a special advisor on the Israeli- Palestinian peace process to a secret team of intelligence officers established by Mr. Rabin.

Since February 2005, he has a weekly column in the Jerusalem Post. His weekly column is also published in Arabic in the Palestinian daily newspaper AlQuds and in Hebrew on a news and opinion website D’Yoma.com.

He holds a Ph.D. in International Affairs from University of Greenwich. His dissertation was on Sovereignty and Territory in the Future of Jerusalem, parts of which were published as a book Jerusalem of Peace.

Baskin’s book In Pursuit of Peace in Israel and Palestine was published by Vanderbilt University Press.

  1. Yasher Koach on this prestigious award! We would love to know more about your current activities in making peace in Israel.

Other than being a Jerusalem Post columnist since 2005, my weekly columns now appear in Arabic and Hebrew as well.  My work is through a British based Non-governmental Organization called International Communities Organization – ICO -which is accredited by the UN and works in conflict zones with frozen or failed peace processes.  I am running 3 secret back channels between some very important Israelis and Palestinians -preparing today for tomorrow. And through the impact investment fund we created under the name The Holy Land Bond to invest in housing for Palestinians in East Jerusalem, to create possibilities for Jewish Arab integrated housing in Israel’s mixed cities, and to support Jewish Arab joint tech ventures.

  1. What if anything about Young Judaea may have led you to where you are today?

YJ taught me that moving to Israel was not a change of address, but a change of essence – our lives have to be meaningful in terms of making Israel a better place.

  1. Do you have any advice for YJ teens today on how to get involved in peace activism in Israel?

Contact me.