Youth programming for 2nd-12th graders at Am Yisrael.
Chaverim
Grades 2-4
Fun outings, kosher lunches, and social programs designed for elementary school students.
Gesher
Grades 5-7
Middle school programs that build friendships, community, and leadership.
AMUSY & CHUSY
Grades 8-12
Teen leadership, lounge nights, regional events, and Jewish community connections.
Celebrating Our Am Yisrael Teens’ Impact and Leadership
Every single year, we have had one or two teens recognized. The not‑so‑secret sauce behind much of our success in the School of Jewish Studies (SJS) and AMUSY programs is the leadership of our teens.
Jamie Loewenthal
2026 JUF 18 Under 18 Honoree
Nate Szmuilowicz
2026 JUF 18 Under 18 Honoree
Current Board
Outgoing Board
Building Jewish community from elementary school through high school.
Our Am Yisrael Youth Chapter is open to all members of our youth community in the congregation. We hope to provide our children and teens with many fun opportunities to spend time with their Am Yisrael peers beyond the classroom and Sanctuary settings.
2nd-4th Grade Chaverim Programming
For our elementary school students, we offer our Chaverim Group. Three Sundays each school year, Chaverim will take a field trip after SJS, which will include a kosher lunch. Past locations include The Painted Penguin and Nickel City in Northbrook, and bowling in Wilmette and Buffalo Grove.
5th-7th Grade Gesher Programming
As part of the build toward involvement in AMUSY and CHUSY, we facilitate programs for our Middle School students. There are some times during the year when Gesher is invited to join the 8th-12th grades, which are noted below. Gesher lounges include a kosher lunch.
8th-12th Grade AMUSY & CHUSY Programming
AMUSY lounge nights are held at the synagogue on Wednesday evenings, immediately following SJS. Lounge nights include a kosher dinner. CHUSY incorporates synagogue youth chapters from Chicagoland, Milwaukee, Madison and Northwest Indiana.
Our Am Yisrael 2nd-12th Graders can also participate as a part of CHUSY, affiliated with our national movement, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ).
Connecting our teens with Jewish community across the Midwest.
USY is USCJ’s youth movement for Conservative Jewish teens across North America. For over 70 years, USY has built Jewish identity and leadership through meaningful programming, domestic and international travel, and a vibrant sense of community.
CHUSY serves the greater Chicago area, including Milwaukee, Madison, and Northwest Indiana. Through Jewish learning, Israel engagement, social action, tzedakah, and plenty of social fun, CHUSY gives teens a place to grow Jewishly — and just enjoy being Jewish together.
Charlie Sherman
Head of School csherman@amyisrael.org
(847) 708-1805
Sandra Mieli Kamm
Youth Director
smielikamm@amyisrael.org
(847) 721-2137
Sam Bolen
CHUSY Chicago Community Director
sbolen@uscj.org