In Honor of Israel’s 75th Birthday, we are featuring Young Judaea alum who have made Israel their home!

 

By Miriam Alexander, Senior Program Manager of Year-Round Programming

 

My life has come full circle.

I was shaped into the leader I am today because of Young Judaea. And now, as Senior Program Manager of Year-Round Programming, I help lead the movement that shaped me.

As a homesick 8 year-old attending CYJ Midwest for the first time, I could have never predicted how the years ahead of me would determine my life’ s path. My summers at CYJ Midwest, Tel Yehudah, and experience on Year Course cultivated a deep sense of belonging to a tribe with rich traditions and fervent ruach (spirit). I had unknowingly joined a special kehillah (community) that would sustain me and support me for years to come.

Why is it that Young Judaea develops great leaders and innovators in so many fields?

For me it was experiences like being a madricha (counselor) where I developed mentorship and management skills. I implemented peulot (activities) and facilitated sichot (discussions) that taught me the value of critical thinking and open dialogue. With that, evolved a messy and beautiful relationship with Israel and a passion for working with the next generation of leaders and activists.

The teens I get to work with are energetic and eager; there is a fire within them just waiting to be ignited.

Our community creates spaces for teens to express themselves freely, feel equipped to speak confidently about Israel in an open tent, engaging with a range of perspectives (and at the end of the day to join together as one kehillah to sing “Uf Gozal”).

YJ helps teens foster a deep, nuanced, and rich relationship with Israel, cultivating them to be chalutzim (pioneers) in the future of the Jewish diaspora.

Our programs encourage Tikkun Olam and leaving the world a better place than we received it. Each year, teens vote democratically on a national initiative focused on a social cause. This year’s initiative is women’s rights with an emphasis on women’s health. We’re heading to Washington D.C. in April for National Initiative and Action Day!

Young Judaea is such an integral part of my identity that I struggle to discern where YJ ends and Miriam begins. Young Judaea is where I learned how to develop my voice, where I can express my truths, and where I feel most authentically myself.

YJ helped me embrace my namesake–Miriam–a powerful Jewess who led through song and dance, the two spaces in YJ that bring me the most joy and connection to my community.

As we approach Pesach, I celebrate Young Judaea and this generation’s Moshes and Miriams who I have the honor to ignite each and every day.

On February 26, 2023 70 Judaeans gathered together for Political Climate in Israel: A Conversation with Rabbi Adam Drucker, to virtually to discuss recent political events in Israel.

It was inspiring to see so many Judaeans gathered virtually together, continuing our movement’s legacy of learning and respectfully engaging in difficult conversations.

View a recording of the webinar below or click here to view on YouTube

During the webinar, Rabbi Drucker shared a supplemental presentation to further understand how Israel’s governmental system works:

Click here to view the presentation

As we are all following the unfolding events in Israel with much concern and solidarity, we feel that we can no longer sit on the sidelines as observers but that we must fully and unequivocally voice our concern and articulate our position in alignment with Young Judaea’s core values. 

Israel is our place, and now, more than ever, our Israeli chaverim must hear that we are standing along side them in solidarity and mutual concern.  

An interview with Mirele Goldsmith, founding member of the Jewish Earth Alliance

 

Tell is a bit about your background professionally and personally, including what Young Judaea programs you are an alumnus of?

I’m originally from Brookline, MA and joined Young Judaea as a freshman in high school. The region had decided to start a club in Brookline and I was recruited with a few other people to help. I went to Tel Yehudah for the Machon, and went to Israel on the Machon L’Madrichei Chutz La’Aretz (Year Course 1978). I also worked for hamagshimim.

I received my MSW in social work and spent a year doing field work in Tel Aviv. I’ve worked for a number of Jewish organizations including Hillel.

What inspired you to get involved in environmental causes?

