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New Members Handbook*
*Written by 2000-2001 Hanefesh President Michal Raucher.
Please note:
When your region or chapter uses this, please be sure to read it over and make the
necessary changes according to your regional policies, for certain vital elements of USY
change from region to region. You may also want to add a section regarding your regional
programs, that section was omitted from this reprinting because of its specificity to
one particular region.
Shalom!!
Welcome to USY! Just by reading this pamphlet it shows you're interested in becoming
an active member of your Jewish community, USY chapter and region. I'm sure you have a
lot of questions about this fantastic organization - hopefully this booklet will be able
to answer most of those. So, read on and find out about the wonderful world of USY.
What is USY?
USY stands for United Synagogue Youth, and it is the youth group associated with the
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. In most regions, the organization is open to
high school students, but some regions allow eigth graders to join USY as well. USY is
divided into three levels: the chapter, the region and international USY. Your chapter
is most likely affiliated with the synagogue you attend, and it includes people from
your area. Our region, the ________ region, is composed of chapters from all over
__________ to ___________. The third level is the international level, made up of all
the regions from all over the United States and Canada. Across this area, there are
seventeen regions. USY is an organization for Jewish teens across the country to meet
each other, hang out together, and make lifelong friendships.
USY History
The state of Israel has been established. The American Jewish community, however, was
not in a healthy condition. What Jewish youth organizations existed in the United States
were either totally secular in nature, or Zionist-oriented and entirely dependent on the
existence and future of Israel for the continuation of Jewish identity.
150 young people from Omaha, Lincoln, Kansas City, St. Paul, and Minneapolis meet in
the Temple of Aaron in St Paul, Minnesota in April to discuss "The Synagogue and the
Teenager." At the end of their sessions, they vote to form a permanent Midwest Region
Youth Conference and to hold semi-annual meetings.
"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 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, 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 7 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. The Pilgriamge
program, now offers eight different programs, sending USYers across the globe.
Pilgrimage groups still go to Israel, but they also visit Spain, Poland, and the Czech
Republic.
Today's USY is far larger and even more successful. 52 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.
"Say what?!?" - USY Lingo
USY has a language all to itself. At Conventions and other events, a new vocabulary is
used for certain parts of the weekend. A mixture of Hebrew and English, it's a few words
that are fun to say and easy to get used to using.
- Birkat Hamazon
This is the prayer that thanks G-d for the food that we have just eaten. USYers lead the
rest of the group in praying and singing the Birkat Hamazon after the meals.
- Chadar Ochel
The room where we get our grub.
- Chofesh
Literally meaning free time, this is when you can do basically whatever you want, within
the rules of the convention. Depending on the surroundings, you can swim, play frisbee,
sleep, look at summer pictures, or just hang out.
- Havdalah
Literally meaning separation, this is the service that ends Shabbat on Saturday evening
and begins the new week. Traditionally, all the USYers stand in a circle, while a few
stand in the center holding a candle, wine cup and spices as part of the service.
- Kabbalat Shabbat
This is the service that welcomes the Shabbat on Friday evening. This service, like all
others throughout the weekend, is led by USYers.
- Kima
This is why alarm clocks are not needed at conventions. Kima means wake up, and it's the
time when the Kima committee knocks on doors in the morning to wake people up and get
them excited for the new day. Just in case some USYers don't hear the knocking, the Kima
committee has been known to drag them out of bed and sing to them.
- Ma'ariv
The evening service.
- Mincha
The afternoon service. On Shabbat, this service follows free time, and it is where we
read a preview of next week's Torah portion.
- Musaf
The service that follows the Torah service on Shabbat and holiday mornings.
- Ruach
After meals on Shabbat, everyone gathers together to show off and express their Ruach,
or spirit. We get together to sing some traditional Hebrew songs, some USY favorites,
and some new ones. Don't worry if you don't know the songs! They're easy to learn, and
you'll catch on quickly when you hear everyone singing and teaching the songs.
- Shacharit
The morning service.
- Sicha, Shiur, Kita
Literally, Kita means class, Shiur is a lesson and a Sicha is a conversation. In USY,
they all mean basically the same thing; that is a study group. At conventions, the
educational theme of the weekend is carried out through a few classes during the weekend.
Your study is composed of 15-20 USYers around your own age, and they discuss topics such
as Israel, Shabbat, the environment, or Tzedaka.
- Tikun Olam, or T.O.
Repairing the world is something that USY loves to do. Tikkun Olam is USY's charity wing
that donates money to organizations all over the world, as well as provides scholarships
for USYers traveling on USY programs. We raise the money in lots of fun ways, including
raffles, auctions and game shows.
So what else can I do?!? Clubs and Other Stuff
International USY, as well as regional USY, has a bunch of other ways for
you to get involved. So, just in case you thought going to events wasn't
enough, there are a few other ways for you to get involved.
- Abraham Joshua Heschel Honor Society
Heschel is a club designed for those members of USY who have made a special commitment
to Judaism. In order to join this club, members must attend services four times a month,
engage in a social action project once a month and take part in at least two hours of
Jewish study each week. With membership in this club, you can attend late night study
sessions at conventions, a special convention in the Spring, you receive a subscription
to a special newsletter and you participate in an induction at International Convention.
