USY alumni are making an incredible impact—in their communities, careers, and Jewish life. From rabbis and educators to activists and innovators, their stories reflect the lasting power of USY. This Double Chai campaign honors their journeys and helps ensure the next generation can have the same transformative experiences. Click below to support future leaders and celebrate our alumni legacy!
Adam Bender
CHUSY: BJUSY (Beth Judea USY, Long Grove, IL), Pilgrimage 2011, Nativ 32, Wheels staff 2015 & 2016, Wheels Rosh 2017 & 2018.
Adam Bender is a Jewish communal professional with a long history in USY! After graduating from USY, he staffed USY on Wheels East and Nativ 39. He has a master’s degree in Jewish education from JTS and currently serves Queens Hillel as Director of Engagement.
“USY was my springboard into Jewish life. Through my time in USY, I was given the tools to not only explore my own Jewish identity and find Jewish joy in my community, but most importantly, build a Jewish life that fits what I find meaningful. Without USY, I would not be the Jewish educator that I am today.”
Hannah Bartell
METNY: Beth El Synagogue Center (New Rochelle, NY), Nativ 36, Wheels 2013, Wheels Staff 2018 & 2019, Staff – Nativ 41,42,43.
Hannah Bartell is a METNY alum and participated in Nativ 36. After high school, Hannah was president of Binghamton University Hillel, and since then has made aliyah to Israel, participating on The Masa Israel Teaching Fellows Program and working as a Nativ staffer. She is currently pursuing a masters in Non-Profit Management at The Hebrew University.
“USY was truly the cornerstone of my Jewish upbringing and shaped so much of who I am today. It gave me a space to grow, to lead, and to connect with my peers, with mentors, and with my Jewish identity. The friendships I made and the lessons I learned still show up in my life all the time. USY taught me how to lead with compassion, communicate with purpose, and stay committed to what matters most. Even now, years later, I find myself drawing on those experiences whether I’m working with a team, building community, or simply trying to live out my values. USY impacted more than just my teen years; it laid the foundation for the person I continue to strive to be.”
Alayna Baram
Far West: Midbar Kodesh (Henderson, NV), Wheels West 2005
Alayna Baram is a Far West alum and USY staffer from 2013-2017. After graduating from USY, Alayna worked at JCA Shalom camp (Malibu, CA) and returned to Midbar Kodesh (Henderson, NV) as a chapter advisor. Now, Alayna is impacting the next generation as a second-grade teacher at Valley Beth Shalom Day School.
“USY helped confirm for me that I was interested in teaching, working with students, and that being a part of a Jewish community was an essential part of my life and who I am. It helped me to make connections, have Ruach, and enjoy being silly. It helped me to learn how to improvise and collaborate with others. USY even led me to meeting my now-husband, Matt Baram, at a Far West Regional event at AJU.”
Aaron Charlack
METNY: SHUSY (South Huntington Jewish Center, Melville, NY), Wheels 2015, Pilgrimage 2016
Aaron Charlack has served in USY leadership roles as a teen and as a staffer in METNY and Tzafon, and now is on the young adult steering committee for YALA. He loves to teach tefillah skills to young people and runs many programs at his home shul, Congregation Beth Shalom in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
“Growing up, USY gave me a safe space to just be myself. I always felt really comfortable and cared about by the people I would see at USY events, both other USYers as well as the staff, and was always excited to go to the next convention. It also gave me a place where I could learn more about and connect with Judaism. USY helped me to form my Jewish identity and shaped who I am to this day. If it were not for USY, I don’t think I would keep kosher or observe Shabbat the way that I currently do. This love for Jewish ritual and community that USY fostered has had a continuing effect on how I live my life, inspiring me to become more and more active in the various Jewish communities I find myself in. I love the community I have built for myself and the friendships and connections I have made, both locally and worldwide, and I don’t think I would have that if USY had not inspired me to stay connected to my Jewish roots.”
