So I'm new to this stuff...what IS Young Judaea?

Founded in 1909, Young Judaea is the oldest Zionist youth movement in the United States. Dedicated to instilling Jewish values, Jewish pride and a lifelong commitment to Israel, Young Judaea challenges Jewish youth—through clubs, conventions, camps, Israel programs and university campus events—to become involved in social and educational activities that develop and sharpen their senses of Jewish and Zionist identity.

As a pluralistic movement, Young Judaea has brought together generations of young Jews from a rich variety of religious, cultural and political backgrounds, underscoring the beauty, power and diversity of American Jewish life. Young Judaea reaches out to all Jewish youth—Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist and unaffiliated—and provides opportunities for them to explore their Jewishness and to develop a lasting identification with Zionism. (Kashrut, Shabbat and Jewish holidays are observed throughout all Young Judaea programs and activities.)

Shlichim (emissaries from Israel) serve as partners with American professionals in the on-going education process. Affiliations with sister movements in Great Britain (Federation of Zionist Youth) and Israel (Tsofim-Israeli Scouts) allow for an international exchange of ideas and sharing of goals. Together, these three youth movements make up Atid, the International Partnership of Pluralistic Zionist Youth Movements—an international body of Jewish youth working in support of Israel and Jewish and Zionist education.

Young Judaea was founded in the U.S. to support Zionism and the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine. Throughout the years Young Judaea has ridden the waves of Jewish history: the Holocaust, the establishment of the State of Israel, the wars and massive immigrations which followed and into the era of striving for peace. Constantly struggling with its identity as any movement should, Young Judaea has also changed for and been changed by the American Jewish experience.

Through the years, Young Judaea has striven to remain true to its principles and ideology, the main focus being Zionism. Young Judaea uses Israel as the prism through which its members see the world. While Jewish education and Jewish identity are essential to the functioning of the movement, it is Zionist identity which has been treated as a priority in terms of education and social action.

(taken from Website �2000 Young Judaea, The Zionist Youth Movement Sponsored by Hadassah)