What's Happening in North America

KOACH NEWS
Want to help shape Conservative Judaism? Want to make a difference on your campus? Think you've got the talent and enthusiasm it takes to change the world? This is your chance!!
Registration is now open for the KOACH Internship Program. We're looking for campuses and candidates with a sense of purpose. Click here to learn more and discover if you're the one we're looking for!

KOACH Seeking Assistant Editor
Spring is around the corner, and KOACH is beginning to plan for next year. We are looking for an assistant editor for the 2008-2009 school year. As assistant editor, you will brainstorm themes, recruit writers, edit articles, write articles, and have monthly phone calls with the KOACH staff!
Thinking about it? Feel free to contact Alisha Deluty at KOCAsstEditor@koach.org, and she will happily answer any of your questions.

The MAROM Sustainable Development and Environmental Justice Academic Program
The Conservative Movement presents....a new study abroad option! A special track at Ben Gurion University in Sustainable Development, presented in cooperation with the Masorti Movement. Click here for an application and details!

Camp Ramah Palmer Reunion - Memorial Day Weekend 2008
Click here for more information.

Chicago's South Side Hebrew Congregation
Are you an Alumni of The South Side Hebrew Congregation, did you attend Hebrew School, participate in USY, and / or was family affiliated? We are looking for our Alumni. In 2008 the congregation will be celebrating its 120th Anniversary and we will be holding a reunion and special celebration in the spring. Please send us your contact information via e-mail - cs@centralchicago.org. We also would like your recollections of the congregation. And, we are looking for volunteers to help us plan our reunion event and help get the word out to other alumni. --Marvin M. Weinstein, President

Seaboard Region USY Alumni Reunion
Attention Seaboard Region USY Alumni from Graduation Years 1969-1980. A reunion is being planned for October 18, 2008 and we are looking for YOU! Don't be left out of the fun – all your friends from USY will be there! To find out more, please send your NAME (married and maiden), ADDRESS, TELEPHONE NUMBER, and E-MAIL ADDRESS to Robin (Cohn) Rosenthal at robin@regalcelebrations.com or call (301) 774-5236 for more information

KOACH
USCJ's KOACH program and Hillel are working together to help students make the transition from high school to college. We would like to encourage you to share the following item with your congregants:
Know an incoming college freshman?
Tell KOACH: The Center for Conservative Judaism on Campus and Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life where the student is going to college and he or she will receive an invitation to an opening event at Hillel as well as information on KOACH programming and conferences:
Click here!

Hillel Seeks Freshmen!
Hillel is now in the process of reaching out to graduating high school seniors to find out where they are going to school in the fall in order to connect them with their future Jewish communities on campus. A list of these incoming students will be given to Hillel directors prior to the opening of the school year. Please share the following item with any incoming freshman you may know so that Hillel can help more and more high school students make the transition to college.
Send this to family and friends, rabbis and community groups! There are Hillels in South America, Russia, Israel and North America.
Visit http://www.hillel.kintera.org/collegechoice.
Have you graduated from high school?
Let Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life know where you are going to college and receive an invitation to an opening event at your local Hillel.

Planning Aliyah? Do you know someone who is?
Or would you just like to know what Aliyah is all about?
There is a Nefesh B'Nefesh Pre-Aliyah Seminar near you!
Short and Long Term Aliyah Planning
Meet with our professional staff and get practical information and advice on:
-Employment in Israel
-Children, Family and Aliyah
-NBN Services and Benefits
-Rights ("Zechuyot") as a New Oleh
-Pre & Post-Aliyah Guidance & Strategies
-Communities, Taxes, Schooling and more
For locations, schedules and more information visit www.nbn.org.il/u_pages/usa_calendar.html or call 1 866 4-ALIYAH

IF YOU'RE THINKING ALIYAH:
Step 1: Contact the Conservative Movement's Aliyah Shaliach Itamar Kremer, (212) 533-7800 ext 2021 or (212) 339-6079, shaliach@mercazusa.org or itamark@jazo.org.il.WITH A CC TO RABBI PAUL FREEDMAN at Let our Shaliach help you throughout the entire aliyah process.

Step 2: Open an Aliyah File with the Israel Aliyah Centers: Our Shaliach will be able to direct you to one of the dozen offices located across North America.

Step 3: Learn about available Aliyah assistance: Nefesh B'Nefesh works in partnership with the Jewish Agency, providing olim with financial assistance, group chartered aliyah flights, employment resources, absorption support, social services and guidance through governmental absorption, in order to help make each individual's Aliyah as successful as possible. Contact Nefesh B'Nefesh, (866) 4-ALIYAH or nbnusa@nbn.org.il with a cc to RABBI PAUL FREEDMAN at or consult the website www.nefeshbnefesh.org.

Step 4: Contact USCJ's Project Reconnect - Israel: Meet other Conservative Movement alumni living in Israel who are looking forward to welcoming you into your new home and helping with your klitah in Israel. Contact Rabbi Paul Freedman, (011-972) 2-6256205, paul@projectreconnect.org.

Rabbinic Cabinet
Project Reconnect has formed a Rabbinic Advisory Board (Cabinet). Chaired by Rabbi Paul Freedman, it will offer input as to how our congregations can reach out to the thousands of alumni from USY, Atid, Koach, Nativ and the Conservative Yeshiva. The Advisory Board will meet via conference calls and in-person meetings, such as at the R.A. Convention in Houston. This Rabbinic group will provide input and guidance on the many programs and initiatives that Project Reconnect undertakes in both North America and Israel.

Yellow Pages
Project Reconnect now offer it's "Yellow Pages" services to ALL of its members!

Have you or a family member relocated to a new area. Do you need a lawyer, a doctor, or an architect, etc.? By being new to the area you may not know someone who can provide a referral. So, why not look for someone with a similar background to your own?

Member's existing profiles have sections for professional information. You can choose how much (if any) of your professional information is published in our new North America section of the "Yellow Pages".

If you haven't included professional info in your Project Reconnect profile, and want to be included in our "Yellow Pages", update your profile right away. THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR THIS SERVICE.

Young Leadership
Project Reconnect, in cooperation with Pacific Southwest Region, JTS and the Ziegler School has taken on the project of ensuring the future of the Conservative Movement by creating a program to develop young dynamic leadership for the Conservative Jewish community. The project has the support of Rabbis, Synagogue Presidents, and major Jewish Conservative leaders in the region. These professional and lay leaders have agreed to mentor these younger participants in this new leadership development project. Once tested in Pacific Southwest Region, it is anticipated that this program will be duplicated in other major cities within North America.