Chazak U’Baruch,

Max Bartell

Chazak Divisional President 2011-2012

This year’s Mid-Winter Kallah was AMAZING! USYers enjoyed great programming, Ruach, and friendships that will last for a lifetime. The theme, “METNY Goes Greek,” enticed everyone to wear togas, wreaths, and truly be a METNY God/ Goddess. The two co-Chairs, Yuval Yoseffy and Jillian Mergruen, worked tirelessly to make sure that everyone had a great time! And everyone surely did have a great time! With icebreakers about designing your own God/Godess and a Tikkun Olam fashion show, everyone was sure to enjoy this event. USYers learned about the Israeli government through a Knesset Government simulation, where USYers debated numerous issues that are being argued in the actual Knesset today. On Saturday night we had a toga party, where everyone showed off their toga making skills. On Sunday, we started the morning with a creative service focusing on prayer through music! This service taught USYers that there are more ways to connect to God than through just prayer. We finally ended with a Social Actions program that taught USYers about disability awareness. Although everyone is sad that Kallah is now over, everyone should look forward to their spring kinnusim! Talk to your divisional youth director for more information.

By Stephanie Nelson, METNY Israel Affairs Vice President

      This past weekend 8^th graders and USYers experienced one of the most incredible events of their entire lives! METNY MID-WINTER KALLAH!

       The fun and exciting god and goddess themed weekend began with an incredible introduction from our co-chairs Yuval Yossefy and Jillian Merguen. Next, all of the USYers got to know each other a little bit better through some icebreakers. Now, we were all introduced and ready for some Kabbalat Shabbat! The room was filled with kavanah and enthusiasm within each USYer and 8^th grader as he or she welcomed Shabbat.

      Next came my personal favorite part… FOOD! We had a lovely Shabbos dinner, which ended with some incredible Ruach. The night wouldn’t have been complete without a sicha, Israel Program, and even a late night optional Heschel Session.

     Saturday morning was filled with tephilot, sichot, and some more food! Sadly, Shabbat eventually had to end but everyone was excited to see what was in store for the rest of the night. After changing into our togas, we came downstairs and experienced an awesome Tikun Olam program called MR. and MRS. METNY. USYers would vote with money for the couple that they wanted to win; it was a very entertaining and enjoyable way to begin our night. After some laughs at the competition, we all went into the dance where we truly did “dance the night away”.

     The next morning METNY woke up to an excellent Greek God themed Shacharit where we prayed with our friends one last time before we would need to say goodbye.

     Overall, Kallah was an astounding and remarkable event! I am so sad that it is all over but I can’t wait to see all of my friends again at the upcoming kinnusim!

Sara Finkelstein, METNY Membership/Kadima Vice President, 2011-2012

This past weekend I was fortunate enough to staff my last Kadima Shabbaton as a USYer. The weekend began on Friday afternoon when two buses filled with eager children arrived at South Huntington Jewish Center. By late afternoon all 100 Kadimaniks arrived and the extraordinary weekend began.

Everyone was welcomed and the Kadimaniks were split into groups to do icebreakers. This was a great way to start the weekend because all the attendees were able to meet new people and learn new things about each other. After icebreakers the Kadimaniks participated in a fun program in which they learned about Israel. This stirred up a big appetite so the Kadimaniks along with the staff and USYers who attended had a nice Shabbat dinner together. After dinner and Ruach we welcomed Shabbat by doing Kabbalat Shabbat, led by the Kadimaniks themselves. After services the Kadimaniks had a sicha session where discussed “What makes a Jewish hero and how can they be one themselves”.   Afterwards the kids got a late night snack and went home to their host homes for a great night’s sleep.

