Dear USYers,
As the summer comes to a close across North America, the USY year will get its start. We’ll have BBQs, fun events to bring in new members, and so much more to look forward to as USY enters another year.
This year, as USY president, I’m focusing on something that isn’t always easy: letting go of the past and making space for the future.
This year, we’ll challenge ourselves to think differently. We’ll celebrate what brought us here, but we’ll also ask the big questions: What do our communities need now? How do we lead with purpose? What can we build together that doesn’t even exist yet?
I want to encourage each of you to talk with your USY friends and leaders about what makes USY unique and special to us. What are the values that make USY worth our time and bring out our best selves? And how can these values and the things that make USY so important to us inform the programs we decide to go to, plan as a leader, or strive to build anew?
We all have traditions, programs, and memories that mean a lot to us. They shaped who we are, and they deserve to be honored. But here’s the truth: if we cling too tightly to what was, we can’t create what’s next. And what’s next matters because USY is still full of possibilities. It’s full of new ways to connect, to lead, and to build Jewish life together.
I wish all of you a great start to the year, and hope to see you soon at a convention near you!
L’Shalom,
Daphne Macedonia
International President ’25-’26
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