Young Judaea

What Young Judaea does

Young Judaea is the oldest Zionist youth movement in North America, founded in 1909 and currently operating as the independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit Young Judaea Global (EIN 45-2640858). Headquartered in New York with a Tel Aviv operations office, the organization serves approximately 3,000 children, teens, and young adults annually through a portfolio of summer camps, year-round teen programming, and Israel travel and gap year programs. The product surface spans seven summer camps (five overnight — Camp Judaea, CYJ Midwest, CYJ Sprout Lake, CYJ Texas, Tel Yehudah — and two day camps, Sprout Brooklyn and Sprout Westchester); YJ Teens, a year-round peer-led teen program operating in five U.S. regions; and Israel programs including Gesher (3-week teen summer), Horizon (6-week), Odyssey (4-week Central Europe + Israel), Year Course (9-month gap year, marketed as the largest in Israel with up to 30 college credits via Hebrew College), and Amirim (2-month Tel Aviv internship). The peer-led Mazkirut governance model, in which teen boards plan and lead programming, is a core operational and brand differentiator. Revenue is generated through program tuition and fees (e.g., Gesher $7,450, Amirim $4,250, conventions $450–$500), individual donations via an annual campaign, an extensive foundation grant base (16+ named funders including UJA-Federation of New York, Crown Family Philanthropies, Jack Joseph Morton Mandel Foundation, Jim Joseph Foundation, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, Mosaic United, and Paul E. Singer Foundation), and legacy giving through the L'Dor V'Dor Society. The organization became fully independent of its long-time sponsor Hadassah in 2012 and is currently led by CEO Adina Hocsman Frydman. The technological footprint is minimal — there is no proprietary software, no mobile app, no API, and no disclosed AI/ML capabilities; the "technology" is the curriculum, the peer-leadership operating model, and the 115-year content library of Israel programming experience.

Name

Young Judaea

Legal name

Young Judaea Global

Website

https://youngjudaea.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1909

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Young Judaea is the oldest Zionist youth movement in North America, operating seven summer camps, year-round teen programming, and Israel travel and gap year programs that serve approximately 3,000 Jewish youth and young adults annually under its 501(c)(3) nonprofit umbrella.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Education and Summer Camp Programs

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Academic Enrichment Camps (General Studies) (EDAMALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Leadership, Debate & Model UN Camps (EDAMALAK), Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO), Youth Adventure Camps & Summer Programs (THAAAOAB)

Keywords

• Youth summer camps
• Israel travel programs
• Zionist youth education
• Gap year programs
• Jewish teen programming

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Program Tuition and Fees: Revenue from camp registrations, Israel program fees (Year Course, Gesher, Amirim), convention attendance fees, and related program charges. Gesher Israel costs $7,450 before RootOne grant; Amirim two-month internship is $4,250; convention pricing starts at $500 base.
2. Individual Donations: Annual campaign contributions from alumni, families, and supporters. Young Judaea Global is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization (EIN: 45-2640858). Donations are tax-deductible within U.S. law guidelines.
3. Foundation Grants: Support from foundations including Hadassah, Crown Family Philanthropies, Jack Joseph Morton Mandel Foundation, Koum Family Foundation, The Marcus Foundation, Mosaic United, Progress Charitable Foundation, Root One, Russell Berrie Foundation, The Zalik Foundation, UJA-Federation of New York, Jim Joseph Foundation, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, Fooksman Family Foundation, Maimonides Fund, Paul E. Singer Foundation, Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life.
4. Legacy Giving: Planned giving through bequests, IRA/retirement plan beneficiary designations, charitable trusts, and endowment funds. L'Dor V'Dor Society recognizes members who include Young Judaea in estate plans.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Young Judaea is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates seven summer camps (five overnight and two day camps) across the United States and a portfolio of Israel travel and gap year programs for Jewish youth. Offerings include summer camps (Tel Yehudah, Camp Judaea, CYJ Midwest, CYJ Sprout Lake, CYJ Texas, Sprout Brooklyn, Sprout Westchester), year-round teen programming (YJ Teens), and Israel programs (Gesher, Horizon, Odyssey, Year Course gap year, and Amirim internships).

Product overview

Young Judaea operates as a multi-program youth organization comprising seven summer camps (five overnight camps and two day camps) and multiple Israel travel and gap year programs. The camp portfolio includes Tel Yehudah (national teen leadership camp, grades 9-11), Camp Judaea (NC), CYJ Midwest (Wisconsin), CYJ Sprout Lake (NY), CYJ Texas, Sprout Brooklyn Day Camp, and Sprout Westchester Day Camp. Israel programming includes Gesher (3-week teen summer trip), Horizon (6-week extended trip), Odyssey (Central Europe & Israel), Year Course (9-month gap year, the largest in Israel), Amirim (2-month Tel Aviv internships), and school trips. YJ Teens provides year-round regional and national teen programming with peer-led leadership structures. The organization is unified under Young Judaea Global as the umbrella organization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• YJ Teens: Year-round teen programming for Jewish teens across the United States, including regional and national conventions, educational events, and leadership opportunities.
• Year Course
• Gesher
• Horizon
• Odyssey
• Amirim
• CYJ Camps

