United Synagogue Youth

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The USY Logo
The USY Logo

United Synagogue Youth is the youth movement of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism or USCJ.

United Synagogue Youth, more commonly known as USY, is a youth group with members from the United States and Canada dedicated to creating a fun, educational environment where Jewish teenagers can connect in hopes of meeting other Jewish teens in a comfortable atmosphere, combating assimilation, supporting Israel and giving and performing charity. The organization is open to all Jewish teenagers. While synagogue membership is not a requirement, most affiliate with the Conservative movement.

Contents

[edit] The goals of USY

The general aim of the United Synagogue Youth program is to bring about a meaningful and fully reciprocal encounter of Judaism, the Jewish people, and the synagogue on one side, and the Jewish teenager on the other. As a result of this encounter, the Jewish teenager will, firstly, demonstrate and experience how the Jewish way of living, through study, action and fellowship, leads to personal fulfillment and growth while meeting his spiritual and social needs, and secondly, make a significant contribution to his synagogue, community, society and the Jewish people.

[edit] Programs

The international level of USY is large and sponsors many programs and clubs.

[edit] Abraham Joshua Heschel Honor Society

The Heschel Honor Society is a club for USY members of secular and religious academic excellence. The club is named after Abraham Joshua Heschel. The Heschel Honor society holds a convention in March each year for a group of about 75 involved members.

[edit] HeChalutzim

HeChalutzim is a club for USY members interested in Israel Affairs and Religious Zionism. Members of HeChalutzim often attend unique regional weekends for the club, or enjoy special programming at regional conventions and International Convention. In addition, every year one HeChalutzim member from each region goes to Israel with the HeChalutzim Israel Seminar, and returns to the regions to advocate for and encourage others to visit Israel.

[edit] 613 Mitzvah Corps

The 613 Mitzvah Corps is the Social Action club for USY memberships interested in the ideals of social action and the Tikun Olam program. It deals with helping out the Jewish and general communities.

[edit] Summer trips

USY runs a large number of summer trips and programs through the "USY: Great Escape" initiative.

[edit] Israel Pilgrimage

USY sends hundreds of teens to Israel each summer. Trips vary in locations, programming, and mood, but every trip stays in or visits at least the following locations: Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Eilat, kibbutz Sa'ad, Masada, the Dead Sea, and Rosh HaNikra. Security is provided by Israeli staffers with military experience and the Jewish Agency.

[edit] Classic Israel Pilgrimage

Classic Israel Pilgrimage consists of six weeks touring around Israel and one week spent in a mock army training called Gadna.

[edit] Eastern Europe/Israel Pilgrimage

Eastern Europe Israel Pilgrimage consists of exploring the history and cultures of Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary for two weeks and spending the remaining four weeks touring Israel.

[edit] Spain/Israel Pilgrimage

Spain/Israel Pilgrimage consists of one week touring prominent historical locations in Spain and Portugal and then five weeks touring Israel.

[edit] From Darkness to Light: Poland Seminar/Israel Pilgrimage

From Darkness to Light: Poland Seminar/Israel Pilgrimage consists of nine days spent touring prominent Jewish locations, former Jewish communities, and concentration camps in Poland before spending five weeks touring Israel. Past groups have visited Sobibor, Majdanek, Auschwitz, Birkenau, Treblinka, Warsaw, Cracow, Lublin, Kielce, and many others.

[edit] USY on Wheels

USY on Wheels is a six and half-week bus tour across the United States and Canada, which visits different Jewish communities and tourist attractions across America, including the Grand Canyon, Disneyland, and many others. In addition to several buses simply touring, there is one Mission Mitzvah bus, which focuses on community service projects and social action.

[edit] Outdoor Adventure

[edit] Pacific Northwest

Outdoor Adventure Pacific Northwest is a four-week program which takes place in Washington. Participants spend their time hiking, sea-kayaking, and coming together to form a tight-knit group. One week of the program is spent hiking near Mount Rainier, one is spent hiking in Olympic National Park, and one week is spent sea-kayaking in the Puget Sound. Time is also spent near Mount Saint Helens.