Daniel Warshawsky
CHUSY: Moriah Congregation McDUSY (Deerfield, IL), Nativ 31
Daniel Warshawsky is a CHUSY alum who has staffed events in CHUSY, CRUSY, and EMTZA. After high school, Daniel has worked across the Jewish communal world, including full-time as an Engagement Director for CHUSY, CRUSY, and Emtza and as a counselor, Rosh Eidah, and Yoetz at Camp Ramah Wisconsin. Additionally, he was part of the first cohort of Nachshon Project and previously served on the board of No Shame On U, a Jewish nonprofit focused on ending stigma for mental illness. Daniel is currently pursuing his doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
“USY instilled a foundational love of Jewish life and learning that has continued far past the end of my time as a USYer. It gave me the tools to create meaningful moments and relationships and connected me with some of the closest and most important people in my life. My time as a USYer also taught me to pursue my passions, and my coworkers and colleagues from when I worked for USY pushed me to follow those passions into a career in mental health. I’m so grateful for all of the love, experiences, and opportunities that my time in USY gave me.”
Rabbi Alex Friedman
SWUSY: AAUSY Agudas Achim USY (Austin, TX); Israel Adventure 2014
Rabbi Alex Friedman is a newly ordained rabbi, a SWUSY alum and past student rabbi on Nativ. Rabbi Friedman has taught at Ramah Berkshires, in shuls across North America, and will begin serving as Assistant Rabbi at Temple Emanu-El in Providence, RI this summer.He credits his time in USY with his choice to pursue rabbinical school at JTS.
“USY is why I chose to be a Rabbi. I was inspired by my fellow SWUSYites’ love of Judaism and each other. It was in USY that I gained an intuitive understanding of what a community can do for a young person, and where I became a Jewish leader. It was the first place I davened with much seriousness, where I learned how to bentch, and where I learned to love singing niggunim. I am deeply grateful for my time in USY and how much I’ve been allowed to grow and learn in the Jewish community since then.”
Elaine Berger
HaNegev: KUSY (Beth Shalom, Atlanta, GA), Wheels Staff 2023
Elaine Berger served as chapter president of KUSY and Rel/Ed VP for HaNegev. After high school, Elaine was the gabbai for the Conservative/Masorti minyan at UMD Hillel, and she still regularly leyns for Tremont Street Shul (Cambridge, MA). She currently attends graduate school at Brandeis, pursuing a master’s degree in Jewish education and Jewish professional leadership. Elaine has worked as a b’nai mitzvah tutor and religious school teacher for her home shul, Beth Shalom in Atlanta; staffs HaNer events and USY on Wheels; and she currently serves as the youth/teen engagement coordinator at Temple Aliyah in Boston.
“USY turned me into a Jewish leader, giving me the opportunity to come out of my shell. Through USY, I learned to love Judaism, honed leadership skills, began to find my passion for teaching Jewish content, and got to exercise my creativity. USY truly altered the course of my life and made me the person I am today. I’m incredibly grateful.”
Alex (Harvey) Schonfeld
Far West: Congregation Beth Am San Diego (CBAUSY), Wheels 2009, Pilgrimage 2010
“What began as a fun way to make friends quickly became the most formative experience of my young life. Through leading services, creating programs, and serving in chapter and regional leadership, USY grounded me spiritually and helped me find my voice as a leader, volunteer, and confident Jewish adult. USY helped me discover that music was my most personal connection to Judaism—singing during services and reading Torah gave me a deep sense of spiritual connection and the confidence to make music a lasting part of my Jewish life. Along the way, I formed lifelong friendships that continue to enrich my life and keep me connected to a shared Jewish journey. In college, my commitment deepened as Judaism remained central to my studies and community life, where I continued building programs, visiting Israel, fostering interfaith relationships, and finding meaning in ritual. Today, Jewish life remains at the heart of my world. My husband, son and I are active members of Park Avenue Synagogue in Manhattan, and Jewish life will always be the foundation of my family. I’m committed to staying engaged through music, service, and nurturing a lifelong bond with Israel through visits and study—continuing to honor the passion USY sparked in me years ago.”
