United Synagogue Youth

United Synagogue Youth (USY) is the youth movement of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ). The goal of the movement is to inspire Jewish youth to explore, celebrate and practice ethical values, Jewish Living, Zionism and community responsibility based on the ideology of the Conservative Movement. USY’s focus on leadership, social action, and relationship building has produced successful alumni with a deep sense of pride in and love for their Jewish identity. Also, through year round programming and domestic and international travel opportunities, USY provides meaningful, immersive Jewish experiences, helping teens integrate Jewish rituals and values into their everyday lives. The organization was founded in 1951, under the auspices of the Youth Commission of what was then the United Synagogue of America.

USY operates in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Uganda, spanning 300 chapters. It is estimated that there are between ten and twenty thousand USY members - known as USYers - as of January, 2014. Kadima (Hebrew for "Forward"), the pre-USY program has a membership estimated to be approximately five thousand. USY is available to Jewish high school students, and Kadima is available to Jewish kids in grades 6th-8th, and even 3rd-5th in some locations.

Food served at USY programs is kosher and the organization is Shabbat-observant. USY holds daily services, performing them with ruach, or spirit, expressed through singing and dancing.

In 1948, Beth El synagogue in St. Louis Park, Minnesota started the first USY chapter. Its purpose was to provide for the social and spiritual needs of its teens. Soon, other synagogues began following suit. In 1951, USY became formalized nationally and held its charter convention, which brought together over a thousand USYers. In the few years that followed, almost all of the modern regions became shaped.

In 1961, USY launched its inaugural USY on Wheels summer bus tour across the U.S.

In 1964, Kadima was officially created as a separate entity for pre-USY-age kids, who would go on to join the high-school age USY program.