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.

On June 2, 2024 nearly 100 Young Judaeans of all ages representing YJ Camps, Year Course, Israel programs and clubs came together in unity with thousands of people at the Celebrate Israel Parade in New York City to show their unwavering support and love for Israel and for Jewish people worldwide!

This year, after the attacks of October 7th and subsequent war, the parade felt more important than ever. Nearly 60,000 showed up to march down 5th Avenue and show their solidarity with Israel and call for the release of the hostages.

 

Given the war in Israel,  we acknowledge that this Passover is radically different from all other Passovers. To add meaning and conversation to your seder this year, Young Judaea Central Shaliach, Amit Castel has written a Special Prayer for the Release of the Hostages in Gaza. Additionally, have meaningful discussion surrounding why this seder feels different than all others.

Download the YJ Seder Supplement Here

I signed up for the Young Judaea Young Professionals volunteer trip not knowing what to expect. People around me had more questions than I could count leading into my trip, while I didn’t have too many. I was taking part in a Young Judaea trip, and that has always been good enough for me. I knew that I would be well taken care of and was fixing to take part in a meaningful experience. 

My name is Barak Levy, and I have been a Young Judaean since I was eight years old. I was a camper at CYJ Texas for eight years, Tel Yehudah for two, and staff at CYJ Texas for four years before deciding to work at CYJ Texas full-time after college. Young Judaea turned me into the person I am today, so it only felt natural for my first time in Israel to be with Young Judaea.

Like many of my peers I felt somewhat helpless since October 7th and was wanting to find a meaningful way to support Israel. Because of this I felt an immense amount of pride volunteering on farms throughout this trip. I was able to pick produce and nurture crops at farms whose workers had been called to the IDF, called back to Thailand, or who were forced to stay in Gaza and I am extremely proud of the work I accomplished. It was incredible to be able to literally get my hands dirty and help Israel in my own way. It was an amazing experience to talk with the farmers every day and their gratefulness and positivity in times of uncertainty were something I’ll always remember. I enjoyed every second of our volunteer work and I truly fell in love with farming on this trip. Maybe there is something in the air in Israel, or maybe it’s my Texas genes, but farming was a spiritual experience for me. While the greenhouses could be hot and the work itself could be tedious, my mind often went to a meditative state where I found myself thinking about my Jewish journey, what’s going on in Israel, and the type of person I want to be. 

So much of what made the trip special were the conversations I had with Israelis. Every day, I shared my experience volunteering with Tel Aviv locals who would ask me about it and they would often share their perspective of what had been going on in Israel with me. I have never had that many spontaneous yet genuine conversations with strangers while living in America, and I’ll always charish those talks. Young Judaea even had a few Israelis join our trip to create bonds with us throughout our volunteering which helped create an extra level of meaning and connection to our trip.

There are a number of volunteer opportunities in Israel put on by various organizations, but Young Judaea trips are unique. In every Young Judaea program I have been a part of, I have made incredibly fast and strong relationships with my peers. For this trip, participants were ages 20 to 40. While this is a big age difference, it never seemed to matter, and by the first Shabbat, only two days into the trip, it felt like we were a family. From Shabbat prayers, conversations while farming, spontaneous Rikud (Israeli Dance) sessions, and long group walks around the city, our volunteer group built a tight-knit community that could only have been fostered through Young Judaea.

While there were so many amazing things I did and saw on the trip, I also couldn’t help but feel the sadness all around the country. Everywhere I looked, there were hostage photos and Bring Them Home murals. There was an extra level of sorrow, mourning, and anger to everything that has been going on by stepping into Israel for myself. I ate at a small falafel shop a hostage frequented every day, I spoke with a Nova survivor, and I took part in a Havdallah service with parents of hostages. I had been thinking of the hostages since October 7th, but there was a degree of separation and it was hard to put myself in the hostage’s shoes. Once I stepped foot in Israel this was no longer a challenge.

A couple of weeks after the trip, I can say that I’m glad I didn’t come on the trip with any expectations; I couldn’t have dreamed up a trip like this one. I got to give back to the country that is home to my people, create amazing friendships with fellow volunteers and Israelis, explore the country with new friends, feel what is happening in Israel for myself, and have a spiritual journey along the way. Every day, every step of the way, my time in Israel was incredibly impactful to me, and I have Young Judaea to thank for this amazing opportunity.

By Barak Levy, CYJ Texas Staff, Former CYJ Texas and Tel Yehudah Camper

By Rabbi Sara Cohen, Kibbutz Ketura

YJ Alum: Camp Judaea, Tel Yehudah, Year-Round Clubs, Madrich at Sprout Lake, Year Course, made aliyah to Kibbutz Ketura with Garin Shacharut

Immediately following the attacks on October 7^th Kibbutz Ketura began to provide housing, food, and many other necessities for approximately 400 evacuees. This number does not include Year Course who came to stay in our Keren Kolot guest facility during the beginning of the war.

