2007 - United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

president of the synagogue to the current auxiliary’s vice president. The Youth Director also serves on the
committee. The Kadima and USY Presidents also attend the meetings when asked for a report. The Youth
Commission meets once every 6-8 weeks. An agenda is written up with bullet points to be discussed.
SILVER
SHAARE ZEDEK SYNAGOGUE
250-500 St. Louis, MO
Submitted by Sarah Robinson 314-727-1747
The Kadima evening was themed “Our First Shabbaton,” and all of the programming was built around it. We led a kidfriendly
Kabbalat Shabbat service with stories, games, and songs and then followed it by a Shabbat dinner (complete
with french fries and chicken nuggets). We sang Shabbat songs and taught each other our favorites from camp. After
dinner we played a trivia game about Israel (with candy as prizes) and did a Shabbat-appropriate art project/social
action project where we used foam stickers to make cards for the residents of a local retirement home. To end the
evening, we ate non-dairy ice cream sundaes and had a discussion where we compared and contrasted three fictional
Jews and their versions of observance and discussed the idea of what makes a good Jew.
In the morning, after kimah and breakfast, we talked about our favorite USY moments. After
breakfast we led a Shabbat morning service (again kid-friendly) and acted out the Parsha instead of
reading Torah. Our Vice President Religion/Education planned and led a Lunch ‘n Learn after
services about the idea of becoming an adult and taking responsibility. After nap time (free time) we had a
snack of graham crackers and pudding and then created our own Havdalah service. We ended the program with a
friendship circle.
HONORABLE MENTION
ADATH JESHURUN SYNAGOGUE
Elkins Park, PA
Submitted by Ami Monson 215-635-6611
AJ USY Chanukah Celebration With Gam Yachad - Organization For Mentally Handicapped Adults
On Sunday December 17,2006, from 1:00 P.M. — 4:00P.M. the Adath Jeshurun United Synagogue Youth
Group hosted a wonderful and vibrant Chanukah celebration with Mentally handicapped Adults through a local
Philadelphia organization called GAM YACHAD.
20 handicapped adults came to our synagogue and celebrated the holiday with 10-15 of our USYers. The
program included painting Menorot, singing and dancing, and a wonderful Latka lunch with lots of other goodies.
In observing the USYers with the Gam Yachad Adults and staff, it was beautiful to see the patience, creativity,
and the amount of enthusiasm our teenagers showed with the adults who have special needs. In one short program, our
USYers succeeded in making the Mentally Handicapped Adults the owners of their own individual accomplishments,
while being part of a team. Our AJ USYers were a ubiquitous presence, working to make sure the program came
together in a fun and caring manner. They mastered the difficult task of being mature adults with those who have real
needs to which they are not accustomed. The best part of the program besides everyone dancing and singing together
was the fact that our USYers were able to be trusted and be principled without being judgmental.
The theme and emphasis of the year for our USYers has been Social Action and Tikkun Olam. This program
took that theme to a whole other level. For 3 short hours our USYers put away their cell phones, laptops, and I-Pods and
went back to the grassroots education they have been taught in the synagogue about true Derech Eretz Kadma Letorah.
The correct way of treating and helping others.
According to Ann Rappaport, the Gam Yachad Coordinator, “It’s hard to believe that one roof and four walls could
contain all that bursting joy yesterday! 1 can’t even tell you the last time when we’ve had such a successful and
rewarding Gam Yachad program!”