Every time I am faced with a tough question about the future of USY, I try to ask myself the following question: “Who is the Jewish teenager that USY must be designed to serve, and how well is USY currently set up to serve them?”  In design thinking, this is called a “persona profile,” an attempt to think about the end-user before you make a programmatic decision, something critical for legacy organizations to do if they wish to reinvent.

And while I could answer the above question in a variety of ways, there is no question that a thriving USY must evolve to better serve the increasingly diverse mosaic of identities in the Jewish community today.    

Historically, USY was not set up well to serve Jews of Color. This is a less favorable truth about USY that all of our community must run towards and recognize that while it may be a reflection of our past and our present, it does not need to reflect our future. And in the recent report Beyond the Count: Perspectives and Lived Experiences of Jews of Color, the authors of this groundbreaking study write that, “productively reckoning with the impact of racism in American Jewish life requires organization- and community-wide reflection and action.”

At a time of incredible change in the Jewish community, USY needs to reflect on how we can be a safe, welcoming, exciting place for Jews of Color.

This summer, USY launched a new opportunity for connection, leadership, and education exclusively for young Jews of Color, Indigenous Jews, Sephardi Jews, and Mizrahi Jews across the country. Together, these groups will develop leadership skills, hear from JOCISM speakers who are making a difference in diversity, equity, and inclusion in their communities, and unpack their intersectional identities using Jewish themes and values. 

The first cohort will launch this fall with over 30 participants from the United States and Canada, from 14 states and two provinces. The cohort will be led by Rafi Forbush, the youth director of Beth Jacob Congregation in Mendota Heights, Minnesota, and would not be possible without support from USY’s Racial Justice Committee, Rabbi Stephanie Ruskay, and the Hendel Center for Ethics and Justice at the Jewish Theological Seminary. 

All of USY wants to ensure that we are challenging ourselves to serve all Jewish teenagers and ensure that our programs foster an environment where any Jewish teenager can feel at home. None of this can happen without your support.

Please consider making a donation to USY so that we can continue growing a healthy community that embraces Jewish diversity by making your gift today.

Hazak Ve’Ematz (Be Strong and Brave),

Rabbi Joshua Rabin
Senior Director of USY