Youth Groups
Outside of their regular school work and the Hebrew school they attended several times each week, Kingston's Jewish youngsters found time to socialize together. Initially, this happened through sports. In 1920, a number of sports-minded youth gathered to play basketball and formed the Star of David team. This team ended up as the proud winners of the Sunday School Basketball Association championship.
One of the most important youth groups was the local Young Judaea, established by John R. Devor during the Second World War. Over the years, Young Judaea has provided educational activities with a Zionist focus. As well, it has offered a chance for young Jews to meet and to socialize. There was also the possibility of enlarging one's horizons by attending national conventions and meeting other young Zionists. In addition, a number of Kingston youth attended the Young Judaea leadership training institute at Camp Biluim, in the Mont Tremblant area north of Montreal. Lorne Malinoff, Sy Dardick and Harvey Rosen were among those who helped shape the Kingston chapter through its developmental years. In 1963, Kingston Young Judaea was proud to host the Central Region Convention, welcoming young Jews from across the province.
Another group that young people in the Beth Israel congregation participated in was NCSY, the National Conference of Synagogue Youth. With leadership from Rabbi Mintz, this group, a part of the Modern Orthodox movement, was lively and active in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They met at Hillel house, where they were joined by Queen's students.
In the spring of 1983, members of Kingston's Jewish community were approached by the B'nai Brith Youth Organization, with the suggestion that they join. The aim of the group is to build Jewish identity and develop leadership through service, study, sports and a Zionist focus, all within an atmosphere of socializing and fun. Hillel Director Rabbi Jack Mintz discussed the question with Rabbi Finkelstein and the Beth Israel Board. Together they decided to start a local chapter. The first president of what became the first co-ed chapter in the Lake Ontario region was Charles Rosen, followed the next year by Rebecca Koven. The group functioned for about a decade. In 1985, they won an international B.B.Y.O. "Program of the Year" award in the recreational and athletics category for an activity called "A Weekend of Fun in the Sun."
