The Activities of Young Judea
Young Judæa has just completed its second year of existence. A most successful convention, at which the enthusiasm was beyond description, was held in New York City, on Saturday evening and all day Sunday, June 24th and 25th.
Fifty delegates were present, out of town delegates attending from Hartford, Conn., Boston, Mass., Syracuse, N. Y., Bayonne and Newark N. J. The reports presented showed that progress had been made in every phase of our endeavors. Particularly gratifying was the extension of our work throughout the country. Our influence has made wonderful progress in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The former in one year organized a Council consisting of thirty-two circles in all large cities of that State. In Massachusetts, there is a Council of fifteen circles. Philadelphia has a junior Council of twelve circles. New circles have been organized in Syracuse, Rochester, Detroit, Cincinnati, Cleveland, St. Louis, Denver, Chatanooga, Tenn., and Baltimore.
In New York, the work began with a Junior Council in Lower Manhattan. Last year the work spread in all parts of the City—Harlem, the Bronx, and Brooklyn. A Council was organized in Harlem and with the fall, Junior Councils will be organized in the Bronx and Brooklyn. In all, there were now about one hundred and thirty circles affiliated with Young Judæa. About fifty of these circles are in greater New York.
These 135 circles have a membership estimated at 2,500, but it would be erroneous to measure the influence of Young Judæa by the number of its organized members. If we were to consider the many additional thousands who are influenced by the festivals, entertainments and lectures given by Young Judæa, and its Councils, the number of children who are brought in
Report to the Convention of the Federation of American Zionists, held at Tannersville, N. Y., July 1, 1911.
touch with Zionism, would number conservatively over ten thousand. Large celebrations were held in Lower Manhattan, Bronx, Harlem and Brooklyn on every Jewish festival; at each celebration from one to three thousand children were in attendance. Purim, an entertainment was held by the Lower Manhattan Council, attended by over two thousand children. An entertainment, equally as large, was held by the Massachusetts Council last Chanukah in Boston. Consider the number of these celebrations held by nearly all of our 135 circles and then you will realize the influence for spreading Jewish nationalism and Zionism that is being exerted by Young Judæa; 2,500 to 10,000 families are learning of Israel's renaissance. In 2,500 homes, Zionism is being propagated, in 2,500 homes is being breathed new hope for Israel, a new love for Judah, a new devotion, vigorous and healthy, to Judaism.
Our latest venture has been the most successful work of the year, and the most hopeful phase of Young Judæa activity. There has been a long-felt need for a distinctly national Jewish magazine for the young. A glance at the issues of this year will immediately impress one with the dominant Jewish spirit that pervades every page. Yet, it is attractive, interesting and entertaining to children, in story, poem, essay and illustration. The financial support of this paper has come entirely from the pennies of the junior circles, and from various religious schools. Yet, with such slender support, we are, at the end of the first year, able to report a circulation of two thousand five hundred copies, and with proper support, we feel confident in counting upon a circulation of five thousand for the coming year.
In this connection, however, we must say that the meagre response or support from the Zionist public has been the one surprising and serious drawback in the progress of the Young Judæan and of Young Judæa work. It appears as if thru