Products and services

• YJ Camps Network of seven summer camps (five overnight camps and two day camps) across the United States serving children in grades Pre-K through 12, offering Jewish-themed programming, Zionist education, and leadership development.
• Tel Yehudah National teen leadership overnight camp in Barryville, NY serving grades 9-11, emphasizing Jewish identity, Zionist values, and leadership skills.
• Camp Judaea Jewish, Israel-centered overnight summer camp for children ages 7-15 in Hendersonville, NC, on 158 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
• Camp Young Judaea Midwest (CYJ Midwest) Jewish overnight camp in Waupaca, WI serving grades 2-9 on 80+ acres with waterfront facilities and a pluralist approach.
• Camp Young Judaea Sprout Lake
• Camp Young Judaea Texas (CYJ Texas) Jewish overnight camp in Wimberley, TX serving grades 1-9, located in the Texas Hill Country and supporting all denominations and backgrounds.
• Sprout Brooklyn Day Camp
• Sprout Westchester Day Camp
• YJ Teens
• Gesher Israel
• Horizon Israel
• Odyssey
• Year Course
• Amirim Internship Program
• School and Synagogue Trips
• YJ Teens Conventions

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,000+ children, teens, and young adults engaged annually (2024-25)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Birthright IsraelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025In May 2025, Young Judaea partnered with Birthright Israel to bring camp leadership on a volunteer in Israel program. Camp leadership from CYJ Sprout Lake, CYJ Midwest, Camp Judaea, Tel Yehudah, and CYJ Texas participated. Also partnered for Birthright Israel Volunteer program.
• Masa IsraelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Masa Israel is a key partner for Year Course gap year program. Masa provides framework and support for long-term Israel programs for young adults. Year Course logo appears alongside Masa logo on Year Course website.
• Onward IsraelminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025In partnership with Onward Israel, Young Judaea provides affordable, immersive two-month marketing and business internship experience in Tel Aviv for Amirim participants.
• Hebrew CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Academic partner for Year Course program. Students can earn up to 30 college credits through Hebrew College partnership.
• Magen David Adom (MDA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Year Course participants can volunteer with MDA during Tel Aviv semester as part of customizable tracks. MDA is Israel's national emergency medical, disaster, and blood bank service.
• Tzofim (Israel Scouts)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership with Tzofim (Scouts) as part of Year Course programming. Tzofim is one of Young Judaea's sister movements alongside Tsofim in Israel and Federation of Zionist Youth in Great Britain.
• The Jewish Agency for IsraelminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Jewish Agency partnership for Year Course and related programming. Jewish Agency logo appears on Year Course website alongside Masa and other partners.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BBYO (B'nai B'rith Youth Organization): BBYO is the largest pluralistic Jewish teen movement in the world, offering AZA (boys) and BBG (girls) chapters with similar year-round programming, conventions, and leadership development. Direct competitor for Jewish teen engagement with overlapping mission and target demographic.
• USY (United Synagogue Youth): USY is the youth movement of the Conservative Jewish movement, offering regional chapters, conventions, and Israel travel programs. Direct peer competing for the same teen demographic with similar programming structure and Israel trips.
• NFTY (North American Federation of Temple Youth): NFTY is the Reform Jewish youth movement offering regional programming, conventions, and Israel experiences. Direct peer serving Jewish teens with year-round programming and Israel travel components.
• National Ramah Commission: Ramah operates a network of 9 Jewish overnight camps and day camps across North America, providing the largest Jewish camping network. Direct peer for summer camp operations with similar Jewish educational mission and family demographics.
• Bnei Akiva of North America: Bnei Akiva is the largest Religious Zionist youth movement in the world, with parallel year-round programming, summer camps (e.g., Camp Moshava), and Israel gap year/travel programs. Sister Zionist movement with overlapping target audience and programs.
• Habonim Dror North America: Habonim Dror is a Labor Zionist youth movement running summer camps (e.g., Camp Tavor, Camp Gilboa) and the Workshop gap year program in Israel. Sister Zionist movement with very similar program structure and demographic.

Others

• Birthright Israel Foundation: Birthright Israel provides free 10-day Israel trips for Jewish young adults, and is also a Young Judaea partner. While not a direct competitor for teen programs, it competes for post-college Israel travel demand and represents an alternative to Year Course for some participants.
• Masa Israel Journey: Masa Israel is the umbrella organization for long-term Israel programs (5-12 months) and a key partner for Year Course. As the central funder/aggregator of gap year programs in Israel, Masa directly influences competitive dynamics in the gap year market where Year Course competes.
• Onward Israel: Onward Israel provides short-term (6-10 week) internship and service programs in Israel for Jewish young adults, and partners with Young Judaea on the Amirim internship program. Competes for the same young adult demographic in the summer internship space.

Broad incumbents

• CJDS (Camp Judaea Development Society / broader Jewish overnight camp network): The Foundation for Jewish Camp is the umbrella organization supporting 170+ Jewish summer camps across North America. Represents the broader industry in which Young Judaea's 7 camps compete for families, staff, and philanthropic support.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@youngjudaea5142/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/YoungJudaeaGlobal
• Instagraminstagram.com/youngjudaea/?hl=en
• Xx.com/YoungJudaea

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Young Judaea