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Yet Donna and twin sister Maya, both on the national board of Young Judaea, wouldn't have it any other way.

Last summer the two Berkeley High School seniors were elected to the Mazkirut, Hadassah's Zionist youth movement. Donna took over as national Bogrim programmer, overseeing programs for grades eight through 12. Maya became the Merchav West representative, the board's communications coordinator for the Western United States.

Born in Haifa, Israel, and raised in Berkeley, the twins became involved in Young Judaea at age 11. They attended club meetings at Berkeley's Congregation Beth El and gradually took on more leadership responsibilities in educational programming and convention planning.

"Instead of just playing games with the word `Israel' I began thinking about things on a more philosophical level," Maya remembers. "[I was] questioning myself and having others question me. Why am I a Zionist? Am I a Zionist? [These were] things I'd never thought of before."

The twins grew up in a family with strong ties to Zionism. Their brother Eitan, now a senior at the University of Oregon, was an active Young Judaea participant during high school and served on the national board as the Merchav West representative.

Their mother, Braha, was born in Petah Tikva, Israel. Their father, Reuven, moved to Israel from Maryland at 19, worked on a kibbutz and joined the army. The two met during their military service when they were assigned to help a group of Young Judaea graduates start a settlement in the Negev, Kibbutz Ketura. They befriended many of the settlers and remained in contact with them long after they'd completed military service.

For the twins, "right now our life is school, college applications and Young Judaea," jokes Donna, who oversees 16 regional Bogrim programmers across the country. She sees her role as a troubleshooter and motivator.

"I like to call and chat, to make [the regional programmers] feel comfortable with the national level. We talk about planning their conventions and setting outlines. I want to challenge them to take their programming a step higher."

Maya, who also serves as president of the regional board, wants to facilitate the flow of

ideas among the regional Mazkirut and build up the camaraderie.

"I want to bring all the great ideas from our Merchav [region] to national and then share what's going on with national with the West Coast. It's challenging because we're the farthest away from New York."

Next summer the twins plan to work at Camp Tel Yehuda, the Young Judaea camp for high school students, and afterwards attend the Young Judaea's Year Course in Israel. This 10-month program includes study at Hebrew University, time on a moshav and work in a development town.

"Someone once told me the only way you can really experience Israeli life is if you have the opportunity to drink milk out of a plastic bag," Donna explains, "because that's the way milk is packaged [in Israel]. So this year-course will really allow us to drink milk out of the plastic bag."

For now the sisters are focusing their energies on the Mazkirut in an effort to educate people about Israel. "We want to bring a positive message across," says Maya. "Young Judaea changed our lives and gave us a chance to make an identity for ourselves. We want to provide this opportunity for others."

Donna echoes her sister's commitment. "One thousand years ago there was a state of Israel but it only lasted 100 years with the Maccabiahs. Now we're reaching the 50th anniversary of Israel — and what's going to make this one last?

"I'm eager to ensure that we are an active part. The diaspora has the potential to be so strong. Young Judaea is preparing people to help the state outlive its predecessing Israels."