By Vivian Genn Pittman

My brave grandmother Sabina Herbst and my mother Myra kept in touch for years with the Rajskis—the Christian family who courageously hid them in the attic of their barn for almost a year during the Holocaust. Letters were exchanged faithfully until the 1950s, when communication abruptly stopped.

Myra and Sabina had immigrated to America a few years beforehand, in 1948, to start a new life for themselves. They tried to move forward and bury the traumatic past, which included Sabina’s husband/ Myra’s father Chaim Herbst taken away when Myra was just three, witnessing loved ones being killed, and surviving unimaginable anxiety, loss and fear. Myra and Sabina lived hard in America, enjoying education, work, family, friends and Jewish traditions. They tried to keep the dark war memories at bay and the Rajkis in their hearts. 

In the 1990s, something shifted. After attending the first Hidden Children’s Conference in New York City, Myra felt a surge of determination: she had to find the Rajskis and thank them, in person, for having the courage to do right in the face of evil. With the help of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and Yad Vashem, she succeeded.

By then, the Rajski parents—Wincenty and Stefania—had sadly passed away in Poland. But the two young daughters, whom my mother had watched running free through the fields from the cracks of the wooden barn attic, were now grown women, one living in Poland and one in Michigan, with large families of their own. A third sibling, born after the war, had children as well. Myra invited the Rajski siblings and their families to our home in New Jersey for a reunion.

Although excited, Myra was also nervous. She worried: Would the Rajskis resent that their parents had risked their lives for Jews? Did they harbor antisemitism? Would they come at all?

My sister and I, along with our parents, waited anxiously in our hometown of Tenafly, NJ, not yet fully grasping the rarity and magnitude of what was about to unfold. 

And then—they arrived.

The reunion was emotional and unforgettable. Arms outstretched, tears flowing, languages broken but hearts full. We spent several days together in our old brick house, swapping stories and photos, exploring Ellis Island, touring New York and New Jersey, and bridging decades of silence with laughter, love, and shared humanity.

For Sabina and Myra, it was almost impossible to believe. After barely surviving the harsh conditions of war, and the ghetto, after losing friends, family, belongings and freedom, after hiding in the woods, caves and then in a freezing attic for nearly a year, after surviving, rebuilding, remembering—they could now thank the family who had risked everything to save them.

Sabina beamed with pride as she showed off my sister and I, her two “mana shaina medelach” in Yiddish “my beautiful girls”- and the life she had built in America.

Later, Myra ensured the Rajskis were honored at the United Nations in a meaningful ceremony. Their names were added to the Wall of the Righteous at Yad Vashem. Our families have stayed connected since—visiting each other, meeting children and grandchildren, liking Facebook posts, texting across states and even continents.

The Rajskis were among the first to reach out to us after October 7th. Even now, they are a reminder of hope, of courage, of goodness. They feel like family.

It is a privilege, an honor, and also a profound responsibility to be a Holocaust descendant. The perspective colors every part of my life, each day. 

When I’m cold, I think of the rickety barn attic where my mother and grandmother hid, or the icy winds of a death march. When I see food left uneaten at a hotel breakfast buffet, I think about how many lives those scraps could have saved. When I see warm jackets piled into the lost and found bin, I wonder how many people could have survived with that added layer of warmth.

On other days, I draw strength from the resilience of my Grandma Sabina and my mother Myra. I speak up. I show up. I support Jewish causes, educate and organize, send my kids to Young Judaea Zionist summer camps and programs, visit Israel, and with my mom and children, share our family’s stories. History only survives if we carry it forward.

I am filled with urgency to preserve, to protect, to remember. To honor those who were murdered simply because they were Jews. To pass down stories that are harrowing, but also full of miracles, compassion, kindness and breathtaking courage.

I am in awe of the gratitude and strength that allowed my mother and grandmother not only to survive, but to thrive; to pursue education, to fight injustice, to live joyfully and proudly. Sabina never remarried, but poured her love into her only daughter, her granddaughters, and her Jewish identity. Myra, embracing her freedom, married her husband Manny later in life and focused on social work, Judaism, family and community, believing that living well was the best revenge.

We remember. We reflect. We respect. We tell the truth about the Holocaust and its lessons. We inspire, do good, and we hope for better. We appreciate and we celebrate life. Even in challenging times we are not alone and we are stronger together. 

And we help ensure: Never Again.

