A Letter to the Young Zionists

From the pages of the past to the stories of today: this is the editor’s letter to you….

To all the Young Zionists of FZY,

When I first wrote to you last year as the newly elected Editor of the Young Zionist, I spoke about renewal. Joely had just discovered the stacks of old magazines sitting in the FZY office, and I was privileged to indulge in decades of voices, ideas, debates and reflections from members of the movement who came long before us and not so long before us. It felt like opening a time capsule. In that moment, the purpose of the Young Zionist became clear to me: it is the written memory of our movement.

A year later, I’m incredibly grateful to be writing to you again after being re-elected as Editor.

The Young Zionist exists because of the people within FZY - because members choose to share their ideas, their creativity, and their experiences with the rest of the movement. Over the past year, it’s been exciting to see that spirit begin to grow again. We’ve expanded the journal’s presence beyond the website with the launch of our Instagram page (@the_young_z), creating a more interactive space for creativity and conversation, while keeping written articles at the heart of what we do.

But the most meaningful part of the past year has been seeing more voices contribute. Every piece that has been submitted - whether reflective, creative, or opinionated - adds something to the story of the movement at this particular moment in time. In decades to come, these articles will become the same kind of historical snapshots that fascinated me when I first discovered those old editions.

I’m immensely proud of everything we accomplished in 5786 - in particular, the printed edition of the ideological journal, which showcased remarkable contributions from across the movement: alumni, active members, and influential voices in the wider Jewish world, among many others. I hope to continue this tradition and create something equally inspiring this year. Additionally, we were able to reignite the Hostages in Our Hearts campaign and celebrating the number of hostages in Gaza returning to zero was an incredibly moving and hopeful moment for our community, reminding us of the importance of our Jewish identity.

As we move into another year of the Young Zionist, my hope is to continue expanding that sense of ownership. This journal should belong to everyone in the movement. Whether you want to write an article, share a poem, create artwork, recommend something you’ve read or watched, reflect on your experiences in Israel, or explore an idea connected to Judaism or Zionism - there is space for you here.

FZY has always been a movement built on discussion, curiosity and creativity. The Young Zionist is simply another way for those conversations to exist - a place where we can slow down, reflect, and listen to one another.

So this letter is both a thank you and an invitation.

Thank you to everyone who contributed, supported, and engaged with the Young Zionist this past year. And if you’ve ever thought about writing, creating, or sharing something with the movement, I hope you’ll consider this your invitation to be part of the next chapter.

Because the Young Zionist, like FZY itself, is shaped by the voices of its members and never stops moving.

Anya Berg, Young Zionist Editor 26/27