In 1997 I went to Yosemite National Park for a wedding, and we went on the most popular day hike Vernal Falls. At the top of the mountain I saw something that changed my life: a solar compositing toilet. I found it to be a very interesting technology. There was a whole sign explaining how it worked and because of that toilet, I got involved in environmental issues.

After that I moved to New York and got involved with various environmental organizations and eventually went back to school to get my PHD in Environmental Psychology at City University of New York. My research was related to NYC water issues and making the water system more sustainable.  I started to get involved in grassroots activism to ban fracking in New York State.

At the time the Jewish environmental world was growing and I became involved with COEJL and Hazon and was part of the Jewish organization of the People’s Climate March in 2014.

It was at this time that became more interested in advocacy. Everything we were doing, it all depends on policy and what kind of policies are passed. When I was with Hazon’s Jewish Greening Fellowship they developed a group buying program for solar rooftop systems for Jewish Agencies and New York City had recently passed a law about community solar. We couldn’t have done this without that law.

How did the Jewish Earth Alliance get started?

After relocating to the D.C. area from New York, I found some like-minded people to start the Jewish Earth Alliance – a grassroots, all-volunteer network that calls on congress for climate action.  We try to make it easy for Jewish communities around the country to lobby the federal government and administration for climate solutions.

We recently had a webinar to prepare activists for the new congress and had 300 people attend! This event is leading up to a Tu BiShvat virtual lobby day we are organizing.

 

How did Young Judaea lead you to where you are today?

I always tell everyone that my start as an organizer came from Young Judaea. I give a lot of credit to Young Judaea for my ability to be an organizer and to lead.

Young Judaea was the first time in my life when I found friends who cared about what I cared about. We did things with each other and you build relationships through experiences. I mean, going to Israel for a year, back in those days you didn’t call home. Your friends were everything.

I do attribute a bit of my interest in the environment to Young Judaea. I was not an outdoorsy person before I went to Israel, going to Israel we spent a lot of time outside, hiking and those things, learning about geology and the agriculture of Israel. Looking back on it, it did influence me.

Why are you specifically a Jewish climate activist?

3 reasons

1. I was raised as a Jew and my beliefs and values come from Judaism, and I feel like I need to act on them. It’s not enough to just talk about protecting the earth. A lot of our holidays connect to nature and appreciation and awe for creation. We need to act on those values.

2. A lot of our holidays and rituals relate to nature and that makes it really meaningful for people to learn about environment and take action in the context of Jewish tradition. Lobbying on Tu BiShvat is something people can relate to.

3. We just need everyone. There is a slogan in the climate movement, “to change everything we need everyone” and, we need the Jews too. It’s much easier to organize people in groups and communities than to do it one by one.

What can young people do today to get involved in environmental causes and climate activism?

There are many ways that you can get involved but the main thing is to find a place where you feel comfortable and feel like you can make a difference. My work with Jewish Earth Alliance is about activating citizens, we are citizen lobbyists. You don’t have to be paid to be involved and make a difference.

Be Courageous. Another thing we learned from Young Judaea. Our motto was ‘Ani ve’ata neshaneh et haolam’, you and I will change the world. I wasn’t that courageous when I was younger, but over time I realized I can be. Fortunately in both America and Israel we can speak up, we can make  a difference, we should take advantage of that.

There are so many things we can do as citizens that seem very intimidating, but the main thing is to find like-minded people, join a group, and get involved. Because it’ all about how we can change the world together.

As told by Teddy Fischer, YJ Alum

I started working with Member of Knesset, and former Judaean Alon Tal, because I was looking for a sense of purpose.

That’s not to say my life isn’t full – in fact, my life is packed full of meaning. I have an amazing wife and two precocious small children. I have a very meaningful and full-time job as an engineer helping bring Israel its first underground light rail. However, I felt that something was missing.

What was missing? When I made Aliyah more than 10 years ago, I served in the Air Force as a lone soldier. Every morning when I put on my uniform, I felt a sense of purpose and service. Even when doing menial tasks like guard duty, I felt that I was there for a greater purpose.

