USY History

"The Youth Commission unanimously agrees that the teen age groups come under the general supervision of the Youth Commission. Teen-age 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."

When these words appeared in the Youth Commission's Report, given on March 19, 1951, United Synagogue Youth was born. The Charter meeting of the new Youth group was held in December of that same year. High school aged delegates met at sites at both Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary.

Delegates from synagogues and other youth groups across the country attended along with lay and professional youth workers of the United Synagogue attended the Convention. All told, over 500 people, representing 65 different communities in 14 different states and Canada attended the first official meeting of USYers. At that convention, under the leadership of the newly elected National President, high schooler Paul Freedman, the two basic documents of the organization: Aims and Objectives and the USY Constitution were adopted.

The organization has changed over the years. In late 1951 three more regions were added to USY, making a total of 17. In 1956, the Two-o-Nine tzedaka (Charity) project began. It was revamped in 1971, becoming Tikun Olam, the social action/charity project that all contemporary USYers recognize. That same summer 12 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, in 1958 Pilgrimage enrolment was up to about 100. In 1961, USY further expanded its summer programs when two staff members took fort USYers on their "Schlep and Pray Across the USA" on the first USY on Wheels trip. In 1969, the Youth Commission increased its informal educational scope in creating Kadima, the youth group geared towards middle school and junior high students. The summer programs have greatly expanded over the years.

Today there are seven Wheels Buses, including USY on Wheels Mission: Mitzvah, a special bus whose members engage in the regular Wheels sightseeing and also work on intense social action projects in various communities throughout North America; and USY on Wheels, East, a special bus for incoming freshman. The Pilgriamge program, now offers five different programs, sending USYers across the globe. Pilgrimage groups still go to Israel, but they also visit Spain and Poland.

Today's USY is far larger and even more successful. Fifty-six Conventions later, USY, now an international organization in its own right, has ties to NOAM, the Masorti youth group in both Britain and Israel. USYers can now spend part of their High School Careers at USY High, in Israel. The NATIV Israel Leadership training program also provides an educational year in Israel between highschool and college for USY graduates.