My name is Nomi Gedzelman, and I have served as the National Mazkira of Young Judaea for this past year, 2024-2025. As the National Mazkira, I get to be the voice of the teens in our movement — and there’s a lot to unpack there, because we have such a wide range of opinions, experiences, and perspectives.

As teens, we’re in this really transitional space — not quite kids anymore, not quite adults — figuring out who we are and what we stand for. It’s so important that during this time, we have spaces where we can grow, lead, and express ourselves, even if we’re still figuring things out. Places where it’s okay to make mistakes and learn from them. Places that help us understand not just where we’re going, but also where we come from.

Young Judaea is one of those places. It’s a community that gives teens a platform to lead, to be heard, and to connect — especially with Israel. And that connection is so important, especially now. As American teens, sometimes it can be hard to fully feel that weight, because we’re living so far away. But through Young Judaea — through our programs, our Israel trips, our camps, our friends from Israel, our shlichim — we build real relationships with Israelis. We hear their stories. We know their names. We understand that behind every siren and every moment of silence is a real person with a family, with dreams, with a future that was cut short. Young Judaea doesn’t just talk about Israel — it connects us to Israel in a way that’s personal, emotional, and lifelong. 

Especially now, after October 7th and everything that’s happened since, it’s more important than ever for Jewish teens to feel connected — to our people, to our history, to our homeland. We need places where we can not only express our love for Israel, but also grapple with the hard stuff — the losses, the complexities, the realities of what it means to be a Zionist today.

This past year has been so inspiring, seeing what we as a community were able to accomplish within our movement, and the impact we’ve made. In November, I had the opportunity to represent Young Judaea at the Z3 Project Conference in Palo Alto, CA. It was in this moment that I became determined to bring this kind of thought-provoking and quality content to our National Convention. Having the opportunity to inspire the Young Judaea community and see my peers inspire each other has been monumental and has taught me even more the importance of the space Young Judaea provides us with.

At first event of the year Mazkirut Leadership Training weekend, I had the pleasure of meeting the Regional Maz members from across the country, and I was struck by confidence and determination. From there, three of our new regions took off and held incredible events, in the Southeast, Texas and LA. In March, I flew to Texas and attended the first ever SWeeT convention and had the best time. Seeing the power of our Young Judaea traditions across the country yet again showed me the power and strength we hold as a community.

I want to thank everyone for making this year as special as it was and also remember 1909 when Young Judaea was founded giving us all the place to become leaders. We are carrying the fundamental values of Zionist youth leadership on and continuing to expand ourselves. I am so excited to continue being involved in the ways that I can and to see the unique takes on year round programming as we embrace pluralism, intellectual conversations, traditions, the Jewish people, and most of all each other. 

As we transition to adulthood, we should have the power to dictate what our adult world will look like. Now more than ever it is important for teens to have places to express their voices and to develop themselves into leaders.

Recently, there’s been a rise of antisemitism, making it clear that it is not just thing of the past. We must reflect to understand the potential dangers of the rise in antisemitism that is happening now. In April, Young Judaea, along with Park Avenue Synagogue and other local partners, spearheaded Education to Action: Teen Summit on Israel and Antisemitism — a space made for teens, by teens, to talk honestly and openly about what we’re facing right now. We heard from powerful voices like Adela Cojab and Montana Tucker — both of whom have taken bold stands against antisemitism and anti-Zionism, using their platforms to educate, remember, and speak out. Montana shared how the stories of her Holocaust survivor grandparents fuel everything she does, especially since October 7. Her message hit hard: we are the next generation of memory keepers and changemakers. A group of teens, myself included, came together to write a statement called “Voices Not Victims” — a statement that’s not just about what’s happening to us, but what we’re going to do about it. It’s a call for every Jewish teen to add their name, their story, and their voice — because we’re not just watching history unfold. We’re shaping it. And when we stand together, loud and proud, we’re not just honoring the past — we’re building the future.

