#myUSYfisummer Program Catalog

Come join us for exciting virtual programming all summer long! #MyUSYfiSummer is open to all Jewish youth entering 5th grade through the Class of 2020.

#MyUSYfiSummer consists of two overall categories of programs: All-Access and Premium. To gain access to All-Access Programs, register on Regpacks by paying the $99 flat fee for six weeks of programming. All-Access Pass programming will be recorded for passholders who are unable to make it to a program but still want to participate. To gain access to Premium Classes, please read the description to find the separate program fee, and sign up on Regpacks.

View All-Access Pass Calendar · View Premium Class Calendar · FAQs · Log-in

All programs are listed in EDT. Please find our program catalog below, and click here to register!

What’s Jewish about the 2020 Election?

Let’s learn what Judaism has to say about civic engagement! In this session, we’ll explore Jewish texts about voting and think about how we can participate in our democracy, even if we’re not old enough to vote. Taught by JTS Rabbinical Student Talia Kaplan (she/her), this class is for teens in 8th grade through the Class of 2020.

Program Date(s):
Wednesday, August 12th 3-4 PM

When the World is Burning: Jewish Wisdom for Environmental Justice

It’s easy to feel despair in the face of the climate crisis. Let’s turn to Jewish texts for inspiration and guidance as we think about systemic change to create a healthier planet. Taught by JTS Rabbinical Student Talia Kaplan (she/her), this class is for teens in 8th grade through the Class of 2020.

Program Date(s):
Monday August 10th, 3-4 PM

Renewal of Body and Spirit: The Jewish Call for Healthcare

Come dive into the debate in Jewish sources about whether humans or God are responsible for healing. What do Jewish texts have to say about who in society should provide healthcare, and how might this inform our lives today? Taught by JTS Rabbinical Student Talia Kaplan (she/her), this class is for teens in 8th grade through the Class of 2020.

Program Date(s):
Monday July 20th, 3-4 PM

Bending the Arc Towards Justice: How do we make the change we want to see?

Minister Theodore Parker famously said that the arc of the moral universe is “long…but bends towards justice,” a refrain that was echoed by Abraham Lincoln and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Jewish tradition also has a lot to say about how we change the world for the better. Join us for an interactive text study about different approaches to making change. Taught by JTS Rabbinical Student Talia Kaplan (she/her), this class is for teens in 8th grade through the Class of 2020.

Program Date(s):
Monday July 13, 3-4 PM

IsraAID

Israel’s leading humanitarian aid organization – IsraAID – invites you to an interactive workshop that puts teens in the driver’s seat during a unique disaster response simulation. Participants will experience the intensity of being an IsraAID first responder as they are faced with a deluge of unfolding challenges in a dynamic, ever-changing environment. Students will gain an overview of the sector-specific interventions that IsraAID uses in the field, including in the mental health, water, and medical fields; and the varied roles first responders assume. For teens in 7th grade through the Class of 2020 who interested in international development, Israeli contributions to the world, tikun olam, and/or disaster response, we invite you to engage with these themes firsthand through this stimulating simulation.

Program Date(s):
Tuesday, July 21, 3-4 PM

Ethics in Sports

Let’s look at everyday issues brought up in sports through an ethical lens. Is it okay to kneel during the National Anthem? Who let the Houston Astros cheat? Do other MLB teams cheat and just not get caught? Why can’t I dance to my heart’s content in the end zone? Now that we know about brain injuries caused by football, can I still be a fan? Do sports teams really help cities and the public or is it just one more business making the rich, richer?

Program Date(s):
Tuesdays July 14th, 21st, 28th, August 4th 1-2 PM

Sourcing Sustainably and Composting

Making your everyday life more sustainable and earth-friendly! Whether it’s small things like buying eggs in recycled cardboard containers rather than styrofoam, using reusable shopping bags, or even just buying a sustainable toothbrush or floss, there are many things you can do in your everyday life to make the world a better place. We will even do a lesson on the how, why, and what of composting. Everyone from 5th grade-Class of 2020 is invited!

Program Date(s):
Tuesday July 7th, 3-4 PM