The Samet Family: Generations of Young Judaeans

The Samet Family: Generations of Young Judaeans

Young Judaea

January 15, 2025

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

A whole family picture from the last family Bar Mitzvah at CYJ Texas in May 2024.  
Josh’s Bar Mitzvah at CYJ in 1991.  It was the first ever Bar Mitzvah there. This is a picture of everyone in attendance who had ever been in YJ. In the picture is Carol’s 92 year old grandmother who was one of the first Judaeans in Utica, NY.
Liam Samet and his family

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.

Liam’s father, Gabriel Samet, at his Bar Mitzvah at CYJ Texas in 1993 (2nd Bar Mitzvah ever 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

All 9 of Carol and Eric Samet’s grandchildren at CYJ Texas in July 2022

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.