USY Alumni of the Year Award - Acceptance Speech
Rabbi Charlie Savenor
December 23, 2012/ 11 Tevet, 5773
Thank you, Dr. Cindi Hasit. I
also want to express my deep appreciation to the entire Teen Learning
Committee, Rabbi Steve Wernick, Richard Skolnick and Rabbi Levy, our new amazing
director of Teen Learning.
I am incredibly honored,
grateful and humbled. This is a moment that I will cherish.
The USY Alumni of the Year
Award means so much to me because of the impact USY has had on my life. I have
left USY 25 years ago, but USY has never left me. Not for a moment.
I would like to begin my
remarks with a question: USYers, what inspired
you to come here to International Convention today? What or who influenced you
to be here?
I imagine if we listen to our
hearts, the list of inspirations may
include:
·
Siblings who were
active in USY,
·
Friends who you wanted
to see and hang out with during winter vacation,
·
Advisors who
encouraged you to sign up,
·
and parents who strongly
encouraged you to "do something Jewish"
If any of these are on your
list, if these explain how you got here, than I am just like you.
As I look back at my USY experience, some special people inspired me in a deep and profound
way. Each one of them helped me reach this moment today:
·
My brother, Arnie
–My brother was regional president of New England
region. He was the first youth leader I had ever see stand up for Jewish values
and practice. Before that, he even convinced our parents to keep kosher and
begin going to synagogue more often. At a young age, I was blessed to be able
to look at my brother and say: “I want to be like him”.
·
My parents - My
father and mother used to say: “Anything Jewish you want to do, we will find a
way to make it happen.” Over 30 years ago when the United States was in the midst of
an earlier terrible economic crisis, and when their business was not doing well,
my parents scraped money together to send us to USY events. They knew that this
experience, International Convention (IC), especially IC, could change our
lives, and it did. Mom, I will forever be grateful for your love and support then
and now.
·
My advisors and
youth directors – Dedicated and motivated youth advisors -like the ones sitting
in the room tonight - did more than just plan programs, they cared about my
peers and me. I must single out two people. First, Joyce Juda, you taught me
about the importance of being a dugma,
an example, and what it means to be a leader. As NERUSY Director, you showed me
that Judaism could be fun, exciting and transformative. You are the best youth
professional I have ever met.
·
Second, Rabbi
Paul and Nina Freedman, who opened their home to me, taught me that the most important
message, "the secret ingredient", of USY is
Torah. The kind of Torah that touches our souls, makes us think, smile and
dream about a dynamic, passionate Jewish future.
·
My friends – The
highlight of my high school years was, hands down, USY. USY
wasn't just a leadership training program, it's where I made the best friends
of my life. I lived for the weekends at conventions and for Wednesday nights
NERUSY regional lounge nights when I could see my friends. Wheels, Pilgrimage
and IC just made it better. My best friends, even till today, are from USY. A special thanks to NERUSY. I may live in METNY, but my
heart resides in NERUSY now and forever. Go Sox!
After USY, thankfully I have
had many other inspirations that have continued to shape my Jewish life.
·
My brother, Marc –
Your generosity and compassion for others are a model to emulate. After
Hurricane Sandy, you called me and asked: “How can I help?” Thanks to you,
there are five more USYers from NY here. Leadership is not just standing in
front of the group, it's also about making these happen behind the scenes.
·
My wife, Julie – While
I always thought I would marry someone from USY, you captured my
heart. When we met, you asked, "What's USY?" Truth be told,
your deep commitment to Judaism and the Jewish home we have created together is
infused with the spirit of USY. Most of all, you are the best mother in the
world to our sons, Joseph and Benjamin.
·
My sons - Joseph
and Benjy, you inspire Mommy and me especially when you ask "Who's coming for
Shabbat this week?" Your question shows that our values are being
transmitted.
My USY days ended 25 years ago.
Yet the truth is that I may have left USY, but USY never left me. It informs
how I see the world, how I evaluate a synagogue experience, how I teach and
even how Julie and I raise our children.
My work today with United
Synagogue is to create kehillot (congregations) that you will want to call
home. The way Rabbi Wernick and I approach this sacred mission is entirely
informed by USY. We are working to build synagogues with ruach, congregations that
regularly creates meaningful moments, communities where people see us for who
are and where taking care of each other - and the larger community - is simply
what we do.
At this very happy moment, there
is a little sadness in my heart. I wish that my father had lived to see this
day. He died of pancreatic cancer 17 years ago. He loved USY and all that it
provided to Arnie, Marc and me.
My father used to say that you
don't measure a parent’s success by his children, but rather by his
grandchildren. I have always wondered what he meant.
This week’s Torah portion, Vayichi, helped me understand what my
dad meant. When Joseph is on his deathbed, he makes his family promise "V’haleetem et Atzmotai Meezeh", “To
take my bones out of here,” out of Egypt. The word "Atzemotai" can also mean “my
essence”. Understood this way, Joseph declares to his children and
grandchildren: “This is not all that there is. The story continues. Wherever
you go, take my essence with you!”
The same goes for USY. USY can
be the most amazing four years of your life, but one day it ends. And when it
does, you can keep that spirit alive by taking the essence of USY with you. The
essence of USY is passionate Judaism, friendships that last a lifetime, learning
that changes how you think, fun, laughter and love. Your congregation, college
campus and Jewish community will be so much better if you take the essence of
USY with you wherever you go!
Finally, my story is like so
many of yours. We all have had people who inspired us and, truthfully, all of
us can be an inspiration to others.
I accept this award with a
full heart. Looking at you, I am confident that if you take the essence of USY with
you wherever you go, the Jewish future will be bright and secure.
If you would like to watch this speech, then click on this link: http://www.livestream.com/usyic2012/video?clipId=pla_81e9fe0c-90b9-4f95-9eba-41b0474ce7f7