Young Judaea empowers us to be those kinds of leaders. Leaders who remember. Leaders who build. Leaders who create strong Jewish communities rooted in pride, resilience, and real connection.

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

By Shira Babajanov, Chavurah Programmer

One of the core pillars that Young Judaea prides itself on, is the commitment to be a strong pluralistic movement. For me, pluralism in YJ is prioritized through programming and marketing.

Over the past year while leading discussion groups at YJ Teens conventions, I’ve learned how to facilitate conversations around controversial topics. Each group was able to hold respectful dialogue despite differing opinions. This was possible because as members of Young Judaea, we value pluralism — creating a space where difficult conversations can happen without fear of judgment.

One example of a program I planned was a conversation on freedom of speech during protests on college campuses, and a discussion on how teens feel about it. Initially, I was worried about the topic being too controversial or that the groups would be uninterested. However, I was pleasantly surprised when my group ran with this topic and created their own conversation about the limits that should or shouldn’t be placed onto the first amendment. I love that YJ allows us to have conversations about serious issues in the world whether it be religious, political, or Zionist in nature.

The emphasis on pluralism in YJ enables teens to not only feel safe in group environments, but to feel confident in sharing their opinions on matters that are relevant to their interests. 

By Nomi Gedzelman, National Mazkira 2025

When I was elected to be National Mazkira at National Convention last year, one of the things I was most looking forward to was the opportunity to inspire and educate my peers. As the 2025 National Convention approached, I knew that the rest of the National Mazkirut and I were organizing something special and I couldn’t wait to see it come to life.

As the buses arrived at National Convention, my excitement grew, and my vision was starting to come to life. The first few hours were filled with that unique magic of reuniting with old friends who are like family, the feeling of tight hugs and the sounds of excitement. Our beautiful Young Judaea style Shabbat was led by National Mazkirut and included traditions from across our movement and all of our camps. Shabbat was filled with discussions and education around Israel led by the fantastic Israel Social Action Programmers from all Regional Mazkiryot and the inaugural Israel Intern.  Of course, we had those moments of laughter and bonding, as we played board games, did yoga, and a rousing game of hot takes.

This year, though, Sunday looked different than any other day at a past National Convention. National Convention is typically laid back, with peer-led discussion groups and lots of time to hang out with friends. With combating antisemitism as the National Initiative, a very urgent and relevant issue, I felt inspired to scale National Convention up. 

During Shira on Shabbat, right before Havdalah, I got up before everyone to set the tone for Sunday, a conference-style day focused on combating antisemitism. I told everyone to be slightly more professional, wear jeans, and wash their face to prepare for the outside guests whom I was inspired to bring to the Sunday conference. I was slightly afraid that my peers and friends would be hesitant about focusing and remaining attentive the next day. Still, I knew after hearing Adela Cojab speak they would be all in. 

On Sunday morning, I stood in front of all of Convention, just like the CEO of the Oshman Family JCC, Zach Bodner, did in Palo Alto, CA, at the Z3 Project Conference, ready to inspire my peers to take a stance against antisemitism and take on the vital advocate role of our generation. I was blown away by Adela Cojab’s presence in California, when I was there representing Young Judaea at the AZYC Teen Leaders Summit, and her story of advocating against antisemitism on NYU’s campus.

 It is critical for Young Judaea to be teens’ inspiration in uniting against antisemitism, and as the National Mazkira, I feel it is my job to do whatever is in my power to empower my friends and fellow teens.

I introduced Adela, smiling at her and the rest of the room with admiration and pride. As she shared her story, I looked around, and not surprisingly, everyone’s eyes were glued as they nodded in agreement, engaged in Adela’s story. The room was filled with questions and hopeful faces. Vanessa Hidary then presented a spoken word piece about reclaiming her Zionism in the past year, captivating people’s ears with her poetry. Throughout the day, people came up to me with praises, “Wow, Nomi, this is amazing,” “Nomi, how did you find these people?” and “Nomi, how can I do something like this at my regional convention?”, and every time I was approached I felt a sense of relief that my hard work had paid off. Most of all, I am encouraged to continue on this mission of empowering my peers, sharing the want to make a change through the Young Judaea pillars of Peer Leadership, Pluralism, Zionism, Jewish Identity, and Tikkun Olam. 

