USY

United Synagogue Youth (USY), serving 8th - 12th graders, is the youth arm for teenagers in the Conservative Movement. We offer high school students opportunities to immerse themselves in various Jewish and social activities while forming friendships that will last a lifetime.

Kesher Israel formed a USY Chapter in the fall of 2002, starting with 8 members.  We are now one of the largest chapters in the Eastern Pennsylvania Region. We won EPA Chapter of the Year in 2003, 2004, 2009 and 2010, as well as numerous awards during the past ten years for Tikun Olam fundraising, Tikun Olam/Social Action programs and best Religion/Education programming.  Several of our teens have served on the Regional Board, and we are proud that the both the current Regional President and the Regional Social Action/Tikun Olam Vice-President are from our chapter.  In the twelve years that we have been a chapter, four of our seniors have won the regional Kamsler-Etter Senior of the Year award for outstanding leadership. In December of 2010, at the International USY Convention, our chapter won an international award for best Religious/Educational programming for the entire country and Canada! One of our alumni had served, and now one of our current chapter members serves as the Editor of Achshav, the USY international news magazine. We are very proud that one of our members was elected at the 2011 International Convention to serve on the International Board as the 2012 Communications Vice-President!