Young Judaea
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| Young Judaea | |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1909 |
| Purpose/focus | Zionist youth movement |
| Parent organization | Hadassah |
| Website | youngjudaea.org |
Young Judaea is a peer-led Zionist youth movement of Hadassah. It runs programs throughout the United States for Jewish youth in grades 2-12. In Hebrew, Young Judaea is called Yehudah Hatzair or is sometimes referred to as Hashachar, which means the dawn.
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[edit] History and organization
Founded in 1909, Young Judaea is the youth movement of Hadassah. Its programs include youth clubs, conventions, camps and Israel programs with an emphasis on social action and Jewish identity. Young Judaea has 15 regions in the United States and is affiliated with the Federation of Zionist Youth (United Kingdom) and Tzofim (Israel). The age levels are Ofarim (Hebrew for "fawns;" grades 2-5), Tsofim ("scouts," grades 6-7), and Bogrim ("elders," grades 8-12). Young Judaea's university arm is YJ Impact (until 2007 called Hamagshimim).[1]
[edit] Merchavim and Regions
Traditionally, Young Judaea has been divided into different geographical regions throughout the United States (including Puerto Rico). These regions are also lumped together into 5 units, called Merchavim, which are titled according to their geographical location in America:
The Southeast Merchav [also known as "Boom Boom"] contains G'lil Yam (North Carolina (minus Hendersonville and Asheville), Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, District of Columbia), Or Hadarom (Florida (minus Panhandle), Puerto Rico), and Lev Hadarom (GA, AL, MS, TN, SC, AR, Eastern Louisiana, Florida Panhandle, Western North Carolina)
The Southwest Merchav is a single region, Ookaf Hadarom (Texas, Oklahoma, Western Louisiana)
The West Merchav contains Chagurat Hashemesh (Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana), Ruach Hama'arav (Nevada, California), and Yoreh (Washington, Oregon, Idaho)
The Midwest Merchav is composed of Pneinu Artza{Great Plains}(North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missuori, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana), Ayelet Hashachar{Central States}(Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky), and Ruach B'Tzion{WPA}(Western Pennsylvania)
The Northeast Merchav contains Ya'ar Penn{EPA}(Eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey), Empiria{Empire}(New York north of Bronx county and Fairfield County, Connecticut), Ganei Yehudah{NJ or New Jersey}(Northern New Jersey), Eeyey Tsiyon{LINYC or LI/NYC}(Long Island/New York City), and Uri Tsafon{NE or New England}(Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut)
Before the regions switched their names to Hebrew names in the mid-1970s, all the regions had English versions of their names. Each region is ideally composed of clubs that meet weekly. The clubs an exec of peers, mazkir, bogrim programmer, ofarim/tsofim programmer and perhaps pirsum. There was an adult advisor who helped plan the meetings with the members, and for general trouble-shooting when needed.Young Judaea has raised nearly 30,000 dollars for various causes such as Hadassah Hospital, The Arava Institute and LATET - all Israeli organizations. Young Judaea has also been extremely active in social action projects, bringing large constituencies to various Darfur rallies, and even starting its own fund for Katrina victims. In 2004 after Hurricane Katrina hit, Young Judaea embarked on a program called Caravan 4 Katrina, where two truckloads of food, toys, and clothes were collected and delivered to Katrina victims in Louisiana.
[edit] Principles
All Young Judaea programs are centered around the movements ideology. The ideology is outlined in the Chukah (constitution).
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[edit] Yehudah Hatzair Leumi Chukah
VISION: We, the members of Yehudah Hatzair, a politically non-partisan, religiously pluralistic, peer-led, Zionist youth movement*, envision a strong, vibrant, and secure Medinat Yisrael. We strive to unite Am Yisrael physically, culturally, and spiritually by strengthening it through aliyah, an ideal for which we strive, and the active support of an educated, empowered youth.
- Yehudah Hatzair is a politically non-partisan Zionist Youth Movement, which simply means that we, as a movement, do not affiliate with a specific political party. We, as a movement, however, maintain the right to take a stand on specific political issues, which may be implemented into Yehudah Hatzair programming.
