United Synagogue Youth (USY) and KADIMA are the official youth organizations of the Conservative Movement, and are sponsored by the United Synagogue of America. USY was formed in 1951 and includes thousands of high-school-aged members around the world. KADIMA is a separate entity geared to pre-USY-aged youngsters. Temple Aliyah also offers a middle group, Junior USY.

SENIOR USY
Senior USY is for teens in grades 9 - 12. Events include regional and national conventions, inter-chapter and regional dances, social-action and fundraising projects, leadership training, sports, group dinners and coffee houses, and trips, to name a few. Members of the board are responsible for leading the way, with the support of Bryan Wexler, our new Youth Director who will be the Sr. USY advisor.  A recent Brandeis graduate, Bryan was President of Brandeis Hillel and brings to us his extensive experience working with Jewish youths as well as enthusiasm and love of Judaism.

Board members include Atlee Silk (President), Merav Kaufman (Israel Programming VP), Yael Kaufman (Membership VP), Lily Sherman and Becca Lassman (Social Action), Victoria Cohen (Communications).

JUNIOR USY
Junior USY is for students in 7th and 8th grade. Programs are similar to those of Sr. USY, but are more suited to this age group, and include dances, sleepovers, trips, social-action projects, and sports. The board, which is open to all who are interested, works closely with the advisor on planning and implementing programs.

KADIMA
Children in grades five and six are invited to join KADIMA. In addition to strengthening social bonds, KADIMA fosters a sense of Jewish community. KADIMA also shares in activities with other synagogues from around New England. Some recent activities include: lounge nights with games and food in our Youth Lounge, tubing at Nashoba Valley, boat cruises with the region, and our famous dodge ball tournament to raise money for tzedakah.

For information about any of our USY programs, please contact Bryan Wexler at bryan@templealiyah.com or call him at the shul, 781-444-8522.

CLUB 4
Club 4 is a mini youth group for fourth graders. With approximately four events per year, it is a perfect introduction to the fun that awaits them in future years. Information about the first Club 4 event will be announced by our Youth Director.

A NEW START, A NEW STAFF
This year brings a new start for teen and youth activities at Temple Aliyah. We are very excited about what lies ahead for our children in all age groups. Please join us in welcoming Youth Director Bryan Wexler to Temple Aliyah. He is looking forward to meeting you and your children, and invites you to share your ideas and interests with them now and throughout the year. If you need a copy of a registration form for Club 4, KADIMA, or Junior and Senior USY, please call the Temple office at (781) 444-8522 or stop by to pick one up. Of course, parents are always encouraged to contact the Youth Committee co-chairs– Amy Lassman, adar608@comcast.net or Ellen Pulda, epulda1@comcast.net.

IMPROVED COMMUNICATIONS
We are in the process of updating and improving the ways in which we communicate with members of our youth programs and their families. Please take a moment and pass along your child/ren’s name, grade, IM screen name, mailing address, and e-mail address, plus your own e-mail address. Send this information to Bryan Wexler, bryan@templealiyah.com.  Please send in your family’s current contact information, even if you think we have it already. This way, you and your kids will be sure to hear about upcoming activities as soon as news becomes available.

TEEN HIGH HOLIDAY SERVICES
All teenagers in grades 8 to 12 are invited to attend special, separate services outdoors under the tent.  We offer two types of experiences for our teens – traditional services led by an experienced rabbinical student with participation of our teens and a more informal discussion style service led by new Youth Director Bryan Wexler.  Refreshments will be served on both days of Rosh Hashanah. Rosh Hashanah Services 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.  Yom Kippur Service 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 

JEWISH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
Many of our teenagers in grades 8-12 attend Prozdor, a popular, supplementary high school, which is part of Hebrew College and offers academics of superior quality as well as creative Jewish studies. Teens choose their courses from more than 95 electives, and meet kids from all corners of the Greater Boston Jewish community. There are over close to 900 teens from the metro Boston area enrolled this year. In addition to classroom learning, the Prozdor experience also features Shabbatons, area overnights, and inspiring trips during school-vacation periods to such destinations as New York, Montreal, London, Spain, Eastern Europe and Israel.  Visit www.prozdor.edu for more details.

SPORTS
Each year, Temple Aliyah teens can participate in the USY basketball league.  Along with other Jewish teens from the communities where our members live, we have fielded at least one Senior team for grades 10-12 every year, and the Temple Aliyah team has been the league champions in a number of recent years, including 2008-2009.  If there is sufficient interest, we field a Junior basketball team for grades 7-9. Practices and games are scheduled weekly beginning in November and conclude with playoffs in February or early March.  If you are interested in joining one of our teams, contact Bruce Berns at bdberns@aol.com. 

SOCIAL ACTION
There are literally hundreds of unique social action opportunities in the Boston area, as well as right here in our own backyard. By serving the community, our children learn the importance of tikkun olam, the mitzvah of helping to repair the world. There are many resources to assist in identifying the right project. High-schoolers can fulfill their community-service graduation requirements by participating.

COMING UP
Be on the lookout in Coming UP@ Aliyah and the Pulse for more news about upcoming activities for kids of all ages -- from as young as grade four, right through grade 12.