- HeChalutzim
HeChalutzim is a club designed for USYers who have made a commitment towards Israel. To
join, all you need to do is pay $10 and you will be able to attend late night sessions
about Israel. Also, you get to watch exciting videos, talk about Israel, and receive the
HeChalutzim newsletter, HeChalutzon!
- 613 Mitzvot Club
Named for the 613 commandments, this club allows the opportunity to make a donation
towards Tikkun Olam, USY's charity fund. You will receive the Social Action/Tikkun Olam
(SATO) newsletter. All this for the simple price of $6.13 per year, or $61.30 for life!
- The Regional Newsletter
This is generally distributed at every convention, and it includes articles from other
USYers, as well as fun additions. How can you contribute? Contact your regional
Communication's Vice President or your Chapter President.
International Programs and Trips
International USY has a plethora of ways in which you, the USY member, can enjoy the
company of other USYers from around the States, Canada and Israel!
- International Convention
Over 1,000 USYers from all 17 regions join together for five amazing days every year at
the end of December. During this week, we will all engage in Social Action projects,
getting-to-know-you games (icebreakers), touring the wondrous host city, reunions with
friends from the summer (keep reading, you'll see), night programs that will knock your
socks off, dances, and of course, International Executive Board elections. There is also
either a Pre-Convention or Post-Convention program where our region joins one or two
other regions for a smaller convention before or after the big event.
- USY on Wheels
While on this program, you will spend 6 and one half weeks trekking across the country
on a bus with 47 other USYers, 5 staff members and one amazing bus driver. You'll tour
the country with USYers from many different cities, visiting sites such as the Grand
Canyon, the Jelly Belly factory, Washington D.C., the San Diego Zoo, Carlsbad Caverns,
and much much more. You'll make the best friends of your life as you travel across the
United States, Canada, and Mexico.
- Mission: Mitzvah
A brand new program of USY on Wheels with an exciting and full itinerary. Mission:
Mitzvah Wheelniks will have the opportunity to interact with and learn about various
communities throughout North America through carefully planned, intensive social action
and mitzvah projects. In addition, they participate in many of the same social,
educational, touring and sightseeing programs as the "classic" Wheels program!
- USY Israel Pilgrimage
Have an incredibly exciting and stimulating summer in Israel with USY. For six weeks,
you'll be exposed to the history and contemporary realities of Judaism and Israel.
You'll climb the fortress of Masada, explore the stalactite caves of Netifin, swim in
the waters of the Kinneret, pray at the Kotel and drink tea in a Bedouin tent on the
sands of the Negev desert. You'll experience the sights and sounds of the Jewish
homeland with new friends, friends who will share you love of Israel.
- Spain/Israel Pilgrimage
Explore the great heritage of Jewish Spain including many famous philosophers,
commentators, writers and poets, such as Maimonides, Abarbanel, Ibn Ezra, Rambam, and
Ibn Gvirol. Expect to discover an important side of the Jewish roots in Spain. Celebrate
Israel and Spain with your USY group, visiting such places as Madrid, Corboda, Sevilla,
Granada, Toledo, and of course, Israel!
- Eastern Europe/Israel Pilgrimage
In this six week program you'll spend two weeks exploring the history and cultures of
Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary. Emphasis is placed on the past, present, and
future of these extraordinary Jewish communities. Then following an inspiring three day
boat journey with representatives from other Jewish youth groups simulating the
"illegal" Jewish immigration to Palestine in the 40's, you'll spend four more exciting
weeks in Israel.
- Israel Pilgrimage/Poland Seminar
Some Israel groups begin the summer with one week in Poland visiting Warsaw, Cracow and
Lublin, including the Holocaust sites of Auschwitz, Birkenau, Treblinka, Sobibor and
Majdanek. You'll spend your time in Poland exploring and studying the rich history of
Polish Jewry, followed by five weeks in Israel.
- Etgar! The Ultimage Israel Challenge
This five week program is for those who have already participated in Israel Pilgrimage
or a similar program. This group will go beyond the souvenir stands and will discover
the Israeli side of Israel. Participants will meet the challenge of study combined with
volunteer work, hiking, and interaction with Noam (USY's sister movement in Israel).
- USY High
Junior and seniors, why study Israel's history in a classroom when you can relive it at
the top of a mountain in the Galilee, or from one of Bar Kochbah's caves in the Judean
hills? And why just listen to stories about Israel from family and friends when you can
see for yourself what's so special about the homeland. You'll spend two exciting months
with USYers from all across North America, living the USY way with daily tefilot,
incredible ruach, moving Shabbat experiences and the kind of programming that only USY
can give you.
- Nativ
Are you looking at all your option for after high school graduation? Then make sure to
see if Nativ is right for you! Nativ is a unique program for those special USY graduates
who demonstrate academic and leadership skills. It is a standard academic year from
September to May. The first five months Nativers live in Jerusalem at Beit Nativ, and
study either at Hebrew University or at the Conservative Yeshiva. The second half of the
year Nativers live and work on Kibbutz Sa'ad, in the Negev. Nativ is a year-long College
Leadership Program for the Conservative Movement in Israel and you will receive college
credit at most colleges and universities.
Conclusion
Well, that about wraps up this summary of some of what USY has to offer. It's
not all here for some of it is too amazing to write down on paper, and
you have to experience it yourself. We hope to see you really soon so you
can realize how special USY is and can be for you.
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