We, the members of Yehudah Hatzair, affirm that the basis for our t'nua is a commitment toward action using the following pillars:
ZIONISM: Yehudah Hatzair regards the support of and the education about Medinat Yisrael as its goals. Programs regarding Israeli current events and stressing the importance of Medinat Yisrael as a national homeland for the Jewish people are implemented in the movement. Yehudah Hatzair recognizes Medinat Yisrael as a central part of Jewish life. We encourage both visiting Israel and making Aliyah.
SOCIAL ACTION: Social action is a part of both our Jewish and Zionist identities. Yehudah Hatzair works to help Jews and others in need, aid Jewish communities both local and worldwide, protect human rights everywhere, actively strengthen Medinat Yisrael, and strive to form a better world. Yehudah Hatzair will take stands on issues that it feels are important based upon the basic principles of the movement.
PLURALISM: Yehudah Hatzair firmly believes that all chevre t'nua, regardless of religious and political affiliations, can join together in one cohesive community. We accept that differences make our t'nua stronger. No chaver/a t'nua will be forced to surrender any beliefs unless these directly conflict with principles of the t'nua.
PEER LEADERSHIP: Yehudah Hatzair embraces a peer-led democracy as its method of leadership to be used whenever possible.
JEWISH IDENTITY: As a Jewish youth movement, Yehudah Hatzair stresses the unity of the Jewish people, the individual development through Jewish values, a comprehensive Jewish and Hebrew education, and the preservation of the identity of the Jewish people. We do so through Jewish spiritual, cultural, and educational activities.
Amending The Chukah: This chukah is meant to be a document which stands the test of time and holds validity for every member of the t’nua. Therefore the following process will be used to change this chukah: - An amendment to this chukah must pass with a 2/3 majority of an Asepha body at two consecutive national conventions in order to officially pass. It will go into effect immediately after the second convention. - If an amendment does not pass, it can be raised again at the following national convention but will still require a 2/3 majority vote at two consecutive conventions.
[edit] Programs
[edit] Conventions
Conventions are central to the Young Judaea experience. They fall into two categories: Merchav/Regional, and National. Merchav/Regional Conventions are organized by the local Regional/Merchav Mazkirut, they are held in fall and spring; some regions have a social action convention as well. Typical convention programming features educational workshops called sadnaot, educational activities called peulot, prayers, and plenty of chofesh (free time) for socializing. The largest convention of the year, the National Midwinter convention takes place every year during President's Day weekend. It is open to all members of the movement, unlike the National Summer Convention which is held in mid-August at Camp Tel Yehudah and only open to Mazkirut members. However, the National Hachshara Conference is open to all leaders in Young Judaea and runs parallel to National Summer Convention at Camp Tel Yehudah. It is a leadership training weekend. At the Midwinter Convention the movement elects a new National Mazkirut and makes amendments to the Chukah. Additionally, at the Midwinter Convention a voting slate is created that has possible lobbying options for the movement to consider at another time.
On the most recent lobbying slate the topics included environmentalism, stem cell research, the Iranian nuclear program, and human trafficking. Also appearing at this convention was an Israeli DJ group by the name of Soulico. They played for an audience of over 400 people.
[edit] Summer Camps
Like many other youth movements, YJ operates summer camps for its members. Ofarim and Tsofim can attend one of five regional camps:
- Camp Young Judaea Midwest in Waupaca, WI (http://www.cyjmid.org)
- Camp Young Judaea Texas in Wimberley, TX (http://www.cyjtexas.org)
- Camp Young Judaea Sprout Lake in Verbank, NY (http://www.cyjsl.org)
- Camp Young Judaea West in Ocean Park, WA (http://www.cyjwest.org)
- Camp Judaea in Hendersonville, NC (http://www.campjudaea.org)
Bogrim attend Camp Tel Yehudah[2], the National Leadership Camp in Barryville, NY. Programs there include Alumim (Jewish/Israeli history for entering 9th graders), Yachad (community building and social action for entering 10th graders), and Hadracha (leadership and activism for entering 11th graders). All camp sessions are three and a half weeks long.