Rabbi Aaron Leven
Far West: Temple Aliyah (Woodland Hills, CA), Far West Wheels 2006, Pilgrimage 2007
Rabbi Aaron Leven is a Far West USY and Nativ 29 alumni, who now serves as the associate rabbi for Nefesh – Los Angeles. After graduating from USY, Rabbi Leven attended JTS, did an Avodah fellowship, worked for OneTable, learned with Hadar Institute, and did a rabbinic fellowship with B’nai Jeshrun.
“USY played a fundamental role in my development as a young Jewish leader. My time in Far West showed me that Judaism could be a place where people felt safe to be their most authentic selves – where the pursuit of justice and joy were fundamental to what it meant to be alive. I still am best friends with many of the friends I made during my time in USY. I also want to share that I would not be where I am today without the love and mentorship of Merrill Alpert, full stop. I owe her so much in getting me to where I am today, and I continue to be in awe of the impact she has had on so many people in the Jewish community.”
Alyssa Gurwin
CRUSY: BuckUSY (Columbus, OH), Wheels 2015, Pilgrimage 2016
Alyssa Gurwin is a CRUSY alum who went on USY on Wheels and Poland/Israel Pilgrimage (now Yuval Yisrael). She now serves as the lead infant teacher for the Columbus Jewish Community Preschool and the USY chapter advisor at Congregation Tifereth Israel (Columbus, OH).
“USY has impacted me in many ways. While in USY I gained an appreciation of being Jewish and that it is something to be proud of. USY also helped me to become comfortable in leading large groups and having a voice in things I believe in. During my time in USY I had the opportunity to experience many different things. Some of those things included chapter programs where we helped around the Jewish community, attending regional conventions and was able to grow my Jewish education through many different ways of learning, meeting new people through international USY where I learned new things about other regions and I also got to experience going on Wheels Classic and Israel Poland Pilgrimage.”
David Weingarten
Far West: Shomrei Torah Synagogue (West Hills, CA), Pilgrimage 2008, Far West Wheels 2009 & 2010
David Weingarten is a Far West alum who served as the 2009-2010 Far West USY Membership/Kadima VP. After high school, David stayed involved with Jewish life through campus organizations like Hillel and AEPi. David serves on the Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards National Review Committee.
“In USY I connected with my community, traditions, and my Jewish identity. Through lifelong friendships and supportive mentors, I found purpose and belonging. USY inspired a commitment to lead, serve, and champion the Jewish values I first embraced there.”
Ethan Weg
Hagalil: North/South Brunswick USY (NJ), Wheels 2009, Nativ 31, Staff – Nativ 37, Wheels Staff 2015 & 2022, Pilgrimage Staff 2013 & 2014
Ethan Weg is a Hagalil alum from North/South Brunswick USY (B’nai Tikvah, NJ) who was a Wheels 2009 and Nativ 31 participant. While Ethan attended Muhlenberg College for undergrad, he continued his involvement with USY as a chapter advisor for LEVUSY (Temple Beth El, PA) and regularly staffed regional events for Hagalil and EPA/Hagesher. In addition to staffing several USY Summer Programs and Nativ 37, he has spent time working at Ramah in the Rockies, Ramah in California, Ramah in the Berkshires, the Marlboro Jewish Center, NJ, and The Jewish Center of Princeton, NJ. He currently serves as the Communications & Logistics Associate for Rutgers University Hillel.
“USY and Nativ put me on the path I’m on today – it connected me to my Judaism on a deeper level, helped me discover my voice as a leader, and allowed me to grow as a Jewish young adult. As someone who stutters, USY was the place where I could fully be me, and it gave me the confidence to break out of my shell. Some of my fondest memories and closest friendships were formed through USY and Nativ, both as a participant and as a staff member.”
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