Welcome to The Alumni Insider, a quarterly newsletter to build connections between alumni.
Share a story, keep us posted and stay connected! Submit any news or updates that you would like to see in our next issue to by clicking here.
Happy New Year
Farewell from the Executive Director
Save The Date
Camp Store
Next Generation
Digital Yearbooks
Alumni Updates
Give Back
Are your kids ready for summer camp? Early Bird ends on September 30.
Happy New Year
Click the arrow for a special message from CYJ alumni!
Whether it is in honor of your favorite counselor, your best friend from camp or someone who inspired you and made a difference in your life, take a minute to donate today.
Farewell from Robin Anderson
"CYJ has been at the heart of my personal and professional journey for the past 20 years. I have had the ability to meet thousands of remarkable families and hear their personal stories of how they connect with CYJ Midwest. My story started in the spring of 1999 when I had the opportunity to join Sharsheret (a former Young Judaea program) while studying at Hebrew University during my junior year of college. After that, I knew I wanted to work for an organization that builds relationships with people, Israel, and Judaism. This is what I have been doing for two decades."

Read the whole farewell message by clicking here.
Save The Date
50'ish CYJ Anniversary Celebration

Sunday, April 23, 2023
Chicago, Illinois

More information will be available soon!
If you have any questions or are interested in volunteering, please contact Committee Chair, Julie Ohana by clicking here.
Year Round Camp Store
We are excited to be offering a year-round camp store, full of new and retro camp looks. Buy yourself one of our retro or modern apparel items today or gift it to your CYJ campers!
The Next Generation
Check out who has registered the next generation for CYJ in 2023!
Will Adler - Zach Alpert & Caryn Stern
Alison Bank - Eyal H Barash
Mara Flamembaum Christos
Susan D. Elbaum - Amy Flamenbaum Michael Flamenbaum - Zac Hirschman
Brian Jaffee - Debbie Marks
Molli Tobin Monk - Julie Ruskin Ohana
Richard Primus - Gila Marcus Robinson
Elana Harris Schanzer
Sivan Kredow Schondorf
Asherith Even Shulman & Dan Shulman Suzan Sultan
Who is going to be next to register for the 2023 season?
Want to host a special virtual open house for your friends? Reach out to Rachel Ruskin at [email protected] for more information.
Digital Yearbooks & Alumni Website
Imagine the ability to find long lost CYJ friends, network professionally within the vast Camp Young Judaea Midwest alumni and parent community, and catch-up on alumni life-cycle and milestone events. Check out our alumni page and get connected today!

We have almost every yearbook digitized just for you!
Click here to start exploring!
CYJ In The News
"My annual summer camp ritual began when I was nine and consisted of boarding a Detroit-bound airplane with a small group of Jewish kids from Lexington, Kentucky. Our destination in those early years for me was...." The author, Sara Mason Ader is a former camper and past Tzevet.
"My parents brought me up to love Israel, and I am eternally grateful to them. I am also grateful to the Israeli counselors at Camp Young Judaea who raised the harder issues, making me..." The author, Dan Elbaum is a former camper of CYJ Midwest.
Good & Welfare
Mazel Tov to....

Hannah Levinson on the birth of her daughter, Mira.

Aaron and Elizabeth Levine on the birth of their son, Isaac on May 23.

Emily (Pogrund) and Chaim Saifer on the birth of their son, Liam on June 6.

Simi and Reina Climo on the birth of their son, Jacob Alfonso on August 31.

Avi and Sarah Levine on the birth of their daughter, Hannah Rose on September 23.
Mazel Tov to....

Roni Weil and Israel Drezin on their engagement.

Daniel Gabel and Betty Cohn on their engagement.

Meytal Chernoff and Joey Portnoe on their engagement.

Reby Silverman and Josh Dorfman on their engagement.

Heli Edri and Nir Shabat on their engagement.

LeeTal Gabel and Elad Havshush on their engagement

Hava Richmond and Dan Strauss on their August 14th wedding.

Adina Lipschultz and Jake Impellicceiri on their September 4th wedding.

Lorne Newhouse and Erin Heidelberger on their September 16th wedding.

Lara Braverman and Zak Metalsky on their September 18th wedding

Ari Kirsh and Ludo Efrati on their September 19th wedding.
Give Back to CYJ
Join the CYJ Forever Legacy Society to ensure future generations can share in this legacy and to give you an opportunity to continue to be a part of our future, forever. Click here for more information.
Don't forget to shop through Amazon Smile for donations to CYJ Midwest when you shop Amazon. Just go to www.smile.amazon.com for the exact same products and Amazon will donate a percentage of your purchase.

You can set your account to always give to CYJ on every purchase, forever.
We are looking for former campers and staff to get involved on our alumni committee. If you are interested in learning more, please email Ellen Finestone at [email protected]