Young Judaea, the Zionist Youth Movement of Hadassah, was founded in the United States in 1909. Today, Young Judaea is one of the largest Zionist youth movements in North America with more than 5,000 members. The mission of Young Judaea is to build Jewish identity and Zionist commitment in American Jewish youth. Because of its religiously pluralistic and politically non-partisan stance, Young Judaea is open to Jewish youth from across the religious and political spectrums. Young Judaea offers programming in four areas: Israel programs – ranging from two weeks to 10 months in length - for high school students and young people in college and beyond, summer camps for children from 3rd to 12th grade, local and regional programming throughout the United States and programs for college students and young adults. Over the years, the movement has brought tens of thousands of participants on different educational and volunteer programs in Israel. Young Judaea cooperatives closely with two sister movements: the Tsofim (Scouts) in Israel, and the Federation of Zionist Youth (FZY) in Great Britain. Together, the three movements form "Atid", an international partnership of pluralistic Zionist youth movements. As an expression of its Zionist ideology, Young Judaea’s members over the years have founded, populated and strengthened several settlements in Israel. These include Kibbutz Ketura in the south of Israel, Moshav Neve Ilan near Jerusalem, kibbutz Sollelim and Moshav Shorashim in the north. Young Judaea is supportive of its members who choose to make Aliyah on an Individual basis; a substantial number of its Alumni have made Israel their home.