On Monday morning, during our final Peulah, I asked a series of questions to close out our packed, fantastic weekend. I asked, who now is going to go home and get involved with their regional Maz if it already exists, or start it up from scratch? The amount of hands that went up filled me with joy and courage. I am so lucky to be part of the Young Judaea family and to be able to bring new people to it, sharing the love and inspiring teens to be pioneers in the Jewish communal world.

See Pictures from National Convention 2025!

Hello, my name is Nomi Gedzelman and I am so excited to be the National Mazkirah of YJ Teens this year.

I have been part of Young Judaea since starting at Sprout Lake in 2017, continuing through my years at Tel Yehudah and this past summer on Gesher in Israel. I’ve also been on Regional Mazkirut in the Northeast for the last two years.

My strong love for the Young Judaea community inspires me every day, which is why I am grateful and excited to be in this position this year. I hope to spread this love and significantly increase nationwide engagement. We are starting off the 2024-2025 with more regional leaders in more places than in many years, and will be kicking off programming in NYC, Northern NJ, Chicago, Pittsburgh, LA, Atlanta, and Austin local areas, and planning for three regional conventions in the spring, following our annual National Convention in January!

This past weekend at Mazkirut Leadership Training, all Maz members had the ability to bond and share our excitement for the coming year. We spent the whole weekend developing meaningful programming dealing with Zionism and our relationships with Israel and more. Every Mazkirut member is extremely dedicated to the Young Judaea community and its core values. I am confident that this year will be extremely meaningful and so much fun.

As we dive into the year with our National Initiative being antisemitism, we will learn about its roots and how we can combat it as young Jewish leaders. Mazkirut leadership training weekend made it clear that our unique, inviting, and warm community has and will continue to be an extremely important driving value. Throughout the year we are going to have local Havdalah hangs, Friday night dinners, Rikud and more of our traditions which have always brought us together as a community.

I can’t wait to see you at a YJ Teens event this year!

By Erica Cohen, Director of Teen Education

As I reflect on this past year, I can’t help but feel incredibly fortunate to be part of something truly special. Working with teens has always been a passion of mine (I always say I’ve been doing this since I was one, which is now about 20 years!), but this year has been especially rewarding. I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of our teens’ Jewish journey during a particularly complex time, and witness their growth. It has been nothing short of inspiring. 

Seeing how our teens harness their leadership and engage with their traditions and community is heartwarming. It’s not just about teaching; it’s about guiding and nurturing their curiosity, their questions, and their desire to connect with something greater than themselves.

One of the most fulfilling aspects of my role has been witnessing the excitement that comes with planning meaningful events and activities. Whether it’s a retreat, a volunteer project, or a discussion group, seeing our teens get excited about their Jewish identity and heritage is truly infectious. Their enthusiasm reminds me why I do what I do—to help ignite that spark of curiosity, passion and lifelong engagement.

This year, we’ve had some incredible moments. From deep discussions about Jewish values to fun-filled events celebrating holidays and traditions, every interaction has been an opportunity to learn and grow together. Led by the National Mazkirut, we pivoted as a movement to refocus on Israel after October 7, and they found powerful ways to weave in the complexities, nuance, and growing tensions. More than ever, we sat at the crossroads of Zionism, Pluralism and Tikkun Olam, demonstrating that these are stronger when they are in harmony, and relieving, perhaps even for a moment, the societal pressure to choose among them.

What’s been particularly rewarding is the sense of community that has developed. We’ve created a space where teens feel supported, valued, and empowered to explore their Jewish identity on their own terms. It’s about creating an environment where they feel safe to ask questions, express doubts, and ultimately find their own path. Led by our Regional Mazkiriot in the Northeast, Midwest and Texas, teens planned and led programs for their peers throughout the year. In the spring, teens in LA and Atlanta heard the call to action and began to organize to bring YJ Teens to their communities. We will be starting the coming year with a record 31 Teen Leaders across the movement, and we are certain this is only the beginning.

