USY on Wheels (1993)

WHEREAS, it is the goal of every Conservative Synagogue to provide educational experiences for its youth; and

WHEREAS, an important goal of such experiences should be to educate youth about living a Conservative Jewish lifestyle in North America; and

WHEREAS, such experiences have been shown by studies to increase long-term commitment to Jewish lifestyles and to lower rates of intermarriage; and

WHEREAS, the USY on Wheels program, a 6-week bus tour across North America sponsored by the Department of Youth Activities of THE UNITED SYNAGOGUE OF CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM, has as its primary objective to provide such experiences and education; and

WHEREAS, the cost of such programs continue to rise; and

WHEREAS, the cost of the USY On Wheels program can be substantially lower if congregations in communities visited by the tour volunteer to provide home hospitality, which also allows participants to see Conservative Jewish life in communities and homes across North America.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that THE UNITED SYNAGOGUE OF CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM calls upon its affiliated congregations to:

1. publicize and promote USY on Wheels program to all teenagers and their families in their congregations
2. establish savings programs for families with younger children, together with "matching funds" by the congregation and other community agencies, to ensure that tuition for such a program in available to those children when they become teenagers, to enable participation in such a program;
3. give preference, where appropriate, in terms of scholarship assistance and publicity, to summer programs, including USY on Wheels sponsored by the Conservative Movement, and the United Synagogue in particular;
4. create scholarships and aggressively raise funds for families who require financial assistance; and
5. volunteer to provide home hospitality and/or other support services to Wheels bus participants when the tour takes them to their city.