Youth group recognized

WELL DONE—Members of the United Synagogue Youth chapter at Temple Aliyah in Woodland Hills pose with their Chapter Excellence award. The chapter earned the honor for the second consecutive year from the Far West Region which oversees about 40 USY chapters in five states. At their dances, retreats and weekly lounge nights, the members of Temple Aliyah's youth group appear to be happy teens simply having a good time. But there's a lot more going on among the young people who make up the United Synagogue Youth chapter at the Woodland Hills congregation. The group was recently recognized by its umbrella organization for the second consecutive year as Chapter of Excellence for their programming, fundraising and membership growth.

The chapter was chosen for the award from about 40 groups spread across California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah, the organization's Far West Region. United Synagogue Youth, or USY, is an international Jewish youth program in the conservative Jewish movement.

Chapter membership numbers about 240 kids in grades four through six. The group raised thousands of dollars for a number of causes last year and sent 130 delegates to the annual USY International Convention held last December in Anaheim. After the five-day event, 80 temple families volunteered to host USY members from throughout the United States and Canada who remained in California for several days. The Aliyah chapter organized programming during that time.

"Uniting these teenagers in a social atmosphere to pursue educational, community serviceoriented, religion and leadership goals is the essence of what our program is all about," said youth director Sue Shrell Leon. "We've maintained and even upped our goals in all those categories. To be recognized for that is very exciting."

Daniella Rubin has been a USY member at Aliyah since she was in seventh grade. Now a junior at El Camino High School in Woodland Hills, the 15-year-old is chapter president after serving for a year as social action vice president.

"For me USY has become a really big part of who I am. Most of my closest friends are in USY. It's helped me find my passions," Rubin said.

Among those passions is community service. As social action vice president last year she helped lead the chapter in support of leukemia research, Darfur, Magen David Adom (Israel's emergency medical service) and familial dysautonomia (a genetic disorder which affects Jews). Through a carwash, yard sale, bowl-athon and other fundraisers the group has raised about $6,000.

"We hope to win the award again next year. We are definitely going to try," Rubin said.

The chapter is organized into three age levels. Grades four through six are in Kadima (Hebrew for forward). Grades seven through eight are junior USY, and grades nine through 12 are senior USY. Eight members at each level are elected to decision-making boards, and a staff of seven adults advise and guide the boards and members.

Each of the three groups meets weekly for lounge night, which combines social and educational aspects, including speakers and planning of fundraising events. Throughout the year the group holds Sabbath dinners and services, weekend retreats, speakers, leadership training, dances and other events.

Overseeing the whole operation are Leon, who has been the Aliyah adviser for 14 years, and Jay Rosenzweig, youth vice president to the temple board for the past two years. They work hard to encourage kids to become involved and attend events.

"This is a really good group of kids. They're responsible, trustworthy young adults, and it shows when they're at the synagogue," said Rosenzweig, whose three children, Tobi, 14; Hanna, 12, and Jared, 7, are all USY members.

The chapter has a number of members on the Far West regional board. Aaron Leven, a senior at El Camino High School in Woodland Hills, is regional president. Marisa Shapiro, a Calabasas High School senior, is membership vice president. Last year's regional president, Kesha Dorsey of Calabasas, also came from Aliyah.

Other Aliyah chapter members serving on regional board committees are Simone Zimmerman, Nina Ferro, Joey Jacobson, BJ Drucker, Tobi Rosenzweig, Galia Backal and Abby Leven.

"I believe that USY is wonderful and nurturing for every growing teen to have as part of their lives," Leon said.