Young Judaea to become independent Zionist youth movement

Young Judaea will spin off from its parent body, Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, to become an independent youth organization.

The move was announced Thursday by Hadassah’s leadership.

A founding board of Young Judaea alumni and supporters, along with Hadassah leaders, will create a nominating committee to structure a board of directors for the newly independent Zionist youth organization.

Immediate tasks include creating a network for the five Young Judaea summer camps and broadening the scope of its Israel programs, including the Year Course.

The stated goal of the reorganization is to revitalize the movement and reach out to new partners and supporters in the Jewish world.

Hadassah National President Nancy Falchuk told JTA that the move has been in the works since January and comes at the suggestion of a group of Young Judaea alumni, all now successful professionals in their 40s, 50s and 60s.

“This is what we wanted for them all along,” she said.

Hadassah will continue to offer “significant” financial support to the youth movement at decreasing amounts over the next three years, Falchuk said, “as they requested.” She declined to provide exact numbers.

“We’re giving them what they asked for,” she said.

Young Judaea, founded in 1909 as a Zionist youth organization, has been supported entirely by Hadassah since 1967.