March 13-16, 2026, in Washington, DC
Do you know a teen who would be a great fit for this program? Recommend a high school student from your camp/synagogue/youth movement community to join us in Washington D.C. for Ruchot.
Calling all changemakers and world shakers! Join our second annual Ruchot delegation to Washington, DC, to meet national legislators and learn to lobby for issues you care about. You’ll meet Jewish activists and experts to learn about significant issues in today’s world. Organize, advocate, and change the world!
(No prior social action experience required.)
Last year, our Ruchot delegation held more than 25 meetings with congressional representatives during our weekend in DC! Don’t miss your chance to meet your elected officials face-to-face and make your voice heard.
“Our theory in creating Ruchot is that to be a Jewish person in the world requires us to act upon our values. Judaism is not silent on climate, immigration, reproductive rights or any other issue of the day. The Torah in most cases doesn’t say exactly what should be done, but it does offer us values and orientations to the world as well as definitions about who falls within our communal responsibilities that can guide our response. We are building muscles. By taking teens to learn to lobby and then practicing, they are doing and learning. They are speaking from their hearts, listening to the reactions of the elected officials and creating muscle memory so they can stay engaged for the rest of their lives.”
Ruchot means “winds” in Hebrew (like “winds of change”). This seminar is designed for high school students who want to change the world. We’ll teach you to start organizing your community to act on issues such as climate justice, reproductive rights, access to education, poverty, and more.
Read more about last year’s delegation from Rabbi Stephanie Ruskay (JTS Associate Dean).
Calling All Changemakers
All USYers in grades 9-12 are invited to attend. While our immediate focus will be on legislators located in Washington, DC, we did have Canadian USYers on our inaugural delegation who learned invaluable transferable skills to apply in their own communities.
Let Your Voice Ring Out
Jews have been stepping up to leadership positions and speaking truth to power since the days of the Torah, changing the world and making life better for Jews and gentiles alike. Ruchot is your opportunity to claim your place in the lineage of Jewish leaders, rooted in Conservative/Masorti traditions and values.
Experience Shabbat Like Never Before
We will daven with a USCJ-affiliated synagogue in the Washington, DC, area for Shabbat. Singing, good food, and connecting with your cohort – this Shabbat will be unforgettable!
Like all USY conventions, we are tech-free during Shabbat (Friday evening to Saturday evening), meaning you have the rare opportunity focus on connecting, learning, and transforming without the distractions of family, school, or the outside world.
Facilitated by Adults Who Get You
Our multi-organization delegation is facilitated by many awesome adults, including USY staffers, clergy, and rabbinical students. Our staff are devoted to creating a truly unique and transformative experience for all USYers to be welcomed, be authentic, and find community.
Leadership is For Everyone
USY is committed to inclusive practices so all USYers can participate. Please reach out to Rabbi Stephanie Ruskay at [email protected] if you have any questions about accessibility or other accommodations.
We also offer scholarships to make Ruchot and other USY Immersive Experiences affordable and accessible for all USYers. Scholarship applications are due at the end of Early Bird pricing.
Ruchot will take place in Washington, D.C. from March 13-16, 2026.
During this immersive weekend, we’ll spend Shabbat with Adas Israel, a vibrant congregation in D.C., where we’ll celebrate with the community, eat good food, make new friends, and start learning. After Shabbat, the city will become our classroom, where we will learn from experienced local organizers, lobby local representatives on Capitol Hill, and explore what role Judaism plays in our identities as organizers.
In addition to a weekend of immersive learning, Ruchot will also include two Zoom workshops before and after the trip (four total). We’ll help you prepare for our time together, dig deep into learning about organizing, and then work to translate your learning into ongoing work in your home community.
Pre–trip sessions will take place on Tuesday, February 24 at 8:00–9:00 p.m. ET and Thursday, March 5 from 8:00–9:00 p.m. ET.
Early Registration until November 14- $349
Regular Registration until January 31- $389
Cancellation Policy
Through December 31: Full Refund Issued
From January 1- January 31: $75 Cancellation Fee
After January 31: No Refund Issued (Unless you purchased protection insurance).
Scholarships are available and cost should not be a barrier to participation. If you need scholarship, start your registration. One of the questions asks if you need additional financial assistance. Click “yes” and fill out our one-page scholarship application. We will get back to you within two weeks. If transportation to the program is cost prohibitive, we will subsidize $100 of travel for students traveling by plane and $50 for students traveling by train.
If you have any questions regarding scholarships or travel needs, please reach out to USY Director of Business Operations, Avram Pachter, at [email protected].
This trip is designed to give us all an opportunity to unplug and observe Shabbat. All programming will be shomer Shabbat, kosher, and egalitarian. We also welcome and respect different levels of familiarity and comfort with Jewish observance.
We will work with everyone to build a Shabbat community that feels welcoming, fun, and respectful. We will attend Kabbalat Shabbat and Shabbat Shacharit services at Adas Israel Congregation, a vibrant Conservative shul a 1.8 mile walk from our hostel. Every morning during the program, we will daven or pray Shacharit (the morning service). Optional Mincha and Ma’ariv services will be offered in the afternoons and evenings. Food will be hekshered kosher, except for one meal at a vegan restaurant (we will make accommodations if you would prefer only hekshered food). Our staff are committed to making sure that students feel included and engaged.
All participants will sleep in their own bunk bed with a privacy curtain. Students will be grouped in bunk rooms according to their gender identities. We will make every effort to make sure that students feel safe and comfortable staying together on the trip.
Teens in grades 9–12 are invited to apply regardless of previous social justice participation or experience.
Participants are responsible for organizing their own transportation to and from D.C. This is not included in the cost of the program. Students’ transportation should be arranged to and from Dulles or Reagan international airports or the D.C. Amtrak train station. Ruchot staff will meet participants at the airport/ station upon arrival. From there, staff will take students to the hostel where we are staying. Students will each receive a prepaid subway card to use on public transportation when they arrive.
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