United Synagogue Youth


United Synagogue Youth is the youth movement of USCJ.
The organization was founded in 1951, under the auspices of the Youth Commission of what was then the United Synagogue of America.
USY operates in the United States and Canada, with 350 chapters across 15 regions. Kadima is USY's program for pre-teens grades 5-8.

History

The First USY Chapter
Under the leadership of both Rabbi David Aronson and Rabbi Kassel Abelson, the first USY chapter was founded at Beth El Synagogue in Minneapolis in 1948 to provide for the social and spiritual needs of its teens. Soon, other synagogues began following suit.
Founding the National Organization
“The Youth Commission unanimously agrees that the teenage groups come under the general supervision of the Youth Commission. Teenage groups should include boys and girls of high school level, 13 to 17 years inclusive…The Youth Commission shall concern itself with non-scholastic group work for teenagers.”
With these words, on March 19, 1951, USY was formed nationally at its first convention, bringing together delegates from synagogues and other youth groups across the country, along with lay and professional youth workers of USCJ.
All told, more than 500 people, representing 65 communities from 14 states and Canada attended the first official meeting of USY.
At that convening, under the leadership of the newly elected national president, Paul Freedman, the two basic documents of the organization, Aims and Objectives and the USY Constitution, were adopted.
USY's Tzedakah Program
In 1956, the Two-o-Nine tzedakah project began.
Summer Travel for Teens
That same summer, twelve USYers went on the first organization sponsored trip to Israel. Known as the USY Israel Summer Pilgrimage, it became the first of the USY summer programs.
Two years later, Pilgrimage enrollment had already increased to 100 teens. In 1961, USY further expanded its summer programs when two staff members took four USYers on their “Schlep and Pray Across the USA,” the first USY on Wheels trip.
PreTeen Programming
In 1969, the Youth Commission created Kadima, the youth group for middle school and junior high students.
USY Today
Today USY has 350 local chapters in 15 regions across North America.

Structure

USY has three main levels of entry into the organization, the chapter level, the regional level, and the international level. The HaNegev and METNY regions are also split into sub-regions and divisions, respectively.

Chapter

Chapters, typically run out of local USCJ congregations, provide programming on the local level. This includes social, religious, educational, and community service-based programming. Social programming ranges from lounge and movie nights to pool parties and paintballing. Religious, educational, and community service-based programming include mock-seders, Israel education, and volunteering.
All programming is planned by the Chapter Board with the assistance of a professional advisor. Typically, a given chapter's name is an acronym of the synagogue or city in which the chapter is based followed by the letters "USY". For example, the "Congregation Beth Judea in Long Grove is shortened to BJUSY". Chapters are associated with a USCJ-affiliated synagogue.

Regional

Regions consist of chapters in the same geographical area. Regions gather for bi-monthly, quarterly, and annual regional events, such as weekend-long kinnusim and week-long encampments. There are 15 USY regions.

Sub-Regional/Divisional

Larger USY regions are occasionally split into sub-regions or divisions. The sub-regions and divisions act much like regions, overseeing their respective chapters, and holding their own conventions and elections. Currently, there are two regions, HaNegev and METNY, with sub-regions or divisions. HaNegev's sub-regions are each led by a three-person executive board, and METNY's divisions are each led by a six-person executive board. HaNegev's three sub-regions are Arvot, Mercaz, and Ein Gedi. METNY's three divisions are Emek, Sababa, and Ruach.

Branches

In the spring of 2019, USY combine regions into Branches. There are six branches. Each region maintains it's individual regional identity but the leadership has shifted to one team running two to three regions.

International

On the international level, USY holds an International Convention, the largest gathering of Conservative Jewish teens in North America, and runs summer trips across the United States, Canada, Israel, and Europe.
The International Board is composed of the six-person International Executive Board, comprising the President and five Vice-Presidents and the committees of the International General Board, overseen by the IEB. The IEB is elected at the International Convention, which takes place every December, and the members serve for one calendar year, unlike chapter and regional boards, which are elected at regional Spring Conventions in mid- to late spring.