The Alumim age group includes 2 days of hiking, 1 day of rafting on the Delaware River, and a 1 day trip to Manhattan. The Yachad age group includes the choice of a 4 day kayaking, hiking, biking or volunteering trip in Manhattan. The Hadrachah age group goes to Washington DC for 4 days in a lobbying trip.
[edit] Israel Programs
As a Zionist movement, Israel trips are a crucial part of the Young Judaea experience. Youth entering 10-12th grade can spend six weeks in Israel through Machon or Israel Discovery. Both programs include a Special Interest Week – for example, a desert trek, a stay on a kibbutz or training with the Israeli army – and the option of spending an additional week exploring Jewish history in Spain or Prague. The Prague option, for example, is part of the Shorashim (He:שורשים, roots), journey.
Recent high school graduates can also apply to spend 9 months in Israel on the Year Course program. Young Judaeans participating in Young Judaea Year Course may be able to transfer their year in Israel for college credits. The basic Year Course program is broken up into time sections spent in Jerusalem, Community Volunteering, and Israeli Experience. Young Judaea Year Course differentiates itself from most other movement freshman year abroad programs by immersing participants in Israeli life. Participants are encouraged to become part of Israeli society for their year in Israel. There are also many specialty tracks catering to participants' hobbies or interests. A few examples include Sports, Medical, Arts, and a new Business track. Also available are religious-centered tracks (Shevet and Shalem) and travel-intensive tracks (Olami).
Young Judaea members founded Kibbutz Ketura together with members of the Israeli scouts in 1973. [3]
[edit] Songs
Singing is a large part of Young Judaea camps around America. The official song of Young Judaea is "Ani v'Ata" by Arik Einstein. At conventions and summer programs shira (singing) usually takes place Friday night following Shabbat dinner, Saturday following lunch, before Havdallah (this is referred to as "Shira Shketa" or "quiet singing.") Many songs sung in Young Judaea can be found in the Young Judaea shiron (song book.) Following are examples of songs from the 1970s.
Yehudah, Yehudah, Yehudah Hatzair. / We don't smoke cigarettes, and we don't drink no beer. / We like ice cream, and we like ice cream cones. / We like bananas, 'cause they don't have no bones.
Forward together, we're building Young Judaea / Hand in hand we'll proudly sing our cheer. / Ruach shall lead us, surging forever forward / Love of Zion lives throughout the years. / We stand ready to serve, each in his own way. / Eretz Yisrael, and the USA. / Shout out our praises, long let our voices ring / Young Judaea, now we cast our lots / Always our spirit serves as an inspiration, / Young Judaea, Chazak, v'Amatz, Judaea is the tops!
I am, you are, we are, Hashachar.
We've got ruach, for every chaver tnu'ah
Singing, dancing, even romancing
But our whole spiel, is that we all love our Israel
Israel, Israel, we all love our Israel
Tsuris Naches, we've got tachlis[edit] Leadership
Young Judaea is run by mazkiriyot (boards) of peer leaders on local, regional, and national levels. The national level has one person, a senior in high school, for each position listed. The National Mazkirut is elected at Young Judaea's National Mid-Winter Convention by the a convention body consisting of Bogrim (9th-12th grade members of the movement). The national mazkirut serves from the National Summer Convention (July)after they are elected until the next National Summer Convention. Between the time they are elected and the official start of their term, they work closely with the outgoing national mazkirut. The regional mazkirut level varies throughout the country- most regions contain at least 5 of the following: Mazkir, AVP, BP, SAP, OTP, and Pirsum (see below for explanation). The local, or club level also works differently throughout the country as there are many different clubs of different sizes, and often club mazkirut members fill multiple positions. It is the responsibility of all mazkirut members to welcome new Judaeans, create a friendly atmosphere, advertise by word of mouth, and “be a good dugma”, or lead by example.
[edit] Mazkir
The mazkir/a (president, literally secretary) directs, leads, and inspires the rest of the mazkirut. They also communicate with Hadassah and alumni and connect them to the youth of the movement. The Current National Mazkir is Joel Srebrenick. The Mazkira elect for 2010-2011 is Molly Stein.