The next morning everyone arrived at shul bright and early. We had services and then a delicious Shabbat lunch. After lunch there was a treasure hunt done by grade, and a lot of free time for everyone to relax and make new friends. Then we sadly ended Shabbat with Havdalah. After this we had our Yad B’Yad program which was modeled after the popular television game show, “Don’t Forget The Lyrics”.  Yad B’Yad is the Kadima Tzedakah which helps special needs children partake in Ramah and USY/Kadima programs across the United States and Canada.  While everyone sang and danced we managed to raise $1,200 dollars for Tzedaka! Then we concluded our night with a dance with an awesome dj which was a ton of fun! Everyone was so sad to say goodbye to their friends but for the eighth graders, it wasn’t goodbye it was I’ll see you soon since they can see their friends if they sign up for eighth grade leadership in February! Overall this was one unforgettable weekend and I look forward to seeing everyone soon!

A message from Tamar Schwartz, METNY USY Regional Youth Director & Elan Weinberger, METNY USY President

September 16-17, 2011

This past weekend, METNY USY held its Regional Board Weekend at Hillcrest Jewish Center. The weekend, designed to strengthen the leadership skills of the METNY USY Regional and Divisional boards, was both exciting, fun and informational. Activities ranged from ice breaker musical chairs, to sessions on public speaking and the five dysfunctions of a team. Members of the Regional and Divisional boards got to know each other and learned how to best work together. There were tons of discussions and brainstorming about our METNY Kickoff event in October, International Convention, the future of our organization, and the different ways to get new faces to join USY. Overall, the weekend was filled with laughs and some tears from the moving sounds of slow ruach on Shabbat afternoon. The future of METNY USY looks bright because of the motivated and talented boards we have this year.

What can I say about my very first Regional Convention (RC) as Director…except that it blew me away.

It all began with Senior Night, a very moving evening for our 12th graders, some of which have been with METNY USY for four years and more with Kadima, some new to our family this year. Either way, it was clear that all of our seniors haven’t had enough, and wished they could stay in USY longer.

Our Senior Night Cochairs, Jordan Mor and Louisa Alter, put together an evening to remember. Tears were shed as the group sang along to David Hauser’s Encampment 2010 video. Every 12th grader  exchanged little gifts that reminded them of one another and each had a few minutes to speak. It was clear that the bonds that were made and reinforced are ones our new alumni will take with them for life.

Friday we kicked things up a notch as the rest of RC and 8th Grade Experience attendees arrived. The excitement was palpable as our Convention Cochairs, Avi Pusateri and Shelby Levinson, opened up the weekend with an incredibly creative video presentation of the rules of the weekend.

Our Regional Board candidates were glad once elections arrived, and with the help of our Youth Commission Chair, Mindy Liebman, we counted the votes in some incredibly inspiring elections. Mazel tov to all of the candidates for putting together such wonderful speeches and videos, and for going after the opportunity to be a part of our METNY USY leadership. They all deserve a yasher koach!

Mazel tov to our new METNY USY Regional Board! I am looking forward to an amazing year working together.

Once the winners were announced it was on to Divisional elections. Once again, the excitement and nerves were felt. Mazel tov to the new Divisional Boards!

Shabbat arrived and everyone came together after the hype of the day to sing and daven as one. Shabbat evening was full of ruach and learning with study sessions led by our enthusiastic staff educators on the topic of Jewish Music. Thank you to the faculty!

Shabbat day was busy with icebreakers and our Israel program where the USYers learned about African refugees living in Israel. And then of course came the incredibly moving Havdalah service where the outgoing Regional Board rolled their own Havdalah candles and passed along “the flame” to the newly elected Board.

Our Social Action Tikkun Olam program was an exciting game similar to capture the flag which raised over $4,000! And the dance was a great time as always as the USYers sang and danced their hearts out.

Sunday was a bittersweet day as the outgoing boards were discharged and the new boards installed. We welcomed our enthusiastic 8th graders into METNY USY and said goodbye to our seniors who we know will go out into the world and spread the word of what METNY USY has meant to them – and hopefully return next year as Interns and after that as staff.

