United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

Conservative Jewish organization in the United States

For the British Orthodox synagogue association, see United Synagogue.

United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

Abbreviation| USCJ
Formation| February 23, 1913; 112 years ago (1913-02-23)[1]
Founder| Rabbi Dr. Solomon Schechter[2]

Tax ID no.

| 13-1659707[3]
Legal status| 501(c)(3) religious organization[3]
Purpose| To strengthen kehillot; to ensure there are thriving centers of Jewish practice across North America, Israel, and beyond that celebrate both tradition and contemporary life; to demonstrate what an authentic and dynamic Judaism looks like, inspire people to be a part of it, and advance its critical role in the world.[4]
Headquarters| 3080 Broadway,
New York, New York, U.S.
Coordinates| 40°45′03″N 73°58′16″W﻿ / ﻿40.7507488°N 73.9710554°W﻿ / 40.7507488; -73.9710554

Region served

| North America
Members| 562 affiliated congregations[5]

Chief Executive Officer

| Rabbi Jacob Bluementhal[6]

International President

| Andy Schaer[6]
Affiliations| Conservative Judaism
Revenue| $12,404,867[5] (2022)
Expenses| $12,214,528[5] (2022)
Website| www.uscj.org

Formerly called

| United Synagogue of America

The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ) is the major congregational organization of Conservative Judaism in North America, and the largest Conservative Jewish communal body in the world. USCJ closely works with the Rabbinical Assembly, the international body of Conservative rabbis. It coordinates and assists the activities of its member communities on all levels.

## History

[edit]

Representatives of twenty-two Jewish congregations in North America met at the Jewish Theological Seminary on 23 February 1913.[1] The representatives formed the United Synagogue of America to develop and perpetuate Conservative Judaism.[1][2] The group elected Rabbi Solomon Schechter the first president.[1]

At its executive council's April 1913 meeting, the organization's purpose was defined as loyalty to the Torah; to promote observance of Shabbat and Jewish dietary laws; to preserve Israel's past and promote its restoration; to maintain traditional Jewish prayer in Hebrew; to promote traditional Judaism in the home; and to encourage the establishment of Jewish religious schools whose instruction includes the study of the Hebrew language and its literature as a bond that unites Jewish people worldwide.[7]

The name of the organization was changed to the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism in 1991.[8]

## Role and description

[edit]

United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism has 572 affiliated congregations as of 2017[update].[9]

## Programs

[edit]

USCJ sponsors the following programs:[10]

* United Synagogue Youth (USY) is the youth movement of USCJ. The organization's mission is to empower Jewish youth to develop friendships, leadership skills, a sense of belonging to the Jewish People, a deep engagement with and love for Israel, and a commitment to inspired Jewish living through meaningful and fun experiences based on the ideology of Conservative Judaism.
* Nativ was USCJ's academic gap year program in Israel for incoming college freshmen. After 41 years of operation, the program ended with the 2023–2024 cohort.[11]
* The Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem is USCJ's learning community in Israel.

## See also

[edit]

* Masorti on Campus
* United Synagogue Youth
* Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d "Jewish Synagogues Unite". The New York Times, 24 February 1913. p. 6.
2. ^ a b "USCJ History". United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
3. ^ a b "United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism". Exempt Organizations Select Check. Internal Revenue Service. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
4. ^ "About". United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. August 2021.
5. ^ a b c "Consolidated Financial Statements, June 30, 2022 and 2021". The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and Affiliate. November 28, 2022.
6. ^ a b "Executive Team". United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
7. ^ "The United Synagogue of America". The Jewish Voice. April 18, 1913. p. 3.
8. ^ Menken, Yaakov (2005). The Everything Torah Book: All You Need To Understand The Basics Of Jewish Law And The Five Books Of The Old Testament (2nd ed.). Avon, Massachusetts, United States: Adams Media. p. 177\. ISBN 978-1593373252.
9. ^ USCJ Consolidated Financial Statements' and Auditor's Report for 30 June 2017.
10. ^ Young & Young Adult Programs. United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
11. ^ "As Nativ goes on hiatus, Conservative teens have no clear alternative Israel gap year". eJewish Philanthropy. 2024-04-22. Retrieved 2025-06-12.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Guide to the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Soviet Jewry Collection at the American Jewish Historical Society, New York.

* v
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Conservative Judaism

Core articles|

* Conservative halakha

Organizations|

* Leadership Council of Conservative Judaism
* Committee on Jewish Law and Standards
* Rabbinical Assembly
* Cantors Assembly
* Jewish Theological Seminary of America
* American Jewish University (formerly University of Judaism)
* Miller Introduction to Judaism Program
* Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies
* Fuchsberg Center
* Conservative Yeshiva
* Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies
* Solomon Schechter Day School Association
* Ramah Camping Movement
* Masorti on Campus
* Nativ College Leadership Program in Israel
* United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
* United Synagogue Youth
* Kadima

Related topics|

* Criticism of Conservative Judaism
* Gladstein Fellowship

* more...

