Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont and Emanu-El

In 1962, I joined my congregation's Youth Group. And the rest, they say, is history. My engagement in Jewish life, despite the fact that my father was a Rabbi, was not a given. And so I found myself as a member of the Youth Group, and then the Social Action Chairman, and the President; and then a regional Vice-President. And then at Camp Eisner, I was a camper, and then a CIT, and a counselor, and a Unit Head. On a personal level, organized Jewish youth involvement was very important to me.

And so, too, professionally. In both of my prior rabbinic positions, working with the youth was my job. And here in Scarsdale, I've spent many summers at Eisner as a staff Rabbi, and most recently served on the Camp Commission. I was Rabbinic Advisor to the Westchester Federation of Temple Youth, took our 7th graders to Eisner for weekends ... and, of course, I share with our Tots, B'nei Mitzvah, and Confirmands.

Youth. Although it's been said that youth is wasted on the young, it's our youth who will be creating and guiding our future. Why is it so important to engage and involve our youth? They can find something special here, and that's a safe space. It's a place where they can feel totally accepted whoever they are. It's where the "cool" kids can and should interact with the "geeks"; where style does not matter as much as who one is inside. In a milieu where cyber-bullying and in-person insensitivity abound, where "cool" and "not cool" can become terms to bolster egos or challenge feelings of self worth, finding a safe haven where all our children can feel supported and uplifted and part of a caring community ... nothing can be more important than this. We want to truly create a home at the synagogue and in Judaism for ALL of our youth.

And, of course, there's the Jewish side as well. Our youth of today are our future for tomorrow. On their shoulders rests the continuity of our tradition. As we engage them in Jewish life, and as they become comfortable as members of a sacred community, we can rest assured that the beauty and meaning of Judaism will be passed on to future generations. They, too, will affirm, ‘Hineinu'-We are here!-as they see their dreams and their visions become a reality.

But at the same time, we should remember what Rabbi Jacobs, now President of the URJ, has warned: "Our communities are full of dedicated and creative lay people and professionals who successfully engage youth and families. And yet, we know that if current trends continue in our congregations, approximately 80% of the children who become B'nei Mitzvah will have no connection of any kind to their Jewish community by the time they reach 12th grade." We do better than those statistics suggest; but we can always do even more!

For far too many Jews, it's simply not worth it - it's not worth the time or money to stay Jewishly engaged. We have to do what we can to engage our youth ... and in doing so, we are doing what the URJ itself is energizing on a national level ... re-envisioning the engagement and retention of our post-B'nei Mitzvah youth. This is so important for the sake of our Jewish present and future. We've been moving in this direction on our own for the past several years; the URJ is reinforcing the critical importance of this; and now is the time to create a living legacy that will take us into the future. Our children are our ultimate legacy. This is our commitment to a meaningful Jewish tomorrow.

We want to see a Youth Initiative, with programming and enrichment to appeal to our youth and to engage them for years to come. The community conversations that were part of Atideinu reflected a concern with the needs and wants of our youth, and the vision of our sacred community.

And so we envision programming that combines the social, educational, spiritual, and communal-always in terms that our youth find meaningful-which will involve them on an ongoing basis, from their early years in Religious School, through high school and on to a college connection. The programming, based on the best of what is around us, and creating new directions ourselves, must be engaging and creative and innovative. Over the past several years, we've begun that journey. But there is so much more to do and to accomplish. And so we envision a seamless meshing of school with youth group programming, so that interactive, experiential, and off-site events become an integral part of our religious education. And who knows what other possibilities might emerge as we investigate and learn and experiment and look for best practices around the corner and around the country.

We envision having energetic, personable, committed and professional staffing for this initiative. We envision helping our families with need-based scholarships to send their children to the URJ Camps - Eisner, Crane Lake, or Kutz. And after a summer spent sharing these special experiences, these kids will be able to bring back so much to infuse both our informal and formal education programs.

And we envision a Youth Lounge-whatever the footprint might be-which our youth can truly call their own. Right now, besides being in disrepair, it is shared with the Food Pantry. They deserve their own space, a safe place for them to meet, to share, to dream, to laugh, to cry, to build for tomorrow.

Technology, food, furniture, games ... all this has to reflect the interests and enjoyment, wants and needs, of our youth.

Following our congregation's Sh'ma & Vision Statement, we will be able to create and enhance real relationships and shared lives among our SSTTE Youth in a challenging world. That is what our youth deserve to have. I truly hope that this vision can become a reality, and that it becomes an ongoing commitment for tomorrow, and for all the tomorrows to follow.