Thank you, FZY

As Theo Silverbeck makes Aliyah, he reflects on the community, growth, and lifelong impact of his time in FZY.

As I come to the end of my journey with FZY, and embark upon the last of FZY’s aims (Aliyah Nimshechet), I have been reflecting on how our very special movement has impacted me. 

This is a letter of appreciation: not addressed to anyone in particular, but to the movement in general. That being said, I acknowledge that the very fibre of the movement is, of course, its members. So, indirectly this is addressed to all the people who have ever shaped the movement.

To its committed members, FZY means everything. There is a direct correlation between what people put into FZY and what they get out of it. Many members become excited by FZY’s successes, riled up by its failures, and passionate about its future. As part of the movement, they take on a strong sense of personal responsibility.  Allowing yourself to get so absorbed and invested often feels like a heavy burden, and it can sometimes be frustrating. 

But, in return, these members receive the most fruitful rewards. They learn about themselves, connect with other people and develop a strong sense of identity. This is rare in an individualised modern world, where most people feel lost, lacking a community and unsure who they are. 

On top of a sense of meaning, these members develop life skills - all of those buzzwords: leadership, communication, public speaking, confidence, organisation, resilience, and creativity. Whether on camps, tours, or on the movement team, young adults are given a level of responsibility, trust, and influence that they could not access at such a young age in any other setting. They inevitably rise to the occasion and perform remarkably. 

Because of this, it is always easy to recognise if someone has been in a youth movement or not. There are giveaway signs. A certain energy that I can’t quite put into words. The cliche line is: you may leave the youth movement, but the youth movement never leaves you.

I have been lucky enough to interact with pretty much every available FZY programme, and each one offers something unique and special. By far the most impactful is the longest: Year Course, which I would highly recommend. A transformative experience at a very important stage in life. 

I want to paraphrase the words of Lucy Ross (top mazkira and person), spoken in her election speech at Bogsem 2023:

“FZY made me the person I am today. I owe everything to the movement.” 

And, the final, but most important thing that FZY has given me: the people. Friends for life. Working on joint projects, with shared ideology, and mutual struggles creates a deep and unbreakable bond; a community of support and encouragement. 

So if there is one message to takeaway, it is this: give your all to the movement and it will give its all back to you. Grasp the incredible opportunities it offers. It will be full of high highs and low lows, but I promise that you won’t regret a moment of it. 

Thank you, FZY.