That sense of purpose was there when I was active in Young Judaea – as a high schooler, camper, teen leader, camp counselor and youth advisor. I was part of a group of like-minded people who were making a difference. One of the things I always loved about Young Judaea is that it is a movement and not just another youth group. A movement implies moving towards a goal. A movement is something dynamic and constantly changing. A movement has a purpose.

I first met Alon Tal in Israel a few years ago through a friend from Year Course before he became the first Young Judaean to serve in the Knesset. When the opportunity arose to work with him, I knew it was something I had to do.

In my time with Alon, I have taken on coordination, outreach, and constituent services for English speakers in Israel and around the world. This includes, progressive (Conservative, Reform) Jews, olim in Israel, environmentalists from around the world and anyone who cares about Israel-Diaspora relations.

We have started an English language newsletter, launched a website, and initiated a series of Zoom talks – all in the interest of being open and transparent and trying to create a dialogue with these groups we seek to represent and speak for in Israel.

Though I did not know Alon well prior to working with him, we instantly hit it off. Part of that, was our shared background as American olim in Israel with a similar past – of which Young Judaea is a big part. Though we are separated by a generation, and though we both ‘graduated’ from the movement a long time ago, many of both of our friends and colleagues to this day are people from Young Judaea. Maybe it’s because we kept in touch with our YJ friends, or maybe they were a network for both of us when we made Aliyah, or maybe because so many former Judaeans are leaders in Jewish and environmental movements in the US and in Israel, but barely a day goes by that Alon, or I aren’t in touch with a former Judaean.

For me, that purpose I was looking for is a feeling of selflessness. It is doing something for a greater good, purely for the sake of doing something you believe in (and not for a paycheck or even personal fulfillment or advancement).

Working with Alon Tal I have found that same sense of purpose that I felt as a Young Judaean, fighting together with another Judaean who has risen high, for causes I believe in: the environment, progressive Judaism, Zionism, improved Israel-Diaspora relations, and maybe even peace.

 

By Betsy Diamant-Cohen

Belonging to Young Judaea was instrumental in giving me the tools I use every day.  

In Jr. High School, each organization gave a little pitch for membership, and I chose to join Young Judaea. After two years in Tsofim, I joined Bogrim.  My good friend Joe Pomper told me that the nearby town of Westport, Connecticut was going to be starting a YJ club for Tsofim and were looking for a madricha and asked if I would take the job. Without stopping to think about the fact that I was only one year older than the kids I would be leading, I agreed.  For two years, I met regularly with our Senior Advisor, Judy Targan, to plan out the programs. Since I couldn’t yet drive, I’d take the Sunday morning train to Westport and a woman from Hadassah would transport me to whichever child’s home was hosting the meeting that day.  Through leading the club, I learned techniques for getting people’s attention such as pausing and speaking more softly rather than trying to shout loudly, and clapping to a rhyme and starting a song which brought people together and directed their attention without needing to say a word.

Becoming more active in the movement in high school meant programming on a local level. Israeli folk-dancing and singing Hebrew songs were all part of the club’s weekly meetings; we had over 70 members in the Stamford Club!  I learned how to teach songs and dances and how to speak in front of a crowd without self-consciousness.

These skills came in handy when I was elected National President / Mazkira in 1974, and was given the incredible opportunity of field-tripping regions across the US.  Concepts of peer leadership as expressed eloquently by Elana Paru in her article about supervision, the creed “enthusiasm breeds enthusiasm,” the desire to make the world a better place, and the belief that everyone’s contribution – no matter how small – makes a difference, became part of my soul. 

After attending Year Course in 1975-76, I edited the Hamagshimim journal for a year or two and led YJ clubs in the Boston Area while studying at Brandeis. I studied library science and began work as a children’s librarian. In 1986, I made Aliyah, and shortly after I arrived in Israel I began working at the Youth Wing of the Israel Museum as their English Language librarian where I offered weekly preschool story times in English through a volunteer organization called JELLY (Jerusalem English Language Libraries for Youth).

