The world has changed this year. Zichrona livracha- Mary Travers has died. Few of you, I’m sure, know who she is. But you’ve all been impacted by her. She sang “Puff, The Magic Dragon”, “If I Had a Hammer”, and “Leaving on a Jet Plane”. She sang “Blowin’ In The Wind.” Mary Travers was the third part of Peter, Paul, and Mary. I’ve taken a lot of ribbing from USYers over the past few years for my love of American folk music, but to me it is the music of the Jewish people. I’ve written before about Rabbi Schechter praying with his feet. I take my theology from it. But that theology is no less influenced by the music that accompanied my childhood. Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Peter Paul and Mary- their songs were as recognizable to me as the Shema or Adon Olam, and their messages no less important. It is the message encapsulated in Torah, “Remember that you were a slave in Egypt and that the Lord your God redeemed you from there…” For this reason we welcome the stranger, care for the needy, and stand up against injustice, not only for Jews, but for all people around the world.

I’ve heard the message of the Torah and the folk singer… Stand up against oppression, whether it comes in the form of a union strike breaker wielding a billy club during the fight for workers rights in the USA or the lies by those who promote hate around the world. My children could sing “You can’t scare me I’m sticking with the union” almost as early as they could the Shema.

I think of this music at every kinnus and convention. Each time we sing “Lo yisa goy el goy cherev” “Dror Yikra”, or “Acheinu” I hear the message. The words may be different, but the ideal is the same. The Midrash asks why the generation of the Exodus merited redemption. Why that generation, and none before it? It answers, “Because of the righteous women.” Who were these women? They were not the leaders of our people. They were the regular Jews, just normal people trying to build a normal life when circumstance was anything but normal. How were they righteous? By quietly standing up to oppression, having children, living a Jewish life, and struggling against those who would oppress them. Who were these righteous women? Those who sang as they crossed the sea. Those who could envision a better life, and strived toward it. This is the ideal in our songs, the ideal in our theology, the ideal we reach for through SA/TO, through USY, and through our lives as active members of the Jewish community. In the words of Peter, Paul, & Mary, “Don’t let the light go out.”

Shana tova tikateivu- May you be written in for a good year.

A story is told of Napoleon Bonaparte walking in a Jewish village on the eve of Tisha B'Av. Peering into the darkened rooms where the Jews sat crying, Napoleon asked, "Who are these people, and what tragedy occurred?" His companion went to inquire, and upon returning said, "They are Jews crying over the destruction of their Temple." Not having heard of a recent destruction, Napoleon was concerned; "When was it destroyed?" His companion answered, "Oh, it is not recent, but 1800 years ago." At this Napoleon exclaimed, "Any people who can mourn the loss of their Temple so long, but as if it were yesterday, will surly survive to see it rebuilt."

Tisha B'Av has been a terrible day in our history as long as we have been a people. The Mishnah in Ta'anit teaches, "... 5 tragedies befell our people on Tisha B'Av." The generation of the Exodus was told they would not enter the Promised Land; the first and second Temples were destroyed; Betar fell, ending our rebellion against Rome, and the Temple mount was ploughed under. Tragedy has continued through our history. The first crusade was declared in 1095. The Jews were expelled from England in 1290 and from Spain in 1492. There are others.

However out of tragedy can come strength and inspiration. Our Sages teach that Moshiach will be born on Tisha B'Av. For me, Tisha B'Av is a day that stirs up memories. Not a year goes by that I do not remember the 2 Tisha B'Avs I spent in Jerusalem. In 1981, I spent the evening walking the walls of Jerusalem, an eerie wail rising up to us from below as thousands chanted Eicha. In 1985, USY Pilgrimage Group 2 sat outside the Old City walls reading Eicha under red and yellow lights lighting up the Old City as if it was aflame. To be so close, to hear the wail from within the walls, but not to enter heightened the moment. My fellow USYers and I clung to each other as we read from megillat Eicha, the experience touching our hearts. Tisha B'Av makes me think of a beloved teacher, Bob Brown, who would sing in the Ramah Poconos choir. Even the memory of his voice has always been a comfort. I think of the ease provided by knowing that no matter where I go, whether Israel, New York, Hawaii, Toronto, or the many other places I have spent Tisha B'Av, that I am part of a greater entity, and no matter where I find myself, I can join the local community to immediately feel that comfort.

It matters not what day it is. Wherever we go as Jews, we have homes to go to; we are part of a greater family that supports each other, even when we have just met. The USYers on Wheels are experiencing this powerfully as they travel across North America, staying at individual homes, doing their laundry as if they are home.

This Tisha B'Av I will be making a site visit to a Youth Leadership Camp for the ECRUSY Fall Convention. What a reaffirming experience! To spend this national day of mourning looking towards the future. It is said that the Temple was destroyed because of sinat chinam, senseless hatred, that even the scholars had little care for their fellows. ECRUSY embodies the opposite. ECRUSY provides a safe place for each person to be him/herself, where frum = cool, and awkwardness can be raised to an art. I am so proud to be part of the Jewish people and of ECRUSY every day I spend with my USYers.

Your chance to be a part of this starts on August 27 at ECRUSY's Leadership Training Institute in Ottawa. I hope you'll join us!