[edit] AVP
The merakez/et irgun v’guis chanichim/ot (administrative vice president, or AVP) oversees finances, budgeting, membership, transportation, and attendance, as well as keeping minutes and records. They also communicate with regional Administrative Vice Presidents to ensure correct financing and budgeting and to help with membership, transportation, attendance, and keeping minutes and records. The Current National AVP is Jacob Scheer. The AVP elect for 2010-2011 is Solomon Park.
[edit] Artzit
The artzit is responsible for communication with all the nation's mazkirim through what is known as the "va'ad arzit" or national committee. The Artzit position was created in 2001. Prior to this time, communication with regions throughout the nation was kept via elected members of the national Mazkirut known as Merkhav Representatives. The nation was split into geographic regions and regions were assigned to respective Merkhavim. In the 1980s and 1990s, there were 6 such representatives on the national Mazkirut representing these distinct geographic areas of the United States - Northeast, Metro NYC, Kelp (eastern Pennsylvania to North Carolina), South, Midwest, and West. Furthermore, each of these representatives, in addition to serving on the national mazkirut, simultaneously was a member of their respective regional mazkirut. In this fashion, communication with the regions was maintained. The national artzit also keeps communication with FZY (England) and the Tzofim (Israel), Young Judaea's sister movements (a part of a partnership called Atid.) The Artzit elect for 2010-2011 is Odessa Max.
[edit] Bogrim Programmer
The merakez/et chinuch l’bogrim (Bogrim programmer) writes peulot (activities) for the Bogrim (8th-12th grade), encourages participation in summer (Camp Tel Yehudah) and Israel programs. They also focus on programming the Bogrim National Midwinter Convention which is held every year on President's Day Weekend. They communicate with the regional Bogrim programmers, and assist their counterparts with programming for regional events and merchav conventions. The current National Bogrim Programmer is Michele Freed. The Bogrim Programmer elect for 2010-2011 is Jacob Schneider. (In the 1980s and early 1990s, "Programmers" programmed for Ofarim, Tsofim, and Bogrim.)
In the 1980s and early 1990s, the aforementioned Programmers were not only responsible for Bogrim programming but also programming for Ofarim and Tsofim.
[edit] Ofarim/Tsofim Programmer
The merakez/et chinuch l’ofarim v’tsofim (Ofarim and Tsofim programmer, or OTP) writes peulot (activities) for Ofarim and Tsofim (2nd-7th grade chanichim), encourages members to attend Ofarim/Tsofim regional summer camps (CYJ Sprout Lake, CYJ Midwest, CYJ Texas, Camp Judaea) and may speak to outgoing Tsofim (7th grade) about becoming Bogrim. They communicate with the regional Ofarim/Tsofim programmers, and assist their counterparts with programming regional events and merchav conventions. The Current National Ofarim/Tsofim Programmer is Maya Yair. The Ofarim/Tsofim Programmer elect for 2010-2011 is Naomi Mallin.(In the 1980s and early 1990s, "Programmers" programmed for Ofarim, Tsofim, and Bogrim.)
[edit] Pirsum
The merakez/et pirsumim (newsletter/publication editor) is responsible for publishing newsletters and other informational documents for the movement. The national newsletter, Kol Ha'Tnua, should be distributed to members and should include a calendar of upcoming events, reporting on events that have taken place and alert Young Judaeans about topics and stories pertinent to the Movement (i.e. Israeli current events, etc). The Pirsumim is also responsible for creating flyers, web pages, and press releases. They also communicate with regional counterparts about regional newsletters, flyers, and other advertisements. The National Merakezet Pirsumim of 2009-2010 was Netta-Lee Lax, however she resigned from the position in late 2009.
[edit] Alumni
A number of Young Judaea alumni groups have been established.[4]There is an online Young Judaea alumni newsletter. [5]
[edit] References
- ^ Young Judaea - About YJ Impact
- ^ Camp Tel Yehudah
- ^ Kibbutz Ketura
- ^ the Tel Yehudah Old Campers Network
- ^ Vatikim
[edit] See also
