Webmaster Resources:
The USCJ Server

You may know that USCJ, USY's parent organization, provides free space on their server for chapter web pages. Unfortunately, because of confusion over USCJ policy, many chapters haven't taken advantage of this program.

Why use the USCJ server?

• Have permanent URL for your chapter in the USCJ.org domain.
• Access to scripts and other features.
• Enhanced support from other USY and USCJ webmasters.

If your synagogue already has a page on the USCJ server...
Find out who is the webmaster of that page. He or she can create a USY directory within the synagogue's directory, and provide you with assistance in uploading your chapter web page files. If not...

USCJ policy states:
Each USCJ synagogue, region, or other organization will be provided a directory for its use on the USCJ server. This directory will be under USCJ's directory and also under the subdirectory for the appropriate region. The organization's directory is created when the president or executive director sends his or her approval to USCJ. An e-mail message confirming the account setup and giving the directory name and password is sent to the person indicated in the authorizing message. It takes approximately seven days to set up an account and directories. You must speak with your rabbi, president (not USY president), or executive director and get them to request web space. These people may be busy, but they really want to help you. Tell them that requesting web space won't take much of their time, and that you'll even help put information about other synagogue programs on the web (if you're prepared to do that). The USY Central Office provides support, but cannot directly provide web space.

Below is information from the USCJ Department of Information Technology. You may want to familiarize yourself with the material, and give it to you rabbi, president, or executive director. The account coordinators below will not be able to process a web space request from a USYer (and you won't get on their good side this way, either). Please also note the information on USY Chapter URLs inserted below.

The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism is facilitating World Wide Web development by its affiliated organizations by providing free space for websites.

For more information, have your synagogue webmaster contact:

In order to mount a page on the USCJ server, webmasters, also known as "spiders," should first read the USCJ Web Development Guidelines.

Each USCJ synagogue, region, or other organization will be provided a domain for its use on the USCJ web hosting system.

(*USY chapter web pages will generally be in a subdirectory within the synagogue website but may also register their own domain, e.g., http://yoursynagogue.org/usy/).

Adding files to your Web space:

• Get your login and password from the appropriate USCJ contact, listed in the guidelines.
• Work on your home computer, creating HTML files to upload to the server. There are many books and web sites with information on basic HTML. If you are more comfortable working from a template, there is one for synagogue web pages available on the USCJ server.
• Keep a backup copy of all files and unique images.
• Using ftp commands or graphical software clients such as WS_FTP (IBM and compatibles) or Fetch (Macintosh), connect to uscj.org and enter your login and password. You must provide your own standard Internet connection.
• Create any subdirectories you need under your main directory.
• Upload files to your directory or subdirectories.
• When finished, close the ftp connection and quit your software package.

The USCJ Department of Information Technology administers web hosting accounts, provides technical support as well as develops website guidelines and policies.