Vivian was a camper and counselor at Camp Sprout Lake and Tel Yehudah and went on Year Course. Her children have also attended Sprout Lake, Tel Yehudah, Year Course, and Gesher. Her daughter Natalie is the incoming National Mazkira of Young Judaea.

To supplement your seder this year, our Central Shaliach, Amit Castel has written a special Seder Companion to add more meaning to your table.

Download and Print the Companion

Interview with Dan Goldstein

When did you start meeting weekly in DC for the hostages? Tell us about these meetups.

On the second or third week of the war, I joined with a group running weekly vigils for the hostages at the American Red Cross Headquarters, which is within sight of the White House. This is one of multiple groups in the DC area running regular events for the hostages, where all the groups are a mix of Israeli and American participants. Nowadays, the vigils are mostly on the National Mall near the Capitol, with some other sites on occasion. Most of the events get around 30-40 people on a weekly basis — sometimes a lot more — but never more than a handful of Young Judaeans, usually just the same 5-6 Young Judaeans each week. The lack of Young Judaeans at the events has been a huge disappointment for me.

Is there any one memory or story from a rally that stands out in your memory?

There have been so many amazing moments over the past 16 months! One recent one was in December, when Keith Siegel’s wife Aviva marched with us and spoke to us, holding her granddaughter’s hand. As I’m sure you know, Keith grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and was a childhood friend of multiple Young Judaeans, including the very well-known Alon Tal (Young Judaea’s first Knesset member!). When Aviva spoke with us, we didn’t even know for sure whether Keith was alive — and now here he is, back home in Israel with his family.

Why do you think it’s important to advocate for the hostages?

Advocating for our hostages embodies all the values that we learned in Young Judaea: Zionism; the redemption of captives; “all Jews are responsible for each other” (כל ישראל ערבים לזה, a song we sang at Tel Yehudah), Tikkun Olam… How could we not go to the vigils and marches for the hostages?

What is your YJ history?

I grew up in UNYS region, went to TY as a camper 1975-78, TY kitchen 1979-80, Yearcourse 1979-80, TY madrich 1982-83, made Aliyah 1984, lived on Kibbutz Ketura 1984-2001, had Young Judaeans as my sergeants in the IDF, was the Shaliach for Midwest/Central States/WPA 1994-96 (so also at CYJ Wisconsin 1995-96), sent our son to TY 2010-11.

How can interested Young Judaeans join you for these rallies?

Find me on Facebook! I can give you all the information you need.

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 also hours from the release of the first three hostages, Romi, Emily and Doron. For them it will be a different homecoming.

For me, I will travel from Ben Gurion airport to my hotel, where I will recover from mild jet lag after a few hours of sleep. For them, they will be brought back in cars over the very border they were taken hostage 15 months ago. They will be examined for signs of physical, mental, and emotional trauma, reunite with their families, and then spend the rest of their lives in recovery and healing.

But still, we will both be finally home.

As a Jew currently living in the diaspora, the experience of coming back to Israel, is a deeply emotional one. From the minute I step on the plane I feel my heartbeat hasten and my anticipation grow as I get closer and closer. As the wheels touch the tarmac, I feel overtaken with emotion and shed a few tears. And that first breath I take when I step out of Ben Gurion and roll down my window in the taxi, I know I am home.

In this week’s parsha, Va’eira, we start with God hearing the cries of the people and remembering his covenant.

וְגַ֣ם | אֲנִ֣י שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי אֶת־נַֽאֲקַת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר מִצְרַ֖יִם מַֽעֲבִדִ֣ים אֹתָ֑ם וָֽאֶזְכֹּ֖ר אֶת־בְּרִיתִֽי

I have also heard the Israelites’ groaning, complaining that the Egyptians are enslaving them, and I have recalled My covenant.

And what is this covenant? To redeem them and to bring them home.

Regardless of the extent to which Torah is present in your daily lives, it is impossible not to notice the alignment to our present day events with the parshiot in the coming weeks leading up to the Israelites ultimate Exodus from Mitzrayim and eventual arrival to the Promised Land. Obviously, the analogy ends there. But, for the hostage families, all Israelis, and Jews around the world, the days and weeks to come will be filled with emotion and angst. For while we believe some of the hostages are coming home, we don’t know for certain, and we don’t know whether they will be dead or alive. We are also keenly aware of the price we are paying for each life. Over 1900 prisoners will be released in this exchange. And yet, without a negotiation and ceasefire, the bloodshed, of both Israelis and Palestinians, will not end.