Programs

International USY provides the following programming:

USY Summer Experience{{Cite web|url=http://usy.org/escape/|title=Jewish Summer Teen Travel Programs USY|website=usy.org|access-date=2016-12-19}}

USY runs simultaneous four-to-seven-week summer programs across North America and Europe. The trips through Europe culminate in Israel.
USY on Wheels is a six-week bus tour throughout the continental United States, Canada, and Alaska. Participants spend the summer visiting America's greatest landmarks, including the Grand Canyon and Pier 39, as well as the country's more obscure destinations including the Corn Palace and Wall Drug. The program's goal is giving teens the opportunity to understand what it means to live Jewishly no matter where you go. Participants stay in both hotels and home hospitality. Participants keep Kosher and pause to celebrate Shabbat throughout the summer. In addition to the "Classic" Wheels trip, other travel options include:
USY's trips to Israel, USY Israel Pilgrimage, consist of an optional week in Poland or Eastern Europe followed by a month in Israel, learning about Jewish communities and the Shoah. Pilgrimage trips visit every major city and region, including Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Tiberias, Beersheba, and Eilat. In addition to city life, the program incorporates many hiking opportunities and outdoor experiences, in areas including the Golan Heights, the Jordan River, the Galilee the Mediterranean Sea, Masada, the Dead Sea, the Negev, the Red Sea, and archaeological digs of ancient Jewish civilization, all led by professional tour guides. Another option for Israel Pilgrimage is L'Takayn Olam, a program that blends social action and volunteering with sightseeing.
USY also partners with the DREAM Project for DREAM USY, a two-week social action trip in the Dominican Republic.

International Convention

USY's International Convention, commonly referred to as IC, is the largest gathering of Conservative Jewish teens.
Held annually the last full week in December, the convention moves to a different North American city each year and convenes hundreds of Jewish teens for five days of celebration, friendship, Jewish learning, and giving back to the local community.
The location changes from year to year, covering several USY regions over a period of a few years.
The 2016 International Convention was held in Dallas, Texas on December 25–29, 2016. During the week of the Convention, USYers participated in community service, leadership, religious, educational, cultural, and social programming. The 2017 International Convention was held in Chicago, Illinois.
Past International Conventions
please note that prior to 1963, International Convention was a faction of EMTZA Region USY. It was not until the creation of other monetary regions in 1963 that International Convention took the form it holds today. For purposes of this table, International Convention's location and chairpeople will start from 1963 although the first convention was held in 1950.
YearSite of ConventionChairpeople
1963ChicagoSharon Perlman and Ed Schechter
1964ChicagoLewis Ginsberg and Mindy Abramowitz
1965Washington, D.C.Mark Braverman & Judy Lasker
1966St. LouisMark Braverman & Barbra Cutler
1967New York CityBarbra Cutler & Jonathan Fenster
1968ChicagoScott Jacobson & Arthur Magin
1969BuffaloSteve Rockoff & Billy Tilles
1970AtlantaMyron Edelman & Steve Salinger
1971Washington, D.C.Stuart Blumenthal & Billy Klein
1972BostonMichael Klayman & Amy Ripps
1973Los AngelesLisa Isaacman & Arnie Sherrin
1974Washington, D.C.Joel Ticatch & Beth Levenson
1975ChicagoBob Bagoff & Marcia Tatz
1976OrlandoDebbie Katz & Cheryl Kelman
1977TorontoHeidi Aronin & David Lowenstein
1978Cherry HillJudy Kunoff & Marc Shandler
1979RyeJudy Kunuff & Eric Sherby
1980Los AngelesNorman Katzoff & Sharyn Salamankolopololis
1981ArlingtonLori Schrecter & Ira Snyder
1982ChicagoSammy Karliner & Marty Kunoff
1983Cherry HillBennett Kaplan & Sheri Wexler
1984TampaJonathan Draluck & Debbie Hite
1985TorontoAdina Ben-Seez & Ivan Wolnecj
1986San JoseHope Tanhoff & Roger Woodman
1987BaltimoreBobbi Berenbaum & Adena Cohen
1988ChicagoJosh Kulp & Jeff Meyers
1989PhiladelphiaBrian Cohen & Billy Padnos
1990TampaKenny Baer & Jeremy Wlederhorn
1991BostonJoshua Gruenberg & Amy Nedow
1992BaltimoreDavid Linder & Beth Tritter
1993IrvineDebbie Cohen & Josh Einhorn
1994East BrunswickJeff Fox & Anne Levenson
1995TorontoJeremy Gordon & Paul Tritter
1996OrlandoJennifer Baerman & Yehuda Gruenberg
1997PhiladelphiaAri Greenfield & Blayne Ross
1998ChicagoBobby Hanson & Ilana Segal Rothberg
1999San JoseDani Greenspan & Seth Wax
2000BostonGabi Gershowitz & Matt Rossoff
2001Washington, D.C.Miriam Osadchey & Elana Kieffer
2002OrlandoSarah Kay & Hillel Gruenberg
2003TorontoAriella Gutin & Gabe Berkowitz
2004ChicagoShayna Hirsch & Jeremy Rietman
2005PhiladelphiaTova Fishman & Zach Berkowitz
2006BostonRoss Broms & Josh Goldberg
2007AnaheimJordan Soffer & Davey French
2008Washington, D.C.Jake Stoehr & Ezra Moses
2009ChicagoDavid Chaim Wallach & Chelsea Wagner
2010OrlandoSarah Tudzin & Max Beede
2011PhiladelphiaEllie Carr & Shira Goldstein
2012BostonAdam Rosen & Danielle Levine
2013New OrleansJake Wassermann & Gabby Roth
2014AtlantaOri Brian & Shayna Plotnik
2015BaltimoreAaron Albuck & Samara Wyant
2016DallasNoa Rose & Harrison Steier
2017ChicagoJeffrey Gold & Samantha Ronik
2018OrlandoJacob Ezra Deane & Hannah Wandersman
2019Southern CaliforniaJoshua Crowley & Sophia Sloves
2020Virtual due to pandemicSam Bloch, Reena Bromberg Gaber & Jacob Ellenbogen