Looking ahead, I’m excited about what’s to come. We have some amazing plans in the pipeline—more engaging programs, meaningful discussions, and opportunities for our teens to connect with each other in new and exciting ways. I can’t wait to see how they continue to evolve, both individually and as a community. We are building a staffing structure to support our regional growth, and developing new organizational partnerships that will elevate our ability to meet this important moment.

I am extremely grateful to have an incredible professional team who worked hard this year to ensure that the teens were supported and set up for success! Amit Castel joined us in September as the first Young Judaea Central Shaliach in over ten years, and is serving as our director of Israel Education. Our year-round team this year included Allegra Levone, Barak Levy, Lea Kamil, Eitan Weinkle, Chaim Steinberg, Sara Kasler and a number of event and convention staff. Our work would not be possible without this tremendous team.

So, here’s to another year of learning, growing, and celebrating our shared journey. Working with teens has been a privilege, and I’m grateful for the chance to be a part of something so special. Together, we’re shaping the future of our community and helping our teens find meaning and joy in their Jewish identity.

Thank YOU to the teens who are part this movement for allowing me to join you on your journey. Here’s to many more inspiring moments ahead!

From the National Mazkir
Jonny Jentis

It has been an honor to lead the National Mazkirut this year. I look back on the year, and despite the tumultuous world we were thrust into, I can only think of how proud I am of everything National Maz and I have accomplished. From running one of the largest National Conventions in years, to kickstarting involvement across the country in areas we haven’t been able to reach for years, this year has been more than anything I could have imagined.

More than what we accomplished, I am grateful for the wonderful people I have gotten to meet and work with throughout the year. I want to thank my dear friends, Sari, Ilan, Dora, Leo, and Noah for being so devoted and passionate throughout the year and without whom I could not have done anything. I also want to thank Sara, Erica, Allegra, Amit, and all the other wonderful YJ staff who worked so hard to help us be successful; without their support, nothing we tried this year would have been possible. Although it seems as though my time at YJ Teens is coming to an end, I will always remember how spectacular my experience was and I cannot wait to continue to see how future Mazkiruts will make YJ flourish.

From the Northeast Mazkir
Sam Orshan

My time this year on the Northeast was very transformative. I had the privilege of ushering in a new era for Young Judaea and YJ Teens with the consolidation of the Northeast region. I was able to run a successful event every month this year as the Mazkir. My favorite event this year was the Havdallah hang and I hope Northeast can run even better programs next year and grow the region even more.

From the Midwest Mazkir
Akiva Weinkle

This year gave me a tremendous amount of hope for the future of the Midwest Region. All year I got to see the ruach of Midwest YJ both in person, at Pittsburgh events, and through pictures for Chicago. However, the highlight of the year was Midwest Convention where over 50 Midwesties, over half at their first convention, showed up to build community and memories. I got to see young leaders step up and take on the challenge of growing this region moving forward and I can’t wait to see what they do.

From the Texas Mazkira
Shira Babajanov

This year YJ kids at Texas had many successful programs that highlighted the community service, Jewish, and Zionist aspects of Young Judaea. This year we raised our attendance and started building up our region with the city committees to ensure programs run as best as possible.

From the (newly reopened) Southeast Region,
Lila Duke

Thanks to several months of tireless work and the endless support of our Young Judaea staff and National Maz, the Atlanta YJ Teens organization is up and running again! Although we have had just a few events so far, including a CJ Rikkud, a movie night, and a pool party, the spirit and community of those who attended have been evident and suggest a strong Young Judaea presence in the Southeast soon in the future!

From the (newly reopened) YJ West Region
By Hallie

We are so excited to have started the LA region! We will have year round events once a month starting next year with the goal to make an impact, bring our community together, raise awareness on Israel, and have fun!