When our kids were little and they had tantrums, we would look at them and say, “we don’t negotiate with terrorists.” Of course, this was long before any of this transpired and they understood the idea of a real terrorist, and the harsh reality that sometimes we do negotiate, because if we don’t, the price we will pay is simply too big.

It is much more complicated than that, as many of us know. The question of what a life is worth? Why does it seem that Jews value Jewish life so much more than Palestinians value Palestinian life? The ratios in the prisoner/hostage exchange show that clearly. I think about the young men and women who are making the commitment today to serve in the Israeli army knowing that it is a calculated risk, a risk for their country. How much strength does it give them to know that Israel will not abandon them. With each hostage that is returned there is a boost to morale, a morale that creates resiliency and the courage to remain on the front lines. Let us never forget that it is on their backs that we continue to have a place to call home.

As Chaim Weizman famously said and then Nathan Alterman turned into the famous poem, we all know, “A state is not handed down on a silver platter.”

Thank you to all those responsible for maintaining and perfecting our precious Israel, that we have the privilege to call home.

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 a four-generation Young Judaea family! Intrigued by this incredible legacy, we reached out to Liam’s grandmother, Carol, to hear the remarkable story of the Samet family’s deep connection to Young Judaea.

In Carol Samet’s Words:

Young Judaea is more than a summer camp for the Samet family. It’s been our home away from home for multiple generations. It is our favorite place to celebrate a family simcha, unwind, and make lasting memories. It is a place where we met our spouses and best friends. Young Judaea brings out our best selves and cemented our Jewish identities and love for Israel. It is a place we plan to keep as a cornerstone in our lives for generations to come.

My husband, Eric and I met at Tel Yehudah in 1967. We have 4 children, all active in Young Judaea, 3 went on YJ Year Course, and 2 met their spouses in Young Judaea. Nine of our 12 grandchildren have been campers at Camp Young Judaea Texas and our oldest, Liam, recently attended Tel Yehudah. The following is our connections to Hadassah and Young Judaea through Liam.

LIAM SAMET:  Liam is very involved with Young Judaea through the Mazkirut Leadership Training Weekend. He attended TY last summer and was a camper at Camp Young Judaea Texas for 9 summers

SARA AND GABRIEL SAMET: Liam’s parents met during a Young Judaean convention in Texas. They were both actively involved on the YJ Mazkirut. Gabriel attended YJ Year Course and both Sara and Gabe were on staff at CYJ.

CAROL AND ERIC SAMET:  Liam’s paternal grandparents met at TY,  Carol was on Year Course in 1968, and both were on staff at CYJ Texas. Carol is a past President of Houston Chapter of Hadassah in 1985

PEGGY AND LEON SAMET:  Liam’s paternal great grandparents. Leon was instrumental in securing the current location of CYJ in Wimberley in 1969. Peggy was a past group president of Hadassah and Leon was a past president of ZOA, all in Houston.

EVELYN AND LEO LUDVIG:  Liam’s maternal great grandparents were long time supporters of YJ. Evelyn was a past chapter President of Hadassah in Elmira, NY in 1958.

ANN LIBERMAN WINEBURGH:  Liam’s maternal great great grandmother was one of the first Young Judaeans in Utica, NY and also a past Chapter President of Hadassah in 1942.

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 something in the water we drank. Maybe it’s the shores of the Delaware or the Mediterranean that infused our souls with the same spirit. The spirit of Hineni, calling out that you’re there and ready to serve.”

After the attacks on October 7th and the subsequent war, Young Judaeans lived out this spirit once again. Year Course participants immediately jumped into action, helping survivors in the Gaza envelope who suddenly found themselves without housing, clothes, or basic necessities.

Many Young Judaeans flocked to Israel to volunteer and support in any way they could. Alumni with special skills, like Lisa Fliegel, a trauma therapist, traveled to Israel to help survivors cope. Miriam Schler, Executive Director of the Tel Aviv Sexual Assault Center, stepped up to assist the many sexual assault victims of October 7th. Year Course alumni who have maintained a close friendship, Sam Merrin, Ira Greenberg, and David Cohen-Mintz, longtime friends from Young Judaea’s Year Course volunteered on Kibbutz Kfar Aza, a destroyed community, and assisted farmers near Gaza.  Others, like Julie Kolman Powell, used the power of awareness to aid Israel. While participating in races across the country, Julie wore a photo of a beloved member of the YJ family, Gili Adar, who was murdered at the Nova Festival, on her marathon shirt.

