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Nearly 5,000 Teens Attend RootOne Event in Rishon Lezion Organized by Jewish Agency and Partners
Teens from the United States, Canada and Israel attended the July 12 gathering at Live Park, the first such RootOne event since October 2023. Performances and addresses highlighted personal connections and shared experiences.
Jul 15, 5:43 AM·1m read1 source
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Nearly 5,000 teens from the United States, Canada and Israel attended RootOne’s Big Tent event on July 12, 2026, at Live Park in Rishon Lezion. @Jerusalem_Post reported that the gathering marked the first such event since the Hamas-led massacres of October 7, 2023. RootOne organized the event with The Jewish Agency for Israel, the Diaspora Ministry and Mosaic United.
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Israeli singer Noam Bettan, who placed second in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, performed his hit song “Michelle” and led the crowd in additional songs. ” Former Gaza hostage Moran Stella Yanai, kidnapped on October 7, 2023, from the Nova Music Festival and held for 54 days, addressed the crowd.
President Isaac Herzog delivered a video message urging the teens to find their place in the story of the Jewish people and to fight for Israel and against antisemitism.
Nadav Shachmon, Director of Israel Partnerships at RootOne, stated that the event gives teens the feeling they are part of something bigger and not alone. Teen participants described their experiences. Evan, on the Ramah Israel Seminar, said the group packed toys for children of IDF reserve families.
Aliyah, on a Yallah! Israel trip, said she had seen many people she knew and made many new friends. Jess, also on a Yallah! Israel trip, said Israel offers rich culture and abundant learning opportunities.
Isaac, on a Young Judaea Gesher trip, said meeting Israeli peers face-to-face without traveling 1,000 miles is valuable. Shir Greenberg of Austin, Texas, a teen emcee participating in an NCSY summer program, said co-hosting the event made her feel proud to be Jewish and connected.
