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, there are two a year and are held in late fall/early winter and spring. During these conventions, regional Mazkirut are elected. Typical convention programming features educational
workshops called
sadnaot, educational activities called
peulot, prayers, and plenty of
chofesh (free time) for socializing. The National Midwinter convention takes place every year during
Presidents' Day weekend. National Summer Convention is held in mid-August at Camp Tel Yehudah. Both of these conventions are open to any member of the movement in 9th through 12th grade. At the Midwinter Convention the movement elects a new National Mazkirut and makes amendments to the
Chukah (the movement's constitution). At the Summer Convention, the newly elected members of the National Mazkirut are sworn in and changes are made to the Chukah.
Summer camps Like many other youth movements, YJ operates
summer camps for its members. The age restrictions and age groups and differ by each YJ camp and their different policies/ programming. For example, Camp Judaea in North Carolina starts at Rishonim (Campers going into grades 1, 2, and 3) and goes through Offarim (Campers going into grade 4), Oranim (Campers going into grade 5), Sayarim (Campers going into grade 6), Tsofim (Campers going into grade 7), Kesher (Campers going into grade 8), Bogrim (Campers going into grade 9), and Tikkun Olam/ Chalutzim (Campers going into grade 10.) • Camp Young Judaea Midwest in
Waupaca, Wisconsin •
Camp Young Judaea Texas in
Wimberley, Texas • Camp Young Judaea Sprout Lake in
Verbank, New York • Camp Young Judaea Sprout Brooklyn
Brooklyn, New York • Camp Young Judaea Sprout Westchester
Croton-On-Hudson, New York • Camp Judaea in
Hendersonville, North Carolina Tel Yehudah allows teens going in to the 9th grade, 10th grade, 11th grade, and 12th grade to attend. Although some YJ camps age group programs overlap with the ages at Tel Yehudah. For example, Camp Judaea still has Bogrim and Tikkun Olam/ Chalutzim while TY starts its first 2 years, many campers either choose to waive the first and/or second year of TY to finish their camps programming, or they can choose to go during another session, (bloc at TY).
Camp Tel Yehudah, the national teen leadership Camp in
Barryville, New York. Programs there include
Alumim (Jewish/Israeli history and development of a Jewish Identity for entering 9th graders),
Yachad (community building for entering 10th graders),
Hadracha (leadership and activism for entering 11th graders), and Alternative Summer Break (an immersive community service program open to rising 10th–12th graders). Tel Yehudah has two sessions that are each three and a half weeks long. The Alumim age group includes two days of hiking, one day of rafting on the
Delaware River, and a one-day trip to a big city (often either
Philadelphia or New York City). The Yachad age group includes the choice of a four-day kayaking, hiking, biking, photography or volunteering trip in
Manhattan. The Hadracha age group goes to
Washington, D.C. for four days on "Day on the Hill" to meet with national leaders and representatives and discuss specific modern-day issues, as well as national advocacy organizations.
Israel programs As a Zionist movement, Israel trips are a crucial part of the Young Judaea experience. Youth entering 11th–12th grade can spend several weeks in Israel through Gesher Israel. Recent
high school graduates can also apply to spend 9 months on the Young Judaea Year Course in Israel program. Young Judaeans participating in Young Judaea Year Course are often able to transfer credits received on Year Course to their college. The basic Year Course program is broken up into sections with participants spending four months living in
Jerusalem, four months living in Tel Aviv with the option to spend two of those months participating in
Marva, training and serving as a junior medic, volunteering, interning, living on a kibbutz, and finally one month exploring special interests around the country. 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, including fitness and business. Young Judaea alumni founded
Kibbutz Ketura together with members of the
Hebrew Scouts in 1973.
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 for various causes, including
Hadassah Hospital, the
Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, and
Latet, all in Israel. In the fall of 2005, after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast, Young Judaea embarked on a program called Caravan 4 Katrina. The "Caravan" consisted of four truckloads (two from the Northeastern U.S. and two from the Southeastern U.S.) of food, toys, and clothes were collected and delivered to Katrina victims in
Jackson, Mississippi in time for
Thanksgiving. Another activism program Young Judaea leads is an annual Alternative Winter Break. Starting in 2007, participants traveled to different regions of the United States to perform community service and learn about the culture of the region. Previous trips have included
New Orleans LA;
Navajo Nation AZ; New York City, NY;
Los Angeles, CA; Southern Florida; and Puerto Rico. ==Songs==