Due to a little help from our friends (contributions mainly from the U.S., as well as our own tzedakah funds) we were blessed to able to host the evacuees without charge. Presently we are hosting 30 evacuees.  School-aged children of these families are integrated into our regional schools, and we are providing part time pre-school care for the younger kids.

In the early days of the war many members of the kibbutz were active in spontaneous, grass roots volunteer projects such as providing mattresses, toys, psychological counseling, driving people who needed to get to funerals, food, clothing and a range of other needs for the evacuees in our area, Eilat and the nearby army bases. Many of the evacuees who were being housed in Eilat did not only need to flee their homes, they were also dealing with the traumas of witnessing family members murdered , friends and family members being held hostage, and other traumatic events.

Many kibbutz members, residents, and children of members were immediately called into the army reserves and served for months in and around Gaza as well as on the northern border.  Some of these reserve soldiers are still away from home serving in their units. The kibbutz community rallied to provide support for the families of the reserve soldiers, many of them families with young children.  Presently there are also a number of kibbutz members who are actively supporting the families of the hostages in pushing to get their loved ones out of captivity, including attending weekly vigils in Eilat.  In addition, remarkably and heroically, the Arava Institute, an institute dedicated to peace building and environmental studies located on the kibbutz, was able to continue its program and activities, in spite of the war and despite of all of the technical and emotional difficulties involved in that effort.

By Tracie Basch, Participant on Alumni Trip to Israel, January 2024

On the morning of October 7th, I was the last in the family to wake up. Coming out of my room I remember my 17 year old, saying “Mom, you need a hug.” I looked at him strangely, still half asleep, and he repeated it. He hugged me and said, “There was an attack.” Life changed. When reality settled in, I had one thought – I needed to go to Israel. A few days later I shared this with my husband, who, with the wisdom of 19 years of marriage replied, “tell me what you’re going to do, and we can talk.” Within weeks, Young Judea organized an Israel trip. Details were light – circumstances change constantly during war. The what didn’t matter. Being there did. And so, at the end of January, I found myself at JFK waiting for my El Al flight to Israel.

Upon landing, the stress that permeated my body and soul since October 7th disappeared. I truly felt safe (experiencing a Red Alert later in the week didn’t change that). My introduction to the current Israel began in the airport. There was a large ‘Bring Them Home’ banner with dog tags of all sizes hanging. The way to immigration is lined with posters of hostages. Not the usual greeting, but a foreshadowing of the week ahead. A week Being of Service and Bearing Witness.

Being of Service
Two grassroots organizations, Achim Laneshek and Eran’s Angels field requests for items – food, clothing, diapers, formula, books – from displaced families. They receive no government funding. There’s something about packing items for a two-month-old that has known nothing but a hotel room that just breaks you.

For two days we were agricultural workers in the Hefer Valley’s Moshav Achituv, responsible for growing 80% of Israel’s cucumbers. Most workers are either serving or are Thai who returned home. We removed leaves so the cucumbers got nutrients and picked cucumbers. Helping the farmers and feeding a nation torn by war was one of the most impactful and meaningful things I have ever done. Knowing the work that it took to convert this malaria infested swampland into lush and fertile farms and that my hands in the dirt followed those that came before me, connected me to Israel as never before. I could have picked cucumbers for days.

Bearing Witness
There isn’t anyone in Israel who hasn’t been personally impacted by October 7th. We were honored to meet some who not only shared their experiences but want the world to hear what happened. Here are some of their stories.

Noam, a 45-year-old single father of three survived Nova. He described the festival’s atmosphere as being “like a heart above us”. People were happy, free, alive. Until 6:30am. There was disbelief because this was “not the place where people were going to butcher you.” He rescued 15 people that day.

We met Gili Adar’s parents at her grave. Just 24 when she was murdered at Nova. By all accounts, she wasn’t just a ray of light – she was the sun itself.

Adele Raemer shared not only her survival story on Kibbutz Nirim, but that of her son-in-law and grandchildren also living there. The kibbutz is now relocated to Be’er Sheva and interestingly for a collective community, nobody discusses whether they will return. For the record, she will.

Timor is an Ashkelon police officer living in Sderot. He usually works a desk, but he answered the call that morning and, knew that his job was to delay the terrorists from entering Ashkelon. Shot in the arm, he applied a tourniquet and continued his mission, saving an untold number of lives. He has already undergone three surgeries.

