וְהִיא שֶׁעָמְדָה לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְלָנוּ
“And this is what sustained our ancestors and us.”
This past week, I had the privilege of getting a firsthand glimpse of the profound impact our USY on Wheels program has on both our teens and the broader Jewish community. Joining the group at its midpoint in Los Angeles, what I experienced was nothing short of extraordinary.
To meet the evolving needs of our families this year, we tried something new by offering three flexible travel options:
Jennifer Fisher, USY Director of Immersive Experiences, and I flew to LA to assist with the mid-trip transition—helping teens flying home on Tuesday and welcoming new participants on Wednesday.
When we arrived on Monday evening, we were greeted by an incredible group of teens and staff having the time of their lives. Over dinner at the Santa Monica Pier, we asked the group how the trip was going and what their highlights had been. Their responses came with electric enthusiasm: “Amazing!” “The absolute best!” From taking in America’s iconic sights to late-night hotel bonding and long bus rides together, choosing just one favorite moment was impossible.
The real magic unfolded on the bus ride back to the hotel. As music started playing, I turned around to see our teens arm-in-arm, swaying and singing together. They were singing songs of friendship and unity—proving that over the course of 3.5 weeks, this was no longer a group of random teenagers. They had become a family.
As the Senior Director of USY, these are the moments I live for. They are the reason for the late nights, the weekend hours, and the time spent away from my own family: to create sacred spaces where these transformations happen. And as a mother of a participant on the trip, my heart overflowed watching how this summer changed my son’s life and gifted him lifelong friends.
Later that evening, back at the hotel, the group held one final, emotional goodbye. Standing in a circle, arms wrapped around each other, they sang “Stand By Me” before moving into their official group song.
Every night before heading to their rooms, the group gathers to sing Vehi Sheamda. Traditionally chanted at the Passover Seder, this passage reminds us that while the Jewish people have faced hardship throughout history, God and our shared resilience sustain us.
Standing in that room, it became undeniably clear: our Jewish future is in good hands.
At a time when being openly Jewish in secular spaces can feel challenging, USY on Wheels provides something essential. It offers a safe, vibrant space for our youth to step into their own Jewish journeys, express unbridled Jewish joy, form a tight-knit community, and inspire one another to lead.
Through every mile traveled and every song sung, these teens aren’t just seeing the country—they are building the proud, interconnected Jewish community of tomorrow.
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