Year Round Programs Welcome letter from the National Mazkirah, Nomi!

Hello, my name is Nomi Gedzelman and I am so excited to be the National Mazkirah of YJ Teens this year.

I have been part of Young Judaea since starting at Sprout Lake in 2017, continuing through my years at Tel Yehudah and this past summer on Gesher in Israel. I’ve also been on Regional Mazkirut in the Northeast for the last two years.

My strong love for the Young Judaea community inspires me every day, which is why I am grateful and excited to be in this position this year. I hope to spread this love and significantly increase nationwide engagement. We are starting off the 2024-2025 with more regional leaders in more places than in many years, and will be kicking off programming in NYC, Northern NJ, Chicago, Pittsburgh, LA, Atlanta, and Austin local areas, and planning for three regional conventions in the spring, following our annual National Convention in January!

This past weekend at Mazkirut Leadership Training, all Maz members had the ability to bond and share our excitement for the coming year. We spent the whole weekend developing meaningful programming dealing with Zionism and our relationships with Israel and more. Every Mazkirut member is extremely dedicated to the Young Judaea community and its core values. I am confident that this year will be extremely meaningful and so much fun.

As we dive into the year with our National Initiative being antisemitism, we will learn about its roots and how we can combat it as young Jewish leaders. Mazkirut leadership training weekend made it clear that our unique, inviting, and warm community has and will continue to be an extremely important driving value. Throughout the year we are going to have local Havdalah hangs, Friday night dinners, Rikud and more of our traditions which have always brought us together as a community.

I can’t wait to see you at a YJ Teens event this year!