Interest Clubs

USY offers three interest clubs for USY members the Abraham Joshua Heschel Honor Society, Chalutzim, and the 613 Mitzvah Corps.

Abraham Joshua Heschel Honor Society

The Abraham Joshua Heschel Honor Society is a club for USY members of secular and religious academic excellence. The club is named after prominent theologian and activist Abraham Joshua Heschel. Members meet during regional conventions to discuss topics that Heschel wrote about. The Heschel Honor society holds an annual three-day, text-focused convention every March.
The Heschel Honor Society recognizes USYers committed to the study of Torah, prayer, and performance of G’milut Chasadim .

Chalutzim

Chalutzim is our Israel advocacy club, helping you build and develop your relationship with the Jewish homeland through programming, workshops, and fun activities.
In Hebrew, Chalutzim means “pioneers,” referring to the original settlers in modern-day Israel.

613 Mitzvah Corps

613 Mitzvah Corps is USY's Social Action/Tikun Olam or SA/TO club.
The club was designed for USYers who wish to be more involved in social action and learn more about social activism within the context of Judaism.
There is an annual fee of $6.13 to be a member of 613 Mitzvah Corps. You can also donate a generous $61.30 to become a lifetime member.

List of Regions

Leadership

Regional Executive Board

Each region has a Regional Executive Board, which serves as the region's cabinet, tending to its needs across the year. An REB typically consists of a President, and five Vice Presidents: Israel Affairs VP, Religion/Education VP, Social Action/Tikun Olam VP, Membership/Kadima VP, and Communications VP. Some regions incorporate an Executive Vice President and/or Parliamentarian position. In regions that have Divisions or Sub-Regions, Divisional or Sub-Regional Presidents are automatically granted REB member status.

International Executive Board

On December 23, 2019, International USY Voting Delegates at the 69th USY International Convention voted the following 6 members into the offices of the 2020 IEB:
The International General Board is a group of committee members selected and appointed by the International Executive Board in the first month of the new year. To be considered for a position on the International General Board, an applicant must agree to keep standards and fill out an application.
The 2020 IGB is determined.

Notable alumni

USY has produced over 250,000 alumni, and remains the greatest proving ground for leadership in the Jewish world. Some alumni include:
Other significant USY alumni who made a difference outside of the Jewish world include: