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Nearly 5,000 come together in Israel's largest teen Diaspora-Israel solidarity event

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Nearly 5,000 Jewish teenagers from the U.S., Canada, and Israel gathered for RootOne's Big Tent event, the largest Diaspora-Israel solidarity gathering.
  • The event, held since the October 7, 2023, massacres, aimed to foster a sense of connection and resilience among young Jewish people.
  • Participants engaged in socializing, meeting pen pals, enjoying music, and assembling care packages for children of IDF reservists.

Nearly 5,000 Jewish teenagers from the United States, Canada, and Israel convened in central Israel for RootOne’s Big Tent event, an annual gathering designed to strengthen Diaspora-Israel solidarity. The event, the largest of its kind in Israel, provided a platform for teens to connect with each other and with Israel.

The Big Tent event is an opportunity for teens to feel like they're connected to something bigger.

— Nadav ShachmonDirector of Israel Partnerships at RootOne, explaining the purpose of the event.

Nadav Shachmon, Director of Israel Partnerships at RootOne, described the event as an opportunity for teens to feel connected to something larger than themselves. "We say ‘peoplehood.’ We feel ‘resilience.’ All these big words," he explained. "But what does it come down to? It comes down to this feeling that everyone has in their hearts that they're a part of something. They're not just wandering Jews around the world. You know it, but to come here, you feel it."

This year's event was the first held since the Hamas-led massacres of October 7, 2023, underscoring the importance of personal relationships and mutual understanding between North American Jewish teens and their Israeli counterparts. Participants socialized, met pen pals, enjoyed live music, and assembled care packages for children whose parents are serving in the IDF reserves.

We say ‘peoplehood.’ We feel ‘resilience.’ All these big words. But what does it come down to? It comes down to this feeling that everyone has in their hearts that they're a part of something. They're not just wandering Jews around the world. You know it, but to come here, you feel it.

— Nadav ShachmonFurther elaborating on the emotional and communal impact of the Big Tent event.

Teens expressed strong affirmations of their commitment to Israel and the importance of their connections. Aliyah, on a trip with Yallah! Israel, shared, "I’ve seen so many people I know and made so many new friends. It's so crazy to be in a space with so many Jewish teens at the same time." Others, like Isaac from Young Judaea Gesher, highlighted the value of face-to-face interaction with Israeli peers, noting the significance of meeting people without the need for extensive travel.

I’ve seen so many people I know and made so many new friends. It's so crazy to be in a space with so many Jewish teens at the same time.

— AliyahA teen participant from Yallah! Israel describing her experience at the event.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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