By Erica Cohen, Director of Teen Education

“We have to take back Zionism…don’t let anyone else tell you what Zionism means to you.”

“It was so meaningful to put my feelings about Israel into words.”

As the Director of Teen Education for Young Judaea, I was lucky enough to witness many vulnerable moments like these between teens at the inaugural NJ iTeen Summit that happened this past Sunday, at the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades. Over 75 teens, parents, and educators came together to learn, dialogue, and be in community for one day.

This teen-centered conference provided a deep-dive into the complex Israel dialogue that Jewish American teens are finding themselves surrounded by in the post-October 7 world. They grappled with the question of where their relationship to Israel and their values intersect, utilizing maps and historical facts to support their evolving assertions with brand new programming. In other rooms, teens studied about power, vulnerability and responsibility after October 7, and how to manage increased tensions with family and friends in this hot sociopolitical climate. Throughout the day, they had opportunities to learn from and with the many accomplished Israel educators.

The last six months have been a complicated time to be a Jewish American teen.

Often faced with competing messages that challenge the synergy of their values, sometimes receiving one set of messages at school, one at home, and another on the vast internet universe, teens rarely have a place where they can dialogue without defense, or access the opportunity for nuance.

This moment has never been more ripe for Young Judaea to provide high quality, immersive access to Israel education – to those teens already in the YJ ecosystem, and beyond. The NJ iTeen Summit, hopefully an annual and replicable event, was an example of this goal in action.

It seems that Young Judaea is a legacy movement at a grassroots moment, and we, alongside the teens, have big plans.

By Akiva Weinkle

My name is Akiva Weinkle and I am in 12th grade. I attended CYJ Midwest for seven years as a camper as well as Tel Yehudah for two. This past summer I worked as an MIT at Midwest and plan to work there again this summer as a madrich.

I am heavily involved with the Pittsburgh YJ club as a Bogrim member where I help to plan and run day events in addition to our annual Shabbaton. It was actually at this Shabbaton in 2012 that I first experienced YJ, ever since then it has been at the center of my life. I have served on Midwest Mazkirut for the last 3 years and am currently the Midwest Mazkir. 

A few weeks ago I had the privilege to gather with 50 other Judaeans from around the Midwest and all over the country to spend a weekend together at Midwest convention. Getting the opportunity to escape from the routine of the school year and step into the YJ world for just one weekend is a magical experience. Whether it be the peulot, shira, or just silly moments with friends I look forward to it everything all year and cherish it for the short time I get to live it. 

This convention was special for a number of reasons, the first being that it was the most attended Midwest convention in a long time. Bringing all these teens together meant old friends could reconnect and new friendships could be formed. It also meant that more people got to have their voices heard when electing the Midwest Mazkirut for the 2024-25 year. This was also my last convention, and having a chance to lead it as the Mazkir was truly special. I got to make sure that as many people as possible felt the incredible joy YJ can provide. While I will not be at convention next year what I saw this year gives me incredible hope for the upcoming years of the Midwest region. I saw so many 8th and 9th graders creating friendships and memories that will last them for years and keep them coming back to YJ for years. 

Seeing those chanichim enjoy convention is the exact reason why I love being on Midwest Mazkirut; getting to see the next generation of Judaeans appreciate all that it can offer as a pluralistic Jewish space is, for me, the most rewarding aspect of Maz. Over my 12 years in YJ, I have taken all that has been offered in terms of Jewish experiences and connecting with Israel and to have the opportunity to give back to the movement that gave me so much means the world to me. This desire to share the incredible things YJ has to offer stems from being a second-generation Judaean. My father was heavily involved with YJ in high school and worked at CYJ Midwest for many summers, and his decision to share this incredible movement with my brothers and me is what has made me so passionate about sharing it with the next generation of Judaeans.