In 1988 my son was born and I attended a music class with Canadian music educator, Barbara Cass-Beggs. Her class, “Your Baby Needs Music” was so wonderful that I continued to study with Barbara until I became a certified instructor using her “Listen, Like, Learn” approach.  Since story time at the Museum was for 3-5 year-olds, I combined what I had learned from Barbara with what I already knew about sharing books with young children, and developed a 30 minute program called “Mother Goose on the Loose” (MGOL) for parents with babies from birth to age 3.  MGOL programs ran weekly in the Young Wing library up until I moved back to the US in 1998.

During a job interview at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, I asked if I could present Mother Goose on the Loose programs.  The interviewer told me that recently published brain research showed that the architecture of the brain is built in the first few years of life, and that early experiences are important for influencing a child’s successful future. Not only could I do MGOL programs, but I was encouraged to start doing them as soon as possible. The need was great since programming for children under age three in the public library world at that time was rare and library directors were anxious to offer programs that parents wanted. Most librarians did not know what to do when directors told them to start programming for infants and toddlers; library literature on programming for babies was scant, and Google was not fully developed so searching online was not an obvious option.

Since MGOL was a time-tested program, I presented at a local library conference and wrote an article about it in a national library journal. Library systems from around the country began asking me to come out and train their children’s librarians. Each of my workshops started with the story of Mother Goose on the Loose’s origins, explaining that MGOL originated from the Youth Wing of the Israel Museum with a 30-minute weekly nursery rhyme program for an audience of Jews, Muslims, Christians, people of the Bahai faith, and others. Because we were all singing together and clapping for each other’s children, a magical sense of community was formed. To this day, the same sense of community grows wherever MGOL is offered.

Because of my time in Young Judaea, I was comfortable presenting about MGOL to large crowds, telling stories, explaining how to teach songs, and using enthusiasm to breed enthusiasm.

So my workshops went smoothly and Mother Goose on the Loose spread. (I also loved being able to talk about Israel and present it in a positive light – especially when I was in areas where people had not met any Jews in person before.) MGOL won a national award in 2002, I won an award because of MGOL in 2004 and a publisher asked me to write a book about it. Eventually, MGOL became so popular that I left my salaried job at the public library and formed Mother Goose on the Loose, LLC.  I now earn my living by providing trainings, workshops, webinars, and online classes. I often present at conferences and occasionally give keynotes. I’ve had 9 books published (how-to manuals for librarians.)

I credit Young Judaea for giving me the courage to tackle new situations and meet new people with confidence, to share my ideas with others and to listen carefully when they are sharing their ideas with me.

Because of the respect given to the ideas of others, fruitful partnerships have enabled MGOL to expand and be adapted for use in hospitals, laundromats, WIC centers, prisons, homeless shelters, elementary schools, synagogues, churches, and more. Now that I’ve had have plenty of time to learn about the research behind early childhood development, I do believe that giving children a strong start in the early years can set up the framework for their success. I am grateful that Mother Goose on the Loose has been able to have a positive impact on so many people, and I am grateful to Young Judaea for giving me the exact tools needed to bring Mother Goose on the Loose this far.

Last month, the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) named me as the recipient of their 2022 Distinguished Service Award. This is a huge honor; ALSC is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and  enhancement of library service to children. Although I did not become a Jewish Professional, I am certainly have used all of my Young Judaea skills to help make the world a better place.

