Meet Your Staff!

Posted in 2012 on 11. Jul, 2012

Here are the amazing madrichim (counselors) who will be taking care of your children this summer.
Cegal Ilan – ISI
HEY!! My name is Cegal and I am VERY excited for this summer to begin!   I was born in the USA and moved to Ra’anana (near Tel Aviv) when I was younger.   I now live in Beersheva studying youth studies and Anthropology/Sociology in Ben Gurion University of the Negev.   I love eating watermelon, playing frisbee, hiking and meeting new people.  I can’t wait to meet the first group EVER of ISI – I Speak Israel !!
‘Enjoy the little things in life… Read more

The Summer Begins!

Posted in 2012 on 11. Jul, 2012

All the participants had a great first Shabbat experience in Israel! They spent their time at Kibbutz Ketura, a kibbutz founded by Young Judaeans who made aliyah. YJ Machon 1, YJ Machon 2, and YJ Discovery all got to hang out and have a YJ pool party and bbq together. After celebrating Shabbat, the groups separated on Sunday.
Machon 2:
YJ Machon 2 participants took part in a Desert Arts lecture where they got to see the beauty of the desert. Afterwards, they went to Eilat where they volunteered in a soup kitchen and were able to give back to… Read more

Welcome to Israel!

Posted in 2012 on 05. Jul, 2012

Shalom YJ Summer 2012 parents and families! The participants on YJ Machon 1, YJ Machon 2, and YJ Discovery landed on Wednesday! The YJ Summer programs team in NY had a great time meeting the kids. They sent close to 100 happy, excited participants to Israel. 11 hours later, the YJ Summer Programs team in Israel greeted the same now tired but just as excited participants. Their first evening in Israel was spent playing ice breaker games, meeting their staff, and having their first dinner.
Please continue checking the blog and “like”ing the YJ Summer Programs in Israel Facebook page.… Read more


  • YJ Focus

  • Participants Say:

    "I learned more about myself during the five weeks in Israel than during seventeen years in Cincinnati. To be honest, with no exaggerations, this summer was by far the best summer of my life, a true once in a lifetime experience."

  • Parents Say:

    "YJ provided a varied itinerary, hitting both common places and off the beaten track which was really nice. Great mix of YJ and non-YJ - my daughter loved her group. She stated that it was a cohesive, inclusive group - "not cliquey."

  • Summer Photos

  • Young Judaea 100 years

    Founded in 1909, Young Judaea is the oldest Zionist youth movement in the United States. It seeks to build Jewish identity and Zionist commitment in American Jewish youth and young adults.