
Reflection of National Convention 2025
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.