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Yesterday teens put one of USY’s core principles, tikun olam (repairing the world), into practice with a Day of Service, participating in hands-on volunteer projects at more than 30 organizations around the Chicagoland area.
Helping to spread holiday cheer to others, the teens served and prepared food in soup kitchens, played games and spent time with the elderly in senior centers, handed out and sorted donations at shelters, and more for organizations including The Ark, A Safe Haven Foundation, Lincoln Park Community Shelter, Breakthrough Men’s Shelter, Harbor Light/Freedom Center, FCHN Soup Kitchen, Catholic Charities of Chicago, Anixter Center, Tree Hugs, H.O.M.E, Sarah’s Circle, Clearbrook, Cradles to Crayons, and Open Books.
Yesterday began USY’s International Convention, with Jewish teens from across North America pouring into the Sheraton Grand’s ballroom for Opening Session. Infectious energy reverberated around the room as hundreds of teens sang, cheered, and danced their way into the hall with regional banners and mascots held high. Convention co-chairs Sami Ronik and Jeffrey Gold launched Continue Reading »
A USY alumna on her summer experience with NOAM Olami and Onward Israel By Jasmine Hubara On a particularly hot, sunny day in June, I entered an apartment just past the shuk (open-air market). This is where I was going to call home for the next month and a half. Eight other people from all Continue Reading »
“Please talk about your favorite after-school activity in 250-300 words.” WHAT??? When reading over this supplemental college essay prompt, I was struck with a feeling of being completely overwhelmed. After months of stressing and planning my applications are submitted and I’m finally rereading everything I wrote. How did I manage to write about USY, USCJ’s Continue Reading »
Avi Chesler explains this week’s Torah portion, Chayei Sarah, and the many events in it that shaped the Jewish nation.
By Joshua Bienstock Last week I wrote a post about how to be a positive role model. Setting a positive example is important as a board member, but there’s more you can do to be a good leader. Validate everyone. Watch this video! It sheds light on the power of validation in our society and Continue Reading »
By Aviya Cammy This week’s parasha, parashat Lech Lecha, is the beginning of Avraham’s journey as the father of “a multitude of nations”– starting early on before his name was even Avraham! Despite the many famous and important scenes throughout the parasha, the first pasuk (verse or sentence) is what caught my attention the most. It reads: Continue Reading »
By Ilan Rotberg This week’s parasha, parashat Noach, is one of the better known stories in the Torah. God decides that he needs to destroy the world with a huge flood because he feels everyone on the face of the earth is perpetrating gross violence and filthy corruption. However; God finds one righteous man among Continue Reading »
By Joshua Bienstock On a USY board one is automatically given a title. With this title comes the responsibility of acting as a role model, but the choices you make are up to you. Understand your power. People in your chapter, division or region will look up to you. You can choose to waste this Continue Reading »
By Eli Rubineau Let’s start at the very beginning, A very good place to start. – The Sound of Music This week’s parsha (the section of the Torah read in synagogue this week) is the first in Torah portion in the first book of the Torah, Bereshit. To start out, just a quick overview. The Continue Reading »