By Elana Paru

With tremendous gratitude for my active involvement in Young Judaea many years ago, I wanted to share this piece I wrote for the Wexner Foundation about why Supervision Matters so much in the workplace.  My experiences as a madricha at CYJ Sprout Lake and as a merakezet at CYJ Texas over 30 years ago helped shape my professional path.  Young Judaea taught me the importance of using my leadership skills and authority to invest in others.  Thanks to my family and extraordinary YJ role models, madrichim, and friends, I have devoted my career to treating people with compassion, integrity, and respect and leading with kindness and transparency. 

https://www.wexnerfoundation.org/supervision-matters/

After working as a professional in Jewish organizations for over 26 years, I have rarely come across an organization that has created and upheld a healthy and clearly defined culture of and standards for professional supervision across the entire staff and workplace.

Why is that?

The main reason is that supervision is commonly understood as one person with greater authority making sure that someone else has completed specific assignments and projects efficiently and in a timely manner. While this is certainly one important role that supervisors play, the process of supervision is so much more than task management and operations. Supervision is about developing a professional, collaborative relationship in which both parties share responsibility and feel accountable to one another as they both strive to meet the goals of their organization. Supervision is a skill and a craft – one’s title, salary, and professional portfolio do not automatically or universally make someone an effective supervisor.

So what does it take to be an effective supervisor? Among other things, supervisors should articulate expectations, goals, available resources, and provide direction and guidance to direct reports, who then apply knowledge, skills, and competency to complete the work. The most productive supervisory relationships are built on trust, confidentiality, support, constructive feedback, respect, safety, and self-care. Effective supervision is critical for employee retention, career advancement, productivity, and positive morale at work.

Interestingly, the most valuable supervision training I ever received took place years before I officially launched my career and accepted my first full-time job. The most rewarding culture of supervision I have been a part of was when I worked as a camp counselor and unit head for several summers during high school and college. As a part of staff orientation, I was asked to think about who I wanted to be as a camp counselor and how I wanted to “show up” for my campers. I had to make sure that my campers were fulfilling their responsibilities like making their beds, participating in activities, washing their hair, writing letters home, being respectful of others, and keeping track of their belongings. I had to find ways to hold them accountable for their actions and at the same time I had to let them be independent and express themselves authentically.

Just as professional supervisors engage with their direct reports, I was expected to get to know my campers by listening to them, caring about their well-being, helping them feel a sense of belonging, and encouraging them to be the best version of themselves. I focused on their interests, strengths, challenges, fears, accomplishments, goals, and interactions. When campers were asked to do something that was out of their comfort zone or made them feel insecure, I would guide them to try new things, ask for help, and believe in themselves. I felt responsible for making sure that my campers understood that putting forth their best effort was expected even though they would still make mistakes, let people down, and feel disappointed sometimes. My job was not to make things easier or more difficult for my campers, but rather to help them approach whatever they confronted with an open mind, fresh perspective, and a strong sense of self.

My role as a camp counselor was not only to help my campers effectively contribute to the camp community, but I was also positioned to serve as their advocate. I introduced them to new people beyond our bunk and age group, I recommended them for special opportunities at camp, and I supported them whenever I could. Just like a supervisor, there were challenging times when after multiple attempts to help a camper thrive and fit in and adhere to camp policies, I had to work with the camper’s parents and other staff to accept the fact that our camp was not the right fit for that child at that time. Being responsible for other people is challenging no matter where you work. But as I have learned, it can also be the most rewarding aspect of one’s job.

There is no doubt that effective supervision requires a lot of time at the start. However, designing a plan to thoughtfully supervise staff is crucial for the employee to succeed and is a direct reflection of the supervisor and the organization as a whole. Setting up direct reports for success from the outset most often results in a huge return on investment.

Over the last several years I have trained clergy, senior executives, and managers on how to be effective supervisors. I have also had the good fortune of training direct reports on how to maximize supervision experiences, how to establish strong relationships with supervisors, and how to navigate difficult conversations. Supervisees are often surprised to learn that they are empowered to drive the process to ensure an optimal supervision experience.

In addition to these distinct responsibilities of supervisors and supervisees, there are a number of joint responsibilities in supervisory relationships, including celebrating successes, identifying growth opportunities, documenting accomplishments, and sharing important information with one another. It is critical for supervisors and direct reports to establish guidelines for clear and open communication and to be strategic about how and when to share constructive feedback with one another.

