Deborah Marmot’s Speech at the Year Course Opening Ceremony

Posted on September 5, 2010

Four years ago, I remember sitting in my kvutsah room on Fzy Ofek camp, and my leaders told me that they had just come back from the best 9 months of their lives and that, please g-d one day, I would be able to experience what they were talking about.

Now, we are here at the start of year course and I couldn’t be more excited to spend a year in one of the world’s most amazing places, learning the language, eating the food, listening to the music, meeting the people, helping vulnerable communities and experiencing life in the army. I will never take for granted how incredible it is that the Jews have their own state, and although peace has not yet been achieved, I have faith that it will be achieved.

We are all so lucky to be part of a youth movement, especially ones with such strong beliefs as FZY and Young Judea. It’s amazing to be in a place with so many other like-minded people who are all working towards a common goal; creating a secure and flourishing Jewish homeland. I love the fact that FZY is a pluralist movement and that people from such diverse backgrounds can come together with the same ideals, and use the best of their strengths to achieve their dreams.