Three Friends Helping a Shattered Community

In a similar spirit, three lifelong Young Judaea friends recently came together to support Israel in a crucial way. Joel Rosenfeld, Seth Merrin, and Steve Berman grew up in the movement, attending YJ clubs, camps, and eventually Year Course. When Joel’s daughter, Ayelet, reached out about a critical cause, he turned to his YJ friends to find a way to help.

Ayelet served in the IDF alongside Yonaton “Jonny” Siman Tov, who lived with his family on Kibbutz Nir Oz, a community on the Gaza envelope. On October 7th, the kibbutz was brutally attacked by Hamas, resulting in the deaths of a quarter of its residents and the kidnapping of many others. Jonny, his wife Tamari Kedem, their three young children, and his mother were murdered that day.

The survivors were initially relocated to a hotel in Eilat. After the initial shock subsided, the community planned to relocate to a different kibbutz farther from Gaza, Beit Nir. The move, rebuilding, and purchase of land would cost them $26 million. It was during this time that Ayelet, with support from her father Joel and others, began a campaign to aid the community’s relocation efforts.

Joel reached out to old friends like Steve, who reconnected him with Seth, for help. Seth believes their readiness to support this cause stems from their Young Judaea roots. “The activism, the drive to improve the world, and the desire to help others are deeply ingrained in every committed Young Judaean. So, when Joel and Steve called me, my response was, ‘Of course. How can I help?’”

Their outreach was crucial. Steve played a key role in facilitating connections and organizing fundraising efforts. His network in Atlanta, combined with Seth’s connections in the Northeast, amplified the fundraising campaign.

While in Israel, Steve met with Chen Itzik from Kibbutz Nir Oz, who was leading recovery efforts. Steve reassured Chen that many people in the U.S. would want to help. He quickly organized a reception at his Atlanta home, with just four days’ notice. To his relief, 100 people showed up to hear the story of the devastated community from survivors of Jonny’s family, Amit Siman Tov and her sister Koren.

Steve recalled, “My house isn’t really set up for 100 people. It was hot and crowded, shoulder to shoulder, but you could hear a pin drop that night. We had three survivors from Nir Oz sharing their story.”

This event, co-hosted with other community leaders, was a turning point in raising awareness and support for the kibbutz. The positive response led to significant contributions from major foundations and individual donors.

The task of relocating Kibbutz Nir Oz and rebuilding lives is far from over. The efforts of Joel, Seth, and Steve, along with the broader community’s support, are vital to this process.

The Spirit of Service: Shared Values

In the face of extreme adversity, many people waver, unsure of how to help or move forward or worried that their small acts won’t impact the larger challenges. Yet, after October 7th, the subsequent war, and rise in antisemitism around the world, Young Judaeans did the opposite. These stories of resilience and solidarity showcase the enduring power of the YJ community. As we learn from Rabbi Tarfon in Pirke Avot, while it is not our task to finish the work, neither can we desist from it.

As Seth put it, “This is what we do. This is Young Judaea in action.”

*If you would like to help support the Kibbutz Nir Oz project, please contact Joel, joelrosenfeld@gmail.com

After 30 years it was like nothing has changed. Last month, Year Course 1994-1995 reunited in Chicago for a weekend of memories, laughs and good times. Over 50 people from all over the globe, including FZY participants from Israel and England gathered together for a weekend of nostalgia. As a group we managed to raise $16,000 for Year Course programming in honor of our reunion. As they say, Year Course never ends, and that is certainly true in our case. What a lovely weekend of seeing old faces.

Thank you to reunion committee co-chairs Dana Blitstein and Molli Tobin Monk and the dedicated reunion committee Marla Aistrope, Margo Alpert, Katy Burstein, Becca Katzman and Rachel Secore. A special thanks to Amit Weinberg; you know what you did! Xo

Want to plan your Year Course reunion? We can help! Email alumni@youngjudaea.org

Written by Susan Parkoff Canning, with support from: David Wilson, Walter Synalovski, Robin Freeman Nelson

At the 2023 75th Tel Yehudah anniversary celebration, a few camp and year course friends decided to pick a date and location for the next 1984-85 year course reunion. Washington D.C. was chosen as the location so the maximum amount of people could drive or fly direct, the 2nd weekend in August picked to ensure our core team could attend. Our group previously had a 10 year reunion in NYC, a 20 year reunion at Kutchers in the Catskills, a 25 year reunion in Las Vegas, and had planned a fall 2020 gathering in New Orleans that was canceled. A core group of four formed to develop a plan. We met monthly and started publicizing through our Facebook page and reaching out via email. Our year course was originally 120 strong and we were able to get in touch with a majority.