Ramo Salmn El-Hazayil, a Bedouin police officer, took a security job at Nova. When leaving home that morning, something made him take a third magazine. Armed with just a 9mm and two magazines (he gave the third away), he single-handedly rescued over 200 teenagers – driving back and forth along the road to a greenhouse. Regardless of the experience and the person, there are consistent themes – nobody discussed politics, but ALL feel betrayed and let down by the government; all are heroes but don’t think that – they believe they did what needed to be done and what anyone would have done; they admit to still being IN trauma, in fact the entire country is IN trauma; the main goal is to bring the hostages home – everything else is secondary; it’s hard to envision a tomorrow, when today is October 7th the XXX (fill in for today), but there’s confidence that tomorrow WILL COME.

The People
A lot can be said of Israelis. I liken them to a sabra fruit – hard and prickly on the outside, but once you crack that outer skin, it is soft and sweet. The shell is there out of necessity. How else can over 130,000 people be displaced from their homes, moved into hotels and yet still smile and laugh?

The hotels are full with displaced people. Refugees in their own country. The common areas are gathering places. The lobby bar – where kids do homework. The corridor – home to a knitting circle. It is noisy and boisterous. As life should be.

At Aroma Café, a mile from Gaza, we met soldiers eating. They kept refusing our offer to buy lunch – because what about the others? Only when assured that the others were taken care of, could we pay. Gaza is a stone’s throw away, and these soldiers thanked us and told us we were brave for coming, that our presence gave them strength to complete the mission. They kept asking how things were in the US. Chayalim are a breed unto themselves.

There are images forever seared in my brain. The soldier in Har Herzl at her boyfriend’s grave meticulously cleaning it, kissing the headstone, laying a rose, unable to leave. The man sitting between the graves of two brothers, born years apart, both dying October 7th. The group from Women Wage Peace who come to Hostage Square to keep attention on the hostages. The orthodox woman in Machne Yehuda in a feminine long flowing skirt and blouse, on her back a machine gun.

This is just the surface – I didn’t touch on the experts we heard from or our visit to Hadassah or what we heard from the head of the Rape & Sexual Assault Center Tel Aviv. I didn’t go into the details of each person’s story – trust me, each one is a harrowing tale of survival and how decisions made in a flash mean all the difference. To do all of this, would easily fill a novel.

If you can, go to Israel. Be there. It doesn’t matter if you can pack boxes, pick produce, make sandwiches – just be present. In addition to helping an economy devastated by war, our presence gives strength to the soldiers and the people. Am Yisrael Chai.

By Hila Beckerman, Participant on YJ Alum Volunteer Trip in Israel, January 2024

“So…how was it????” they ask with a smile on their face
In anticipation of fun stories from the Holy Land place,
The place where religions and cultures all melt,
The place where the bible landed its belt.

The place where the people want peace which won’t come,
Where humans are walking around like they’re numb,
Still in disbelief, horror, in shock and in pain,
From a dream exploded in torrential rain.

Coming into reality no one wanted to face,
Where a music festival turned into a race,
For survival, for escape, for a flight from the hell
That Noam, the survivor, will tell of his tale
Of sheer luck, sheer fate, and the guilt of survival,
The trauma on his face, his sign of arrival.

“How was it!?” I’ll reply, holding back tears
It was an awfully painful realization of fears.
The world marches on, people laugh, and they quip
But my mind is in Israel on the Young Judaea trip.
My body is home trying to get back to tomorrow,
But my mind is a sad heavy sponge full of sorrow.

For the world that didn’t have to suffer this way,
For Gili’s parents who sit and watch the sunset each day,
Without their beautiful girl with a smile you can’t miss
For all the families whose loved ones they’ll no longer kiss.

Yet despite all the sadness, anger, and hate,
We also bore witness to a power so great,
So unexpected, so strong, that it left me in awe –
The power of people that even so raw,
So damaged, so hurt, each stepped in where they could
Because staying at home was not something they would
Do at a time when their people were hurting,
Hotels full of families relocated, diverting,
Shouting at protests, demanding a change,
Coming up with solutions for problems that range
From toys for the children displaced from their homes
To food for the soldiers, shaving kits, and combs.

One little country, a home for the Jews
Saved from the slaughter by the kindness of Druze.
Working together, heroes arose
All fighting, united, against common foes.

And that is the light at the end of their tunnel
The light that will focus us all like a funnel,
Concentrating the power the people possess
The love and the beauty of a land which is blessed.
They – from within, and us from a distance,
Endlessly, lovingly offer assistance,
No task is too great, no objective too tall
To help our dear country up when it falls.
There is no doubt we will all dance again,
In peace and in safety, we’ll all sing Amen.

For more participant reflections click here