metro Here ForGood rn% E Jewish Federation OF METROPOLITAN DETROIT SAVE THE DATE! USY Alters Guidelines THE DARK SECRET OF TEEN MENTAL ILLNESS Conservative youth group changes language to be more inclusive. SHEDDING LIGHT ON MENTAL HEALTH ROSS SZABO Author of: Behind Happy Faces: Talking about Mental Health and Teen Mental Illness Sunday, March 1,2015 1-3:30 pm West Bloomfield High School Auditoriu Pre-registration $5 $10 at the door Donation to locally benefit teen mental health More information to follow. Questions? Contact Lisa Soble Siegmann at siegmann@jfmd.org II ARCADIA Home Care & Staffing -- Home Care at the Highest Standard A full service agency providing quality care for your loved ones. • Live-In or Hourly • No minimum hours • Complimentary Assessment • Ongoing Care Coordination • All employees are bonded & insured Caregivers Assist With: ', Medication Reminders •Safety Monitoring •Transportation Call Lynn Feinberg and Andy Roisman •Bathing & Dressing •Kosher Prepared Meals •Companionship T o increase inclusiveness and sensitivity to a growing num- ber of teens who are children of intermarriages within Conservative Judaism, the leadership of United Synagogue Youth (USY) amended language in its guidelines concerning interdating for those holding regional and international board positions. Jack Lawson of Birmingham reunites with The action came at last month's some Camp Ramah New England friends USY convention in Atlanta. at the convention in Atlanta. The change affects the 100 or so teen officers who serve on USY's his religion. national and regional boards, not the thou- "The old wording of the rule made me sands who participate in USY programs. feel shunned, even though in USY I feel Other expectations for these officers are accepted in every other way," said Lawson, keeping kosher, observing the Sabbath and who attributes his "passionate" Jewish iden- refraining from interdating. tity to the experiences he has had in the The prior guideline wording stated: "It youth group. Lawson said he understands is expected that leaders of the organization the importance of dating within the faith to will refrain from relationships which can be keep the continuation of the Jewish people. construed as interdating." "USY is why I like being Jewish:' Lawson The new amendment reads: "The (USY) said. "Now the wording is repaired, and I officers will strive to model healthy Jewish feel completely accepted by USY" dating choices. These include recognizing David Lerner, MCUSY adviser, said the importance of dating within the Jewish the ruling by the youngest leaders in the community and treating each person with Conservative movement reflects initiatives the recognition that they were created made by adult leadership for affiliated Betzelem Elohim (in the image of God)" synagogues to welcome interfaith families. After some debate, the USY board also Some four in 10 Conservative Jews who elected not to adopt a proposal to alter have married since 2000 have married non- requirements that teen board members Jews, according to the 2013 Pew Research be Sabbath and holiday observant when it Center survey of U.S. Jewry. comes to travel, public functions and taking "The children of the Conservative move- school exams. They instead added amend- ment are trying to reconcile the decisions ments that called for a "zero-tolerance" of the adults in the Conservative move- stance on bullying and gossip. ment:' Lerner said. "It all boils down to the Teen members of Motor City USY, or deeper question: Who is a Jew?" MCUSY, are upset that excessive cover- Lerner said USY leadership deliberately made the language "more vague" to be age of the rulings detracted from other more inclusive. He said USY encourages aspects of the convention, such as explor- Jewish teens to date within Judaism. ing Atlanta's civil rights history through a "USY does not promote interdating:' Jewish lens and working on service projects with local Atlanta charities. They also said Lerner said. "The teens took it upon them- they are pleased with the amended lan- selves to change the language because they guage of the guidelines. saw their USY friends who were children of The amendment makes a big differ- interfaith families feeling alienated:' ence to Jack Lawson, 16, of Birmingham, Lawson added that Conservative Judaism MCUSY membership vice president. Raised is a "huge part of his life:' This summer, by a Jewish mother and a Catholic father, he hopes to visit Israel for the first time he was introduced to Judaism at age 6. His through the organization's summer pil- dad later converted to Judaism. Sadly, his grimage trip. mother passed away a few years ago, but he "I cannot think of a better way to go:' he and his father still attend Shabbat services said. on a regular basis. He has been involved with USY since the sixth grade. He said that This story contains some JTA reporting. Read two community views on the USY decision to outside of attending synagogue, USY is the change its guidelines on page 29. "main platform" on which he can explore ❑ (248) 594-4574 visit us online • arcadiahomecare.co 14 January 15 • 2015 I Stacy Gittleman Contributing Writer JN