In March 1965 Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel marched with Dr. Reverend Martin Luther King, from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. Later, Rabbi Heschel described the march in these words, "For many of us the march from Selma to Montgomery was both protest and prayer. Legs are not lips, and walking is not kneeling. And yet our legs uttered songs. Even without words, our march was worship. I felt my legs were praying."

The word for prayer is t'fillah, the act l'hitpaleil. As a reflexive verb, prayer is an all-body experience. It is not merely words, but actions. In the moment of his march, Rabbi Heschel changed the face of prayer, blurred the lines between t'fillah and g'milut hasadim. Yesterday I taught my oldest about "praying with his feet." We, along with Sean, got up before sunrise to participate and support the Zareinu Moveathon Pro Tour. For those of you who don't know Zareinu, it combines a world-renowned treatment centre with a day school that provides special education and individualized therapies to children with a wide range of physical and developmental challenges. The facility offers treatment and teaching for children with a wide range of disabilities, from birth to age 21, including Cerebral Palsy, Downs Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and other neurological and developmental impairments. No child is denied access due to the inability to pay.

For the past two years ECRUSY has allocated part of our SATO money to Zareinu. But there's so much more we can do. Each year, Zareinu raises a significant portion of its budget through its Moveathon. The first half, a family focused moveathon and carnival was June 14. It is followed by a pro-tour with bike rides of 50, 100, and 162.45 km. My whole family participates in the family moveathon. Sean rides in the pro-tour. I volunteer my time. Is it fun? Usually. This year I woke up at 5:00 am; drove out to Milton; got to my station by 7:00; and stood in the rain and cold breeze until 2:00 pm. I can't say that this year was fun, although there were some great moments. The most memorable, watching the last 100k biker pass our checkpoint, after cycling for six hours, about two hours longer than the rest. We cheered him, as he was escorted by the sweep van and a police car. We cheered him as we drove back to the start to check in, and one more time, with all the volunteers and riders as he returned to the start complete with his police escort.

Rabbi Heschel once wrote, "A Jew is asked to take a leap of action rather than a leap of thought." USY provides us with wonderful opportunities to leap. Our future as a Jewish community lies among those who make this leap, conscientiously learning about Judaism and practicing what they learn. To encourage learning and leaping, USY established special clubs: the Abraham Joshua Heschel Honor Society, HeChalutzim, and the 613 Mitzvah Club.

Information on the Zareinu Moveathon was sent out to chapters in the Toronto area. Unfortunately, amidst exams, prom, and school ending, the moment to leap was lost. Next year, information (and t-shirts!) will be distributed to your SATO VP's at LTI. I hope there will be teams of USYers at the Moveathon, and scores of volunteers at the pro-tour. In the words of Rabbi Heschel, "All it takes is one person... and another... and another... and another... to start a movement."

Why create an RYD blog? Self-importance? Well, yeah, why not. I'm important and blogging sounds like fun, but much more importantly, as a means to spread regularly what’s up in the ECRUSY office.

The past two years have been spent in reorganization, cleaning, and learning. It’s amazing to discover the resources we have available- programs, materials, and truly wonderful people. Thanks to the past twp REB’s, we’ve sifted through mounds of paper and programs, and will be sending out ideas in the Fall to each chapter, and to the program bank at the International Office.

LTI is in the works! Dates are August 27-30, 2009. September comes a bit early this year, placing the Rosh Hashannah on September 18. It’s always easier when September comes really late (and Rosh Hashannah is near labour Day) or really early, and we have more time to get things started. Still, we want to get back into the swing of things as early as possible, so USY opening program will be Saturday night September 12. We’ll be swinging at the Center of Gravity Circus Training School. Kadima will be kicking off the next day with a limo scavenger hunt around Toronto.

We’ve chosen our RGB, and look forward to great conventions with Stanley roth & Corinne Sigal, Ophira Calof & Lia Baird, and David Segal & Benny Shilling. Mazel tov to them and to all our RGB. I’m looking forward to working with you.

We say goodbye to TK as Youth Chair. She’s given us 20 years from Kadima on up, and we’ll miss her!

ECRUSY is going strong. Even as a couple of chapter left our region (and USCJ), our membership and T.O. donations increased. Our summer programs are planned and ready; we continue to have a presence on Nativ, and it’s only going to get better!
As we head off to summer plan and fun new places, here are my top ten suggestions for having a great Jewish summer…

1. Read a Jewish book- how about the Hillel Guide to Universities.
2. Eat a kosher hot dog at a Jays game.
3. Send in your IC deposit.
4. Have a car wash for SATO.
5. Call the ECRUSY office for Nativ information.
6. Read your machzor during Elul. Write notes in it so you have something to read during long High Holiday services, or the even longer rabbi’s sermon.
7. Tell a friend how awesome USY is! See if s/he will join us at opening program September 12.
8. Sign up for LTI, August 27-30.
9. Learn a new Jewish skill: ECRUSY can help. (Torah/Haftarah reading, Birkat Hamazon, or leading T’fillot)
10. Hold a Shabbat barbecue. Shabbat starts so late. Invite everyone over, get the barbecue going. When the foods done, light candles and eat Shabbat dinner in your backyard, serenading your neighbours with ruach!