In the current climate of remote work as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is even more important for supervisors and direct reports to be transparent, direct, and communicative with one another. The absence of regular in-person interactions and hands-on supervision can be more challenging for everyone. It is particularly important for direct reports to be proactive in seeking information, understanding and managing expectations, and checking in with supervisors to ensure alignment. Both direct reports and supervisors should be careful not to act on assumptions, but rather on facts and truths. This may require more frequent and intentional communication than usual because there are no casual opportunities to run into someone’s office to get a quick reaction to something or an answer to a question. Over the past two years, I have seen many supervisory relationships shift in positive ways by creating a safe space for employees to honestly share how they are feeling and to be encouraged to take care of themselves. The more an employee feels seen, heard, and cared for by one’s supervisor and organization as a whole, the more likely that employee is to maximize value, performance, and overall impact at work.

What I learned at camp over 30 years ago continues to shape my thinking around supervisory relationships. It is no surprise that many of my friends and colleagues were once my counselors, camp directors, bunkmates, and campers. Supervision is not just a task but rather an opportunity to invest in someone’s growth and professional journey while ensuring that the work is getting done and organizational goals are being met. I am committed to helping organizations understand the value and impact of effective supervision and to embed it as a central component of their workplace culture. When this happens well, everyone involved is primed to be a happy camper.

Humans of Young Judaea Feature, by Ayal Willner

The values of Tikun Olam, the numerous lines in the Torah where we are enjoined to remember that we were once slaves in Egypt and to treat people well, along with the sayings of the prophets about taking care of each other, are all values that Young Judaea holds dear and imprints upon all who participate in the movement.  While I have always been involved in giving back to my community, I decided to step up my game in 2013.  As a Pediatric ENT doctor, I searched for a way to use my skills and experience (yup, I’m old enough to have a lot of that!), to find my corner of the world and fix it up as best I could.

I found Mending Kids, an organization whose goal is to provide medical care for children in need.  We do this by sending medical missions and sometimes solo surgeons to places where care is difficult to get, and by arranging for patients to be sent to centers of excellence to get the care they need. This is very often on different continents from where the patients live (including a partnership with Israeli hospitals). We also bring education to physicians around the world via teleconference symposia on many topics. Mending Kids has a yearly Hometown Mission, where kids from the LA area and beyond can receive care that they would otherwise have not be able to receive.

With Mending Kids, I have travelled to Guatemala about fifteen times and to Tanzania three times. In Guatemala I have led fifteen member surgical teams where I’ve treated about 100 patients and performed over 100 surgical procedures in one week.  Some cases are relatively straightforward, while others can be very complex requiring staged operations over many yearly missions to achieve the goal of helping one particular child.  Each one of the kids and their families are always so grateful for the care they receive, and each member of our team is grateful to them for allowing us to make the world just a little closer to whole.

In Tanzania, where there are physicians are eager to learn, but where surgical equipment and training is in short supply, the Mending Kids team brings both.  Mending Kids recently arranged for a $60,000 set of airway surgical instruments to be donated by the Karl Storz company to the Bugando Medical Center in Mwanza, Tanzania. Over the last two missions to Mwanza, we delivered the instrumentation as well as trained the residents and attending staff on proper use of them by performing surgical cases together. We are working to secure the necessary surgical instrumentation that will be required for our ultimate goal: to have a self-sustaining program where the surgeons we train will go on to create a pool of ENT physicians that serve the 15 million people served by Bugando Medical Center.

My years in Young Judaea from 7^th grade chanich, 2 years at TY, Year Course ’79-’80, through being a madrich for the UNYS region and at TY, have all brought me lifelong friends, and helped me integrate Jewish Values into my very core. I am now a YJG board member; an opportunity to give back to such an important piece of myself, Young Judaea.