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* t
* e

Jews and Judaism in the United States

Major communal organizations|

* B'nai B'rith
* Jewish Community Centers
* Jewish Federations of North America
* Local Jewish Federations

Major advocacy organizations
(not exclusively Israel-focused)|

* American Jewish Committee
* American Jewish Congress
* Anti-Defamation League
* Conference of Presidents
* Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law (LDB)
* Religious Action Center
* Jewish Community Relations Councils (JCRCs)
* Jewish Council for Public Affairs
* Jewish environmental groups
* Jewish Future Pledge
* Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA)
* Jewish Women's Archive
* National Jewish Democratic Council
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* Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism
* White House Jewish Liaison
* Jewish Labor Committee
* Jewish Democratic Council of America

Major humanitarian
organizations|

* American Jewish World Service
* Joint Distribution Committee
* Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society
* United Israel Appeal

Major Israel-focused
organizations|

* American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)
* Birthright Israel
* Hadassah
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* J Street
* Jewish Voice for Peace
* IfNotNow
* Masa Israel Journey
* Middle East Media Research Institute
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* Tzofim Friendship Caravan
* Zionist Organization of America

Major domestic and neighborhood
assistance organizations|

* Chaverim
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* Secure Community Network
* Shomrim
* Tomchei Shabbos

Major religious movement
organizations
(and associated rabbinical membership
and policy body; seminary)|

* Agudath Israel of America (Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah; etc.)
* Agudas Chasidei Chabad (Vaad Rabonei Lubavitch; Tomchei Tmimim-U.S., RCA, etc.)
* Jewish Reconstructionist Federation (Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association; RRC)
* Young Israel
* Orthodox Union (Rabbinical Council of America; RIETS-YU, etc.)
* Society for Humanistic Judaism
* United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (Rabbinical Assembly; JTSA / AJU-Ziegler)
* Union for Reform Judaism (Central Conference of American Rabbis; HUC)

List of synagogues
(by movements)|

* by US states
* Former

* Conservative
* Humanistic
* Orthodox and Modern Orthodox
* Reconstructionist
* Reform
* Unaffiliated

Youth organizations|

* Jewish summer camp
* B'nai B'rith Youth Organization (BBYO) (AZA / BBG)
* Bnei Akiva
* NCSY
* North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY)
* Tzivos Hashem
* United Synagogue Youth (USY) / Kadima
* Young Judaea

Education|

* College Jewish studies programs
* Hebrew school
* Jewish day school
* See template for schools
* Schechter
* Torah Umesorah
* Yeshiva / Mesivta

Major university groups|

| Organizations|

* Chabad on Campus
* Hillel
* Masorti on Campus
* World Union of Jewish Students (WUJS)

|

Fraternities
and sororities|

* Alpha Epsilon Pi
* Alpha Epsilon Phi
* Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi
* Sigma Alpha Mu
* Sigma Delta Tau
* Tau Delta Phi
* Tau Epsilon Phi
* Zeta Beta Tau

Media|

| News wires|

* Jewish Telegraphic Agency
* Jewish News Syndicate

|

News outlets|

* Algemeiner Journal
* Baltimore Jewish Times
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* Der Blatt
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* Hamodia
* The Forward
* The Jewish Exponent (Phila.)
* The Jewish Journal (L.A.)
* The Jewish Ledger (Conn.)
* Jewish News of Greater Phoenix
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* The Jewish Star (N.Y.)
* Jewish Voice
* JWeekly (S.F.)
* New York Jewish Week
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* Yated Ne'eman
* VIN News
* Yeshiva World News

Magazines|

* Ami
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* Jewish Currents
* Jewish World Review
* Kindline
* Lilith
* Mishpacha
* Moment
* San Diego Jewish Journal
* San Diego Jewish World
* SAPIR
* Tablet
* We Are in America

Television|

* Jewish Broadcasting Service
* Jewish Life Television (JLTV)
* National Jewish Television
* The Jewish Channel

Websites|

* AskMoses.com
* Chabad.org
* Heeb
* Jewcy
* Jewish Virtual Library
* Kosher.com
* Mosaic
* Tablet Magazine
* Yeshiva.co

Dating|

* JDate
* JSwipe
* Lox Club
* Matzo Ball
* SawYouAtSinai

Major communal activities|

* Siyum HaShas
* Super Sunday phone-a-thon

*   Category

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* United States
* Israel

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