My experience at the 4G convention was truly unforgettable. Returning for the third consecutive year, I anticipated an exceptional time and I was not disappointed. The weekend kicked off aboard a yacht filled with Jewish music blasting and a crowd of ecstatic teenagers eager for a memorable weekend ahead.

The lineup of sessions on the shabbaton was nothing short of extraordinary, each leaving a lasting impact on every one of us in the room. From Nicole Spero’s inspiring journey to Judaism to the deeply powerful stories of Jewish teens in public school fighting for their Judaism told by the public school girls themselves, each session was equally impactful and moving and taught us all about what it means for us as Jews to continue to choose and infuse Judaism and Torah into our lives.

At the center of what 4G is all about, every night we were able to have “open BMG” (Beit Midrash for Girls) with our advisers, where we were able to choose a sefer to learn and then take home with us to continue learning after convention. These chavrutas and conversations with our 4G advisors taught us what growth is all about and how to think about our Judaism in real and authentic ways for each of us as individuals.

Friday night’s highlight for me was undoubtedly Rabbi Hartstein’s speech session blending humor with profound insights that had the entire room listening attentively. Shabbos day brought Nissim Black’s moving story of growth and choosing Judaism against all odds and opening up to a Q&A for us all to interact and learn together. Shabbos came to an end with a Havdalah we would never forget, knowing every girl in that room was not ready for Shabbos to be over.

And if the weekend wasn’t packed enough, we ended the night with a concert from the one and only Nissim Black. Infusing the room with crazy energy and inspiration, every girl sang her heart out as we all danced around the room together as one 4G family.

As we left the convention, the inspiration was tangible, each of us leaving a more impacted and inspired member of the 4G NCSY family. The convention showed us the incredible bond created as a community of girls striving for more. 4G Convention 2024 was an experience we will cherish and carry with us always, and we can’t wait to bring it all with us into 4G programming throughout the year. Truly un4Gettable!

Maya Weitz is a senior at Ma’ayanot.