Reflecting on a Year of Connection, Impact, and Joy! | | |
This year has been nothing short of inspiring. YJ Teens experienced tremendous growth—expanding thriving chapters across the country, reigniting long-standing ones, and deepening our connections as a National movement.
Together, we raised our voices to take a stand against antisemitism with a powerful National statement, got our hands dirty rebuilding Hurricane torn homes in North Carolina, and made unforgettable memories through epic rikkud sessions! The teens in our movement are nothing short of extraordinary, and we can't wait to see how they'll lead us forward in the year ahead!
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This year, we saw an exciting expansion of events—more gatherings in more places, reaching even more teens across the country! From Chicago, Ohio, Pittsburgh, and Atlanta, to New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Texas, and beyond, the energy was incredible.
The reignited Southeast and West chapters kicked off the year with strong momentum and had an amazing time throughout.
A huge thank you to our Regional Mazkiruyot for stepping up in such a big way. Your dedication and hard work made all the difference—we’re so excited to see what next year holds!
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There's nothing like the energy and ruach of a YJ Teens convention! This year, YJ Teens hosted four spirited convention weekends across the country.
In January, National Convention drew the largest turnout of teens in over a decade! The weekend featured a powerful Conference on Antisemitism—this year’s National Initiative—along with inspiring presentations from guests like Adela Cojab and Vanessa Hidary.
Spring brought three dynamic regional conventions, each infused with a joyful Shabbat filled with classic YJ traditions like rikkud, shira, and meaningful peulot. Each region also held elections for their 2025 Regional Mazkirut.
This year we had the exciting return of Midwest and Northeast Conventions—and the debut of the first-ever SWeeT Convention, held in April! SWeeT brought together teens from the Southeast, West, and Texas regions for one incredible, weekend.
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My Year as National Mazkira
By Nomi Gedzelman, National Mazkira 2024-2025
| | A big thank you to our outgoing National Mazkirut- Nomi Gedzelman, Ethan Sruya, Eitan Raucher, Sam Watchel, Shira Babajanov, and Joelle Shrag for all of your hard work and leadership! | | |
National Convention: January 16-19, 2026, Waynesboro, PA
Midwest Convention: March 5-8, 2026, Ingleside, IL
SWeeT Convention: March 27-19, 2026, Woodcreek, TX
Northeast Convention: April 23-26, 2026, Lakewood, PA
*Dates subject to change
See Photos from this year's Conventions!
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Mazkirut Leadership Training (MLT)
In September, 26 teens from 6 regions across the US gathered for an inspiring MLT Weekend!
Throughout the weekend, the teens engaged in dynamic leadership training and deep discussions on lsrael addressing the complexity of peer leadership within Zionist spaces. The bonds that formed were truly extraordinary!
See Photos
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Tikkun Olam Overnight
In February, 20 teens united to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene at our Camp Judaea x YJ Teens Tikkun Olam Overnight! In just 24 hours, they installed flooring in a destroyed home and helped rehabilitate a flower farm that lost over $1 million in product. They also spent time at CJ to see the ongoing recovery efforts and reflect on the impact of Hurricane Helene.
Read More
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National Teen Day of Action
In April, over 200 teens and parents gathered in NYC for the Education to Action: Teen Summit on Israel and Antisemitism — a powerful day of learning, reflection, and empowerment. With inspiring voices like Matti Friedman, Adela Cojab, Montana Tucker, and Daniel Neutra, the event highlighted not only diverse perspectives but also the powerful stories shared by teens themselves.
See Photos
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| You can now purchase limited-edition YJ Teens t-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, and more! Make sure to rep your swag all summer at camps and spread the word about YJ Teens, and don't forget to tag @yjteens! | |
Whether you'll be soaking up the summer at a Camp Tel Yehudah, our regional YJ Camps, exploring Israel on Gesher, or adventuring elsewhere, we’re wishing all our YJ Teens an amazing summer!
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