Emtza is the midwest region of the United Synagogue Youth, a youth group of teenagers across the country. It encompasses 10 US States and 2 Canadian provinces in the northern middle region. USY gives teenagers a chance to socialize with their friends outside of the synagogue, with planned activities and programs, special events, conventions, and even just hanging out. If you are interested in joining your local chapter, just check out the "Chapters" section to the left, and look for the chapter nearest you.

The Emtza Constitution in all its glory can be downloaded here for anyone who is curious about the rules. It contains just about all the information you would ever want to know about how Emtza USY works, and more!

The History of Emtza USY
In April of 1948, 150 young Jewish people from Omaha, Lincoln, Kansas City, St. Paul, and Minneapolis met under the auspices of the United Synagogue of America at the Temple of Aaron in St. Paul, Minnesota to discuss “The Synagogue and the Teenager.” At the end of their sessions, they voted to form a permanent Midwest Region Youth Conference and to hold semi-annual meetings. Beth El in Minneapolis became the first chapter. Three and a half years after Midwest Region was born, the United Synagogue of America decided to start a national youth group with the regions and chapters already established. They proposed the name “United Synagogue Youth,” and decided to call a national charter convention in December of 1951. And so, our program became a national one, and then an international one as it spread to Canada. Over the past 50 years, EMTZA has gone from a small group of 6-7 individual chapters to a group of 19 chapters and over 700 members, extending from Winnipeg, Manitoba to St. Louis; Missouri, to Denver, Colorado. Through our Canadian chapter we have become an international region. We have officially changed our name to Emtza, which in hebrew means “middle.” We have gained distinction internationally for being the most widespread, yet united region. We have become a great region held together by our ruach, strong leadership, and the awareness and pride we have in our organization and religion.