Hanefesh

1. Elections/Final Event – To end the 2005-2006 year, we had backyard barbeque where we held elections for the 2006-2007 year, played Apples to Apples and handed out awards to various members of the chapter for their participation in making another great year of Emanuel USY.
2. Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Social – Wearing our newly made tie-dyed board t-shirts, the board of Emanuel USY and the synagogue clergy scooped ice cream at a local Ben & Jerry's and a percentage of the profits went to the Emanuel Scholarship Fund.
3. Fire & Ice Bonfire – To kick off a new year of Emanuel USY, we held our annual bonfire where USYers played icebreakers, ate ice cream, played games to raise money for SA/TO, and got to know the new Israeli emissaries.
4. Roses from Israel – In order to both support the Israeli economy and raise money for SA/TO, we ordered about one hundred dozen roses from M&M Roses in Israel and sold them to congregants and members of the community for both Rosh Hashanah and Mothers' Day.
5. High Holiday Services – USYers piled into the synagogue's library for High Holiday Services which included candy on Rosh Hashanah, story time, ice breakers, discussions, and favorite USY tunes.
6. TGIS – A new Emanuel USY tradition, Thank G-d It's Shabbat was a monthly event where Emanuel USYers met at synagogue for Friday night services, after which they walked to various hosts, two of which were the rabbi and cantor, for Shabbat dinner.
7. Haunted Hayride – In the spirit of the fall months, USYers went on a haunted hayride at Flamig Farm in Simsbury, Conn., followed by movies and candy in our youth lounge.
8. Shabbat Services – Once a month in the youth lounge during the last hour of the main service, Emanuel USY held Saturday morning services which offered fun songs, a relaxed environment, and even games like "Jewpardy" which included categories such as "Israel," "Jews in the News," "Holidays," and "Torah."
9. Rock n' Bowl – Following Havdalah, Emanuel USY held a joint event with Beth El USY at a local bowling alley where USYers enjoyed bowling with their friends, snacking on chips and soda, playing video arcade games, and listening to the DJ who played lots of upbeat music.
10. Mock Wedding – Our most anticipated event this year was both educational and fun, including a realistic wedding of two USYers, almost 80 guests from the whole Hanefesh region, a toy drive for SA/TO, and a dance with a DJ to celebrate.
11. Shabbaton – Another greatly anticipated annual event, Shabbaton was a fun-filled Shabbat including Friday night services, dinner at the synagogue, activities with the Israeli emissaries, a sleepover at a USYer's house, Shabbat morning services, falafel for lunch, and Laser Quest on Saturday night!
12. TGIP – To celebrate a much-loved holiday, Emanuel USY held Thank G-d It's Purim during which USYers first attended the congregational Purim service (many of them in costume) where USYers put on a skit for the congregation to raise money for SA/TO, (we raised $761 during this service alone!) after which they hung out and played games in our youth lounge.
13. Purim Mitzvah Fair – For Purim Emanuel USY also held a Mitzvah Fair where anyone from the Emanuel congregation could participate in various mitzvah projects such as making sandwiches to feed the hungry in our community.
14. Meetings with the Assistant Rabbis – Three events in March gave Emanuel USYers an opportunity to meet, chill and eat pizza with several candidates for the new assistant rabbi at Emanuel Synagogue, allowing the USYers to offer their opinions in the synagogue's hiring process.
15. Lag B'Omer – To celebrate this Jewish field day, an Emanuel USYer hosted a backyard barbeque and Emanuel USYers spent the evening outside, playing Frisbee and catch, and socializing.

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