Thank you to all of those that made this incredible convention possible. Our four Divisional Directors – Bruce, Todd, Mark and Mike; all of the convention staff, as well as David Hauser, Ivan Goodstein, Rebecca Kane, Ashley Lehrman, Seasons Catering and the Hilton Stamford.

This was a Regional Convention I will surely never forget. I encourage you to read what our USYers had to say about RC. Check out RC Recaps from METNY USYers!

Have a great summer!

All the best,
Tamar Schwartz
Director of Youth Activities
Metropolitan New York District of USCJ

P.S. I hope you’ll join us for the USY Alumni Picnic on July 10.

Dear Parents of PJC students and incoming USYERS,

I’d like to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Arielle Mendelson and I am Plainview Jewish Center’ United Synagogue Youth’s Communication Vice President. I am writing this letter on behalf of my fellow board members and I to welcome your child into the program.

In joining USY they explore both their individuality as a Jew and what it means to be Jewish. In writing this I ensure that your child’s experience will stay with him/her for a lifetime. I started in Plainview Jewish Center’s youth program back when I was in third grade. I’d like to start by telling you a little bit about my history in USY.

The program was entitled Tironim. In Tironim, I made new friends and got a small sense of what Judaism really was about. We did activities from tye-dying to having chocolate seders, and I always had a blast. It occurred to me after a while, “Hmm, why does Tironim only meet once every month, that’s not enough time to celebrate the joy of being Jewish with other Jews.”

Then on to Kadima I went. There I was the shy little 6^th grader because I went from being the oldest child in Tironim to the youngest in Kadima. Eventually after a Kadima lounge night, I was no longer shy I had met half the people in one night, and there were many there. I made friends from other chapters in Rakevet (our division), and I still keep in touch with many of them. In any event, we met twice a month, instead of once, so I was really happy. We’d go on trips together, we learned a little bit more about Judaism and what it entails.

Now here I am, a sophomore in USY. Both this year and last year have impacted me the most. I went from being the quiet 8^th grader to the confident sophomore. When I walked in the first day of my freshman year in USY, I said, “I’ve been looking forward to this, but is it as good as people say it is?” and let me tell you after the first meeting, I was like I never want to leave and in closing my sophomore year, it is sad looking at the fact I only have two years left.

I feel like I started a journey that I never want to stop. I’ve met so many sincere people on my journey that have really impacted me and left me thinking, “Wow I’m so lucky to be Jewish!” We meet every Sunday and there are many more regional events open to USYERS. Last year’s Regional Convention experience will stay with me for life. Other events that USYERS have the opportunity to do are: the two divisional kinnuism, International Convention (which I would have gone to if I was available, I heard it was awesome!), METNY (our regional division) Kallah, METNY encampment (I am attending this summer), Kick-off dances and many more.

To conclude this letter, USY has really made me understand Judaism a lot more than I did. From benching (blessings after meals) to hearing interesting presentations at convention, what I learned, I will pass on to others. My fellow board members and I would like to take a moment to thank you for your time and hope you consider enrolling in this wonderful program.

See you at our open house date,

Arielle Mendelson

Sincerely,
Elan Weinberger
METNY USY President 2011-2012

You are invited to join the United Synagogue Alumni Association for dinner and drinks in support of USY’s 60th anniversary.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS	vs	WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Nationals Park 1500 South Capitol Street, SE Suites 39 & 40, Jefferson Level Washington, DC 20003  Doors open 6:00 p.m. Game begins 7:05 p.m. Minimum donation $500 per person Kindly reply to Wendy Glick, Director of Alumni Affairs, by June 1 usy60@uscj.org or 646-519-9260. With gratitude to Mark D. Lerner, Principal, Lerner Enterprises for donating the executive suites and to Shalom Caterers for the food. Douglas Baskies, Event Chairperson Complimentary parking in VIP garage C USY: Shaping the future of Conservative Judaism…one leader at a time. More info