April 22, 2025
Dear JYC Global Family,
In JYC, we witness incredible transformations every day—young people stepping into their courage, learning to listen with empathy, and discovering the quiet, powerful ways change takes root. Our staff members are continually humbled by the honesty and resilience our singers bring to this work. The story below comes from one of our Palestinian participants, who shares with moving clarity what it means to grow through discomfort and to find strength in vulnerability. It’s a story of learning that peace isn’t always dramatic or immediate, but often begins with the brave, everyday act of showing up. This reflection captures the heart of what we do at JYC: creating a space where music becomes a bridge, and where each voice—no matter how uncertain—has the power to shape a more just and connected future.
A Story from a JYC Singer
“How far are you willing to go?
We tend to let our comfort limit our abilities. To seek peace and change but only if it doesn’t cost us too much. I’ve always envisioned change to be loud, sudden and revolutionary even. So when I first joined the choir, I would stay quiet in dialogue sessions or say things I knew people wanted to hear. And I would wait for peace to prevail.
Slowly I gained more confidence. Being seen didn’t feel as scary anymore. Our retreat in April reaffirmed that. During the retreat, we had dialogue sessions, we spoke about the army and as a Palestinian I saw the other side of the wall an Israeli did. We spoke about goals and they were different. Some were to listen, share and learn and mine was to take what we learn and cause change in the real world. It frustrated me that some goals were as simple as “to listen”. I remember thinking “what will that do?”
Our conversations were tense, strong and uncomfortable. And in that discomfort, I found clarity. I realized I’d been so focused on chasing big, loud change that I didn’t recognize the quiet change already happening. That sitting in that room—fighting the urge to react, choosing instead to absorb someone else’s truth—that was the step forward.
Because change starts from within. It is choosing to show up. Choosing to speak, to listen, to stay. To share your truth even when your voice shakes. To hear someone else’s even when it challenges your own. I underestimated how hard that would be. But now I know that sometimes, the smallest steps carry the most weight. And that change doesn’t have to be loud to be real. It just has to be honest.”
Double Your Impact: A $75,000 Matching Gift
With 82% of our operational budget dedicated to programming costs, your gift directly enables the profound experiences of our singers, like the story shared above. To help us fund our twice weekly programming in a time of significant need, JYC supporter Sally Gottesman has made an extraordinary $75,000 matching gift—doubling every dollar contributed by members of our community up to $75,000. This vital support will replace the $150,000 we expected to receive from USAID before our contract was officially terminated last month.
Even in the most challenging moments, our singers remain steadfast, lifting their voices through music and dialogue to spark hope and connection across divides—in Jerusalem and around the world. When you give today, you help amplify their message of compassion, courage, and unity, ensuring their songs continue to lead the way toward a brighter future.
Join us. Support JYC. And together, let’s build a better future. With hope and harmony,
Micah, Amer, Jackie, and the Jerusalem Youth Chorus