By Aviva Schonbrun, Year Course 2024-2025

My name is Aviva Schonbrun and I was on Year Course 2024-2025.

Today was my college orientation. I didn’t know anyone and was really nervous about meeting new people. Part of that anxiety came from not knowing what to say if someone asked me about my past year. I was honestly scared to mention Israel to the wrong person.

I made my first friend at the campus Starbucks, and while we chatted, I followed her on Instagram. I then noticed she had just posted a congratulations message for the new mayor of New York City (someone who’s openly anti-Zionist and antisemitic). I immediately got nervous. I obviously didn’t know where she stood on Israel, but I took it as a bad sign.

Eventually, she asked about my gap year, but instead of freezing up, I confidently said Israel. Surprisingly, she said “That’s so cool” We walked to the next meeting together, and I decided to open up to her about my hesitation to share where I had spent the year, and told her I had been relieved by her response.

Then she said, “ Honestly, I don’t really even know much about what’s going on right now, are you able to explain? All I’ve heard is Israel bombs Gaza.”

I know this stuff comes up on college campuses, but I definitely wasn’t expecting to have this conversation within my very first hour there, but after this year, I felt a sense of responsibility to share what I’ve learned.

I tried to explain briefly the history and nuance of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and then October 7th. She kept asking questions and we talked for another 30 minutes while we waited in line. I did my best to use what I’ve learned this year- listening to her perspective and filling in the gaps with what she didn’t know.

At the end, she thanked me for teaching her and I felt a sense of accomplishment and pride. I’m incredibly grateful to Year Course for giving me the confidence and the educational tools to engage in these tough conversations, and hopefully make a difference. Thank you for everything this past year. I miss it so much!

Learn More About Year Course

Dear Young Judaea Family,

This has been a difficult week as the war between Israel and Iran continues to unfold. We are heartbroken by the loss of life, the daily fear and disruption, and the displacement of so many. Our thoughts are especially with our Young Judaea alumni and staff in Israel—we are praying for your safety and strength.

We are all standing a little taller, prouder, and more resolute because of Israel’s courageous efforts on behalf of the Jewish people and the world. At YJ Camps, the expression of Zionism is palpable as campers sing “Am Yisrael Chai” at the top of their lungs.

At Young Judaea, our first priority is the well-being of our participants. This includes those currently in Israel on our Amirim and Onward Israel programs, and soon, additional cohorts from Onward Israel and Gesher, our teen summer program.

With safety as our top priority, we adapt as necessary to keep participants safe and engaged in a meaningful program. If you are directly responsible for a participant and have questions about how current events may impact your program or camp, please refer to the regular updates from our Israel team for the most accurate information.

In North America, our summer camps are standing together—supporting each other and our Israeli campers and staff, all of whom are deeply affected by the events in Israel. Israelis already at camp are balancing the difficulty of being far from home while still creating joyful and meaningful summers for our campers. For our Israeli campers and staff whose flights have been grounded, we eagerly await your arrival. You long to be at camp, and our camps count on you.

With decades of experience, Young Judaea is no stranger to navigating crisis. With steady leadership, dedicated staff, and a clear purpose, we respond swiftly and as a unified movement in moments like these.

Thank you for being part of our resilient Young Judaea community. We will continue to show up—for Israel, and for one another.

Oseh Shalom Bimromav, Hu Ya’aseh Shalom Aleinu, V’al Kol Yisrael, V’al Kol Yoshvei Tevel

Adina Frydman
CEO Young Judaea Global

By Margot Turk Calacuda, Year Course 1974-75

Growing up in the youth movement Young Judaea taught me many things that attribute to who I am today. One of the biggest lessons? That there are friends, there is family, and then there are those rare friends who become your family. My adrenaline is at a high level after spending a week with my “family friends.” The 1974-75 Year Course in Israel had a big impact on our lives, and together we celebrated the experience we had 50 years ago.

I had a small pre-reunion with a few friends in Haifa to catch up on life from the past 50 years. We had a culinary tour in Wadi Nisnas, the most authentic market and traditional market that emphasizes coexistence. Chef Avi showed off his skills in our kitchen for Friday night dinner while I showed off my clown toys. Early Shabbat morning we walked to Carmel Hai Bar, the nature reserve devoted to the raising of endangered and extinct animals. We drove to visit my Druze friend on the mountain for pita and labane before heading down to Ein Hod the Artist village.

In the evening we dined at my favorite downtown bistro and followed by a walk to to view the graffit in Haifa. After a night’s sleep for most, we met at the Louis Promenade for the best views of the lower section of Haifa, the bay all the way to Lebanon.

We had brunch at the fun Cafe Diyoma which gives a feeling of what cafes used to be like in Haifa. We drove to Nesher to the suspension bridges to “hang out”. We hiked with my speaker in hand and danced until suddenly a group of elementary school children joined us. I played a song that they would know and we all danced. Their madrich asked us “old ladies” if we’d ever heard of a camp in NY called TY. Really? Of all the places and people to ask! He was a shaliach at TY in 2009.