By Jonny Jentis, National Mazkir 2023-2024Z

10 years. For 10 years, I spent my Havdalah circled around a singular candle, arms resting on the shoulders of my closest friends. For 10 years, I have learned and grown, discovering my Jewish identity and the world I live in. For 10 years, I have lived and breathed Young Judaea. As I stood at the center of Havdalah this year at National Convention, I began to realize my time as a teen in Young Judaea is coming to an end. Ever since 7-year-old Jonny sat on the basketball courts at Camp Sprout Lake, I have known Young Judaea to be my second home. As I continue to work at TY and watch the movement grow, I cannot help but feel grateful for all that I’ve been given.

National Convention wrapped up a few weeks ago and I cherished every second. As teens from across the country flew in for the weekend, hugs and exclamations filled the air. Teens from Washington, Texas, Chicago, Georgia, Pittsburgh, Israel, and many other places joined us in eastern Pennsylvania with nearly 100 teens in attendance, the largest National Convention in countless years. The YJ atmosphere fell into place immediately, with teens meeting and laughing through the night. A peaceful Kabbalat Shabbat was followed by hilarious Oneg to end the evening.

Throughout the weekend, peulot planned by the National Mazkirut created riveting discussions amongst the teens on what it means to be a Jew in the diaspora, how to examine the Israel-Palestine conflict without bias, and the effect of social media on global conflict. The broad perspectives brought by our teens never failed to blow me away as I led my discussion group. Conversations that should have taken 20 minutes continued into chofesh and beyond as teens beautifully expressed their unique perspectives. Getting to watch and participate in these discussions has always been a highlight of my YJ experience and I was thrilled to see how invested everyone became. 

Further cementing our commitment to the National Initiative of Israel, our wonderful CEO Adina Frydman ran a touching activity discussing the current conflict, the hostage situation, the “Hostages on the Heart” campaign, and what we could do. All the teens at Convention wrote touching cards to the brave IDF soldiers serving in the conflict.

Convention could not have been complete without electing the next National Mazkirut during Asepha. Almost every election had highly contested runnings and candidates won by only a few votes. As the current National Mazkirut begins working on making the transition as smooth as possible, I am sure that the incoming group is going to be wonderful. I wait with anticipation to see the accomplishments they are able to boast throughout their terms.

As people left convention, there seemed to be a singular thought amongst participants: When’s the next one? Teens across the country have taken it upon themselves to work with us to create active groups in their communities. With events being planned in Georgia, Texas and LA, it seems that Young Judaea is only going to continue to grow. I, myself, am extremely excited for Midwest Convention to see all the hard work that they have been putting in over the past few months. 

Before I end, I want to thank all of the people who made Convention possible. Firstly, everyone who came; Convention could not have possibly been as amazing as it was without everyone in attendance. The willingness to try new things, participate, and be happy created the atmosphere of YJ that I have come to know and love. Next I would like to thank Sara, Erica, Allegra, Amit, and all the other people who staffed convention and who worked so hard to make the weekend possible and who made sure the weekend ran smoothly. We wouldn’t have had a location, much less anything else that needed to happen without you all. Even though you may have given me the reins during the weekend, I couldn’t have done any of it without you. A special thanks to Allegra for giving me a Walkie-talkie; even though I didn’t use it much, it made me feel important. Lastly, I want to thank my National Mazkirut: Sari Goodman, Ilan Greenberg, Dora Stodolsky, Leo Wilchfort, and Noah Volkman. These teens ran convention with confidence and ruach that were one hundred times greater than I ever could have dreamed of. Their masterful planning, superb peulot, and boundless creativity and dedication are truly admirable and I could not be prouder of them.

Convention lived up to my dreams of what it would be. It was fun. It was thought-provoking. It was my home. It was YJ. When I looked out at everyone during shira shketa and Havdalah, the young faces of smiling eighth and ninth graders stared back with the same joy and enthusiasm I have had for 10 years. Though my YJ Teens journey is coming to a close after camp this summer, I know YJ is going to keep being YJ for generations to come. I am glad that I was able to experience this with everyone and I can’t wait for what the rest of this year, and years to come hold in store.