Editing United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

{{Short description|Conservative Jewish organization in the United States}}
{{hatnote|For the British Orthodox synagogue association, see [[United Synagogue]].}}
{{Infobox organization
|image         = New_USCJ_Logo.png
|alt           = Logo of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
|formation     = {{start date and age|1913|02|23}}<ref name= founded/>
|status        = [[501(c)(3)#501(c)(3)|501(c)(3)]] [[religious organization]]<ref name= irseo>"[https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/pub78Search.do?ein1=&names=%22United+Synagogue+of+Conservative+Judaism%22&city=&state=All...&country=US&deductibility=all&dispatchMethod=searchCharities&submitName=Search United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism]". ''Exempt Organizations Select Check''. Internal Revenue Service. Retrieved November 21, 2016.</ref>
|headquarters  = 3080 Broadway,<br /> [[New York, New York]], U.S.
|coords        = {{coord|40.7507488|-73.9710554|display=title}}
|affiliations  = [[Conservative Judaism]]
|formerly      = United Synagogue of America
|name          = United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
|abbreviation  = USCJ
|image_size    = 300px
|region_served = [[North America]]
|tax_id        = 13-1659707<ref name= irseo/>
|founder       = [[Rabbi]] [[Solomon Schechter|Dr. Solomon Schechter]]<ref name= uscjhistory/>
|purpose       = To strengthen [[Kehilla (modern)|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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://uscj.org/about |title = About |work= United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism |date = August 2021}}</ref>
|revenue       = $12,404,867<ref name= afs2022>"[https://uscj.org/assets/resources/financials/The-United-Synagogue-of-Conservative-Judaism-and-Affiliate-FS-2022-1.pdf Consolidated Financial Statements, June 30, 2022 and 2021]". ''The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and Affiliate''. November 28, 2022.</ref>
|members       = 562 affiliated congregations<ref name= afs2022/>
|revenue_year  = 2022
|expenses      = $12,214,528<ref name= afs2022/>
|expenses_year = 2022
|website       = {{url|http://www.uscj.org}}
| leader_name  = Rabbi Jacob Bluementhal<ref name= leadership>"[https://uscj.org/about Executive Team]". ''United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism''. Retrieved January 23, 2023.</ref>
| leader_title = [[Chief Executive Officer]]
| leader_name2 = Andy Schaer<ref name= leadership/>
| leader_title2= [[President (corporation)|International President]]
}}
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 [[rabbi]]s. It coordinates and assists the activities of its member communities on all levels.

== History ==
Representatives of twenty-two Jewish congregations in North America met at the [[Jewish Theological Seminary of America|Jewish Theological Seminary]] on 23 February 1913.<ref name = founded>"[https://www.proquest.com/docview/97405059/ Jewish Synagogues Unite]". ''The New York Times'', 24 February 1913. p. 6.</ref> The representatives formed the '''United Synagogue of America''' to develop and perpetuate Conservative Judaism.<ref name= founded/><ref name= uscjhistory>"[http://www.uscj.org/Aboutus/OurStructure/History.aspx USCJ History]". ''United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism''.</ref> The group elected [[Rabbi]] [[Solomon Schechter]] the first [[president (corporation)|president]].<ref name= founded/>

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 [[history of Israel|Israel's past]] and [[Zionism|promote its restoration]]; to maintain traditional [[Jewish prayer]] in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]; to promote traditional Judaism in the home; and to encourage the establishment of [[cheder|Jewish religious school]]s whose instruction includes the [[study of the Hebrew language]] and its [[Hebrew literature|literature]] as a bond that unites Jewish people worldwide.<ref>"[https://www.newspapers.com/image/569096960/ The United Synagogue of America]". ''The Jewish Voice''. April 18, 1913. p. 3.</ref>

The name of the organization was changed to the '''United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism''' in 1991.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Menken|first1=Yaakov|title=The Everything Torah Book: All You Need To Understand The Basics Of Jewish Law And The Five Books Of The Old Testament|date=2005|publisher=Adams Media|location=Avon, Massachusetts, United States|isbn=978-1593373252|page=177|edition=2nd}}</ref>

==Role and description==

United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism has 572 affiliated congregations {{as of|2017|lc=y}}.<ref>[https://uscj.org/assets/resources/financials/2017-Financial-Statement-and-Auditors-Report.pdf USCJ Consolidated Financial Statements' and Auditor's Report for 30 June 2017].</ref>

==Programs==
USCJ sponsors the following programs:<ref>[http://www.uscj.org/YouthYoungAdults/default.aspx Young & Young Adult Programs. ''United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism''.]</ref>
* [[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 is USCJ's academic gap year program in Israel for in-bound college freshmen.
* [[Conservative Yeshiva|The Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem]] is USCJ's learning community in Israel.

==See also==
* [[Masorti on Campus]]
* [[United Synagogue Youth]]
* [[Fuchsberg Center|Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://uscj.org/}}
* [http://digifindingaids.cjh.org/?pID=1643115 Guide to the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Soviet Jewry Collection] at the [[American Jewish Historical Society]], New York.
{{Conservative Judaism}}{{Organized Jewish Life in the United States}}{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Conservative Judaism in North America| ]]
[[Category:Conservative Judaism in New York (state)| ]]
[[Category:Conservative synagogues in the United States| ]]
[[Category:Jewish organizations established in 1913]]
[[Category:1913 establishments in New York (state)]]