Young Judaea
| Young Judaea | |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1909 |
| Purpose/focus | Zionist youth movement |
| Parent organization | Hadassah |
| Website | yjisrael.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] Principles
All Young Judaea programs are centered around the movement's ideology. The charter of the organization, officially titled "Yehudah Hatzair Leumi Chukah", outlines the ideology and goals of the organization. Its main points include:
- Young Judea is a politically non-partisan and religiously pluralistic organization.
- Young Judea is a Zionist youth movement, recognizes the state of Israel as a central part of Jewish life and encourages both visiting and moving to Israel.
- As a Jewish youth movement, Young Judea stresses Jewish values, Jewish education, and the preservation of the identity of the Jewish people.
- Social action is a part of both our Jewish and Zionist identities and as such Young Judea works to help Jews and others in need both local and worldwide.
- A cohesive community can be built regardless of religious and political affiliations.
[edit] Leadership
Young Judaea is a peer run organization with mazkiriyot (boards) of peer leaders on local, regional, and national levels.
The National Mazkirut is elected at Young Judaea's National Mid-Winter Convention by a convention body consisting of Bogrim (9th-12th grade members of the movement). The national mazkirut serves for a one-year period.
The regional mazkirut level varies throughout the country- most regions contain at least five of the positions listed below.
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. Clubs will often have an adult advisor.
[edit] Young Judea leadership positions
- Mazkir or Mazkira. Literally - secretary. This position is president of the mazkirut. Responsibilities include maintaining communication with Hadassah and with alumni.
- Merakez/et irgun v’guis chanichim Literally - organizational coordinator. This position is the administrative vice president (AVP) of the mazkirut. Responsibilities include finances, membership, and logistics for the national level and overseeing the regional AVPs.
- Artzit Literally - national. This position is responsible for communication with all the nation's mazkirim through the "va'ad arzit" (national committee). The national artzit also keeps communication with Young Judaea's sister movements, FZY in England and Tzofim in Israel.
This position was created in 2001. Prior to this time, communication with regions throughout the nation was via representitives from each merkhav.
- Merakzi chinuch Literally - Educational coordinators. These positions created educational programming for each of the different age groups. Prior to the mid-1990's there was one national coordinator for all of the age groups.
These positions exist on both a national and regional levels with the national level coordinators assisting the regional ones.- Bogrim. This position creates curriculum and activities for the Bogrim (8th-12th grade) age group. Responsibilities include programming for the Bogrim National Midwinter Convention.
- Ofarim/Tsofim. This position creates curriculum and activities for the Ofarim and Tsofim (2nd-7th grade) age group. Responsibilities include programming, encouraging members to attend Ofarim/Tsofim regional summer camps and encouraging continuing participation in Young Judea after finishing the Ofarim/Tsofim age level.
- Merakez/et tikkun olam Social Action Programmer (SAP). This position develops social action events and ensures that tikkun olam values are built into all programs at the national level and regional levels. Their educational focus is defined by each year's "movement wide mission" - a social action theme created at the annual national summer convention. They also create volunteering opportunities for participants.
- Pirsum Literally - advertising. This position is responsible for publishing newsletters and informational documents for the movement. This includes the national newsletter, Kol Ha'Tnua, event promotion, web pages, and press releases.
[edit] Current National Board
Molly Stein: Mazkira
Solomon Park: Administrative Vice President
Odessa Max: Artzit
Jacob Schneider: Merakez Chinuch L'Bogrim
Naomi Mallin: Merakezet Chinuch L'Ofarim v'Tsofim
Talia Niederman: Merakezet Tikun Olam
Emily Griminger: Pirsum
[edit] National Board Elect
The 2011-2012 National Mazkirut will be elected at Young Judaea's National Midwinter Convention
[edit] Merchavim and Regions
Young Judaea is divided into five units, called Merchavim (the singular Merchav), which are titled according to their geographical location in the United States (including Puerto Rico). The Merchavim are subdivided into geographical regions. Each region is composed of clubs.
Until the mid-1970's, the regions were referred to using English language names. Currently the regions are referred to using Hebrew language names.
The five Mechavim are:
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), Empiria{Empire}(New York north of Bronx county and Fairfield County, Connecticut), Ganei Yehudah{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)
[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
- Camp Young Judaea Texas in Wimberley, TX
- Camp Young Judaea Sprout Lake in Verbank, NY
- Camp Young Judaea West in Ocean Park, WA
- Camp Judaea in Hendersonville, NC
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] Social Activism
Young Judaea has been active in social action projects including involvement in bringing constituencies to Darfur rallies and raising funds for victims of hurricane Katrina.
Young Judaea has raised nearly 30,000 dollars for various causes including Israeli organizations Hadassah Hospital, the Arava Institute and LATET. In 2005 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] 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] 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 website
- ^ Kibbutz Ketura
- ^ the Tel Yehudah Old Campers Network
- ^ Vatikim