Laughing all the way back to the car we drove to Haifa University and up to the 30th floor of the Eshkol tower to see the panoramic view of Haifa and the surroundings. Our evening was down at the beach to meet my daughter and grandsons before our dinner at the Beach Club. With the sunset in the background, we got ready for our early wake up to take the train to Savidor station to meet all of our Chevre.

Next we took the long drive down to Kibbutz Ketura. We began with a brief walk to see some of the changes in the Kibbutz and ended up at the pool for a lovely BBQ dinner. Dinner was followed by our ice-breakers and a discussion about Israel over the past 50 years.

The next morning after breakfast we headed to the date fields. It was especially meaningful for those that planted trees 50 years ago. We continued on down to Eilat to have a choice of snorkeling or the underwater observatory. We had lunch at the Ice Mall and back to Kibbutz for free time plus the Argan Oil production tour. This was followed by a very moving Memorial Celebration of Life for those that had left us too soon. Sitting in the hut we reminisced about wonderful people we were fortunate to have had in our lives and no longer alive to make new memories together with us. We had dinner tasting beers and pizza at Beerzinut. That evening we got down and wild with karaoke and storytelling.

The morning began with an amazing hike, climb, and crawl at Timna park, a lunch of ice cream at Yotvta, and then back to kibbutz to get muddy on our faces.

We walked back to our meeting room for an inspirational panel discussion of how YJ impacted our lives in terms of activism.

We then had a quick talk about Medical Clowning in Israel (hmmm, I wonder who the clown was that spoke).

We made dinner together—pita on the saj—then hiked into the dark with ultraviolet lights for a magical Scorpion Safari. I wore white sneakers and loved seeing my feet light up as we danced under the stars. We ended the night with a cozy kumsitz, where our talented Texas crew brought guitars and voices for an unforgettable evening of nostalgic songs.

On the final day of departure we were accompanied by music like, “I had the time of my life”, “You’ve got a friend”, and “Leaving on a Jet Plane”, we hugged and boarded our bus with a stop at Sde Boker to pay respects to David Ben Gurion’s gravesite.

We disembarked at Savidor Station in Tel Aviv with more hugs repeating “until we meet again’ and ‘l’hitratot’ because we neve say goodbye. I love my friends that have made my life better just by being in it, and I thank you. It is true when they say that Young Judaea friends are forever.

Why am I writing this post?
To all Young Judaea alumni—before, during, and after 1974-75: If you will it, you can do it!

We were awesome then, and we’re still awesome now. Reunions remind us of that.

Leah Kayman of Keren Kolot at Kibbutz Ketura devoted so much time in assuring that we were happy. Details are so important.

Abraham Silver (YC 1975-76) was our passionate guide and definitely an integral part of the success of our reunion.

Last but not least, the determination of 25 participants that traveled so much distance (with stops due to cancelled flights to Israel) to join over 15 participants here in Israel. Your efforts despite delays, sirens, schlepping showed us all that it was worth the countless hours of emails, zoom talks, messages…. to make this all a success. On behalf of my partners in crime on the committee we embrace you all with love and laughter.

See more pictures from the reunion!

Ready to plan your Year Course reunion? Email alumni@youngjudaea.org and we’ll get you started!

By Mandy Funk, Year Course 1998-1999

What an incredible weekend! Thirty-five friends, scattered across the country and even as far as Spain, descended upon Austin, Texas on April 25th for our 26^th 1998-1999 Year Course reunion. This was only our second reunion since 2019, making it even more special. It was a weekend packed with all the elements that make these gatherings so special: love, laughter, deep conversations, and plenty of reminiscing.

We kicked things off right with some fun by the pool, soaking up the Texas sun and shaking off the travel dust. As evening approached, we got dressed up for dinner, but not before a truly special moment in the hotel lobby. We gathered to celebrate the start of Shabbat, lighting candles and saying the blessings over wine and challah. It was a beautiful and meaningful way to begin our time together. Dinner was classic Austin – delicious BBQ, followed by an evening of nostalgic music and dancing that had everyone on their feet.

Saturday morning brought an invigorating tiyul on the Austin Greenbelt, a perfect way to experience the city’s natural beauty. We worked up an appetite for a great lunch, then it was back to the hotel for more poolside party fun. As the sun began to set, we headed out for some authentic Austin flavor: tacos and dancing at the White Horse honky-tonk. The energy was infectious, and we danced the night away, reliving old memories and making new ones.

This reunion was a testament to the enduring power of friendship. Despite the years and the distance, the bond between us remains as strong as ever. Catching up, sharing stories, and simply being together felt like coming home. huge thank you to Young Judaea, YJ’s camps, and Year Course for bringing all these lovely individuals together and helping created lifelong friendships. Here’s to many more years and many more reunions!

Ready to plan your Year Course reunion? Email alumni@youngjudaea.org!

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