[edit] Costa Rica

Outdoor Adventure: Costa Rica is a three-week tour that travels to all parts of beautiful Costa Rica. The group visits national parks, goes white-water rafting and horseback riding, and other adventures, including a community service project. Three highlights are a trip to the oldest synagogue in country, visiting a model indigenous village, and staying at Punta Mona, a hippie commune outside of Limón. The participants learn about Judaism and the environment and take Spanish lessons. All meals are kosher and are catered by Costa Rica's only kosher caterer when the group is on the road.

[edit] Summer in the City

Summer in the City is a co-ed, five-week pre-college program that takes place in New York City. Participants take a class at Barnard College in the morning and a class at the Jewish Theological Seminary in the afternoon. In the evenings and on weekends, the group goes out to see the various sights and activities New York has to offer, including a New York Yankees game, a Broadway show, museums, and much more. There is also some community service once a week.

[edit] School year programs

[edit] USY International Convention

International Convention, also referred to as IC, is a yearly gathering of over 1200 USYers from across North America in a different city each year. They gather for study, song, socializing and fun. The new officers of United Synagogue Youth are also elected at this time. The convention takes place in December, and the next convention will be held in Boston, MA.

Recent International Conventions have been held in:
1997 - Philadelphia, PA
1998 - Chicago, IL
1999 - San Jose, CA
2000 - Boston, MA
2001 - Washington, D.C.
2002 - Orlando, FL
2003 - Toronto, ON, Canada
2004 - Chicago, IL
2005 - Philadelphia, PA
2006 - Boston, MA

[edit] USY High

USY High is an eight-week program in which high schoolers live at the Goldstein Youth Village in Jerusalem, studying and exploring Israel. In the campus classroom, participants are introduced chronologically to each historical period. Campus class time is interspersed with time experiencing the "classroom without walls" - the Land of Israel. Participants learn in an ancient cave, a mountain fortress, an army bunker, riding on a camel, or even at the beach.

[edit] Nativ

Nativ is a 9-month program for recent high school graduates where they experience life in Israel, while making lifelong frienships and gaining valuable leadership skills. Options within the program include study at Hebrew University or the Conservative Yeshiva, and living on Kibbutz Sa'ad or volunteering in Be'er Sheva.

[edit] International USY regions

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USY is divided into 17 regions extending throughout all of the United States and Canada. Most often, USYers communicate directly with their regional or chapter leaders, and do not have much contact with the headquarters in New York.

[edit] International Leadership

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There are six officers on the International Executive Board (IEB). These USYers are responsible for the executive leadership of the organization. They are elected to one year terms at the yearly International Convention. The 2006 Leadership is as follows:[1]

  • USY International President: Matan Silberstein
  • USY International Israel Affairs Vice President: Nathan Miller
  • USY International Religion/Education Vice President: Sarah Lopatin
  • USY International Social Action/Tikun Olam Vice President: Jacob Slosberg
  • USY International Membership/Kadima¹ Vice President: Francie Schrank
  • USY International Communications Vice President: Zach Greenberg

¹Kadima (translated literally as "forward") is the middle school age affiliate of USY and USCJ. [2]

The USY office in New York, NY is home to the professional leadership of USY which collaborates with the above USY officers. They have greater responsibilities in summer programs, Nativ and long-term planning. Jules Gutin is currently the International Director of USY.[3]

[edit] Notable USY Alumni

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[edit] Notes

  1. ^ http://www.usy.org/yourusy/directory/ieb.asp
  2. ^ http://www.usy.org/kadima
  3. ^ http://www.usy.org/yourusy/directory/istaff.asp

[edit] See also

[edit] External links


Conservative Judaism
Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies - Jewish Theological Seminary of America - Rabbinical Assembly - Conservative Halakha - Committee on Jewish Law and Standards - Conservative responsa - United Synagogue Youth - Kadima - Ravnet - Solomon Schechter Day School Association - University of Judaism - Masorti - Camp Ramah - Koach -
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