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April 2005

In This Issue:

What's Happening Bragging Rights Around the USCJ On the Agenda

Synagogue Spotlight With Just One Click Movement News

What's Happening

Advocacy Day, June 6-7, 2005 - The USCJ and the RA will join together in Washington, DC, for Advocacy Day, which will take place in conjunction with a national interfaith program to address hunger in the US. Find out more.

Two Conferences for Synagogue School Directors - Designed for new education directors and principals, the New Directors' Institute will take place Aug 1-5, 2005, in New York City. Find out more details.

In addition, for the first time, a continuing education institute, Lilmod U'Lilamed will take place June 20-23, 2005, in New York City. Find out more information.

IMUN Leadership Training Program, July 31 - August 8 - Register for IMUN 2005, an exciting seminar retreat designed to strengthen lay religious leadership in USCJ congregations. Find out more details.

USCJ Biennial Convention, December 2005 - USCJ Biennial Convention 2005 will take place December 4-8 in Boston and will offer workshops, seminars, and institutes. Check out the Convention Update for the latest information on the event.

Register for USY Summer Travel Programs - Over 800 USYers are signed up to travel with USY this summer. A few spaces are available on select programs. Sign up now to escape for the summer of a lifetime!

Summer Parent Pilgrimage to Israel - USY is once again offering an exciting opportunity for parents of USYers on Israel Pilgrimage trips to visit both Israel AND their children. Experience, tour, study, and see Israel the USY way!

Building a Jewish Home Library - From the USCJ Art Engagement Calendar comes this helpful series on building a Jewish home library. Book suggestions include topics from Bar/Bat Mitzvah to Halakhah, from Bible to Zionism. Great ideas for gift giving as well. Find out more.

Bragging Rights

Rabbi Paul Freedman, Outreach Director at the Fuchsberg Center, has been designated by the Masorti Movement to be the representative for Aliyah issues at the Jewish Agency.

Around the USCJ

Health Care Survey - As part of Project Ezra, the USCJ would like feedback on developing a health care package that would meet the needs of our affiliates.

Conservative Yeshiva Summer Program 2005 - USCJ's Conservative Yeshiva is now accepting applications for its Summer Program in Jerusalem. The program accommodates students of all levels and backgrounds. Two sessions are offered.

• Information about the program
• Learn more about the Conservative Yeshiva
• Scholarships (available for KOACH interns and other Jewish campus professionals)

Project Ezra Offers Staples Program - Your congregation can now order discount office supplies and more through USCJ's partnership with Staples Business Advantage.

High Holiday Cantor Placement - The USCJ offers a cantor placement service for the High Holidays.

• Application

Solomon Schechter Awards - The Solomon Schechter Awards program recognizes excellence in synagogue programming and provides innovative ideas for congregations.

• Submission guidelines
• List of 2003 award winners

Kosher Travel Retreats - The USCJ is pleased to announce a new program to provide kosher vacation packages to members of our congregations. Find out more about Passover on the Beach.

On the Agenda

Lekh-Lekha, produced by KOACH, is a ceremony to honor your congregation's college students. To order, e-mail koach@uscj.org.

Tikun Leyl Shavuot is a text-study packet exploring all the parashiyot. This resource can be used for a variety of synagogue learning programs. Available in PDF format or as a printed booklet. Email edelman@uscj.org for more information.

Submit your synagogue art to the USCJ 5767 Art Engagement Calendar. Read the submission details for more information.

Synagogue Spotlight

Community Seders - USCJ congregations throughout North America will be holding community seders.

With Just One Click

• For upcoming commemorations, Book Service offers the Feast of Freedom Haggadah as well as Megillat Hashoah: The Shoah Scroll
• Take advantage of free Internet hosting services to affiliated synagogues, USY chapters and afternoon/day schools
• Get suggestions for building a Jewish home library; great ideas for gift giving as well!

Movement News

MERCAZ USA Voter Registration - MERCAZ USA represents Conservative Jews at The World Zionist Conference, which will next meet in Jerusalem in June 2006. In preparation for this event, MERCAZ USA is holding voter registration in Fall 2005. In order to significantly promote the Conservative Jewish agenda in Israel at the Conference, MERCAZ USA seeks to increase membership for the forthcoming election of the American delegation scheduled for early 2006. All Conservative Jews are encouraged to join MERCAZ. In addition, synagogues are encouraged to provide their membership the opportunity of joining through a dues check-off system. For more information, visit www.mercazusa.org.

Large-Print Haggadah Available - A large-print Passover Haggadah is available from The Jewish Heritage for the Blind. For ordering information, send them an email or call toll free, 800-995-1888. In addition, JHB provides many other large-print publications free of charge.

MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger - Visit the new Mazon website, www.mazon.org, a resource for Jewish social justice information and activities for students, synagogues, educators and individuals.

The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Rapaport House
155 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010
212.533.7800, ext. 2601
info@uscj.org