On August 9, 2024, 28 of us, including one of our former madrichim, gathered with some nerves and much anticipation. The joy of seeing special friends was apparent from the moment we interacted – all were welcomed with hugs and smiles. We each wore a lanyard name tag with a picture of our 18 year-old year course self, so we could connect past and present. We held Kabbalat Shabbat services and enjoyed a Mediterranean themed dinner, reconnected through shared memories, and remembered friends no longer with us. We looked at photo albums, scrap books, and t-shirts from the year and listened to a playlist of songs from the past, reflecting on how young we were.

Throughout the weekend, many of us expressed immense pleasure in re-connecting with people we had been close to, as well as forming new friendships with those who shared this unique experience. It is not easy to go to a reunion: not everyone wants to revisit the past, many are busy and caught up in present lives, it is hard to make the time or spend the money, some are already in touch with those they want to be. However a group experience is different and special. Many expressed gratitude that each one of us made the effort, showed up and spent time together. We caught up, prayed, sang and did Havdalah together, discussed Israel, shared, laughed, talked and remembered. We ended our weekend with a zoom including friends from around the country and in Israel, checking in to see how they are holding up.

Our final siyum included an old camp tradition of reflecting on our weekend. It was heartwarming and emotional. We are now discussing regional mini reunions and a 45th reunion in 2029. There is new energy and appreciation for special friendships made more than 40 years ago.

In memory of our friends from 1984-1985 YJ Year Course:
Keith Berman, Marc Bloom, Andrew Schauer, Danny Savitzky, Joshua Tobman

Through small acts of solidarity, we, as Jewish camps, have the power to effect change on a large scale and strengthen our communities.

CYJ Sprout Lake is honoring Omer Neutra, a former camper of who is currently being held captive, by creating a list of daily actions to keep the mission of freeing the hostages at the core of the Jewish community. Join us in one of the most important missions – time is ticking!

Print this Flyer for ways YJ Camps and YOU can continuously help to #BringThemHomeNow

 

By Julie Kolman Powell
Sprout Lake, Tel Yehudah, Year Course 1984 Alum, Former Regional Mazkira

It took me less that 10 minutes to decide I was attending the Young Judaea

Alumni trip back in January 2024 to Israel, and 8 months to process it.

Like always, I communicate first with my running shoes.

This past week, and without telling anyone prior, I ran three half marathons, in three states, three days in a row. I did this with Gili Adar’s picture on my back which was given to me by her parents at her grave when I visited Israel. I never met Gili, but she was a Israeli Scout at Camp Tel Yehudah, a camp I love and a camp my daughter loves.

Gili’s parent’s described Gili as ‘their sunshine’ and the world’s sunshine. Anyone that met her apparently remembers her smile and that she lit up a room with her beautiful blond hair and her personality. Her parent’s told us she loved traveling and seeing the world. So, I took her with me to Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah and told her story to people in places that likely would never have heard it before. Gili and I ran 13.1 miles in each state. Every day people would ask me about who was on my back. I told them about Gili’s spirit as described to me by her parents and I shared with them what happened on October 7th, and of her murder by Hamas. In Wyoming, Utah, and Idaho some of these folks had never met a Jew before, or anyone from Israel, or heard the story of October 7th. They asked questions and they blessed me and the Adars. Gili’s parents and I communicated on Facebook and I was so moved by how much this gesture meant to them.

On the third day I was tired. It was mile nine in Utah. I wasn’t sure how or where I was going to find the energy to finish and all I could see were fields, endless fields. I remember driving around the Gaza envelope on our trip and seeing a similar image, the fields where the Nova victims and survivors ran for their lives. In their memory, I took off like a rocket. I came in third that day in my age group.

I hope in some small way I honored their lives and the lives lost at Nova. We must never forget them. They are all important to their friends and family and to me.

To the hostages, ”Be Strong and Survive.”

To their families I think of you everyday.