Stories - Young Judaea

Year Course

Reflection of my time in Poland while on Year Course

By Zeke Lehrman, Year Course 2024-2025 Standing here today, in Poland, the land of our ancestors, in the shadow of death camps, mass graves and the greatest manifestations of evil […]

Israel Programs

Strengthening My Zionist Identity on Gesher

By Shayna StraussGesher 2024, CYJ TX After a year of being surrounded by constant Anti-Zionism and misinformation it was refreshing being able to be with Jews who share the same […]

Alumni

Coming Home

By Adina Frydman, CEO Young Judaea As I sit in my comfortable El AL airplane seat, counting down the hours of my arrival to my second home, Israel, it is […]

Alumni

The Samet Family: Generations of Young Judaeans

Recently, YJ CEO Adina Frydman had the pleasure of meeting Liam Samet during the YJ Teens Leadership Training Weekend. She was amazed when Liam proudly shared that he comes from […]

Israel Programs

How Year Course Brought Light to Israel’s Darkest Days

By Rabbi Adam Drucker, Director of Education Immediately after October 7th, before war tourism and volunteer groups began to arrive, a group of 70 gap year students from Young Judaea […]

Alumni

Rising to the Challenge: Young Judaeans Step Up After 10/7

For anyone who grew up in the Jewish youth movement, Young Judaea, pitching in during challenging circumstances is second nature. Steve Berman, a lifelong Young Judaean, put it well: “There’s […]