YALA TEAM
Meet the dynamic team behind YALA (Young Adults, Leaders, and Alumni) at USCJ! Passionate about creating meaningful Jewish experiences for 20- and 30-somethings, the YALA team brings innovation, connection, and community to everything they do. From organizing impactful events to empowering young Jewish leaders, they’re dedicated to building vibrant spaces that inspire the next generation. Whether you’re looking to engage in transformative programs, connect with peers, or explore new ways to celebrate your Jewish journey, the YALA team is here to make it happen. Get to know the people driving this incredible initiative!
Director of YALA (Young Adults, Leaders, & Alumni)
Joyce Juda is the director of YALA, where, along with engaging and connecting our alumni community, she is currently working on expanding our impact to the 20s/30s age group. She is engaging young Jewish adults through YALA, hoping to ensure a continued connection for this crucial demographic to our Conservative/Masorti Movement. We strive for this connection to be meaningful, impactful, and relevant.
Joyce was the NERUSY/HaNer Director since 1983. In 2021, she became the USY Alumni Director and is now working as the YALA Director. USY was her first job after graduate school! Before her work with USY, Joyce worked several summers at Camp Ramah in New England. Joyce was a past board member of her home synagogue (Temple Emanu-El in Providence) and JYDA. Joyce has her bachelor’s from Brandeis University and a master’s of social work from Columbia University.
Joyce likes swimming, reading, crafting, and playing board games in her spare time. In the 1990s, she created a board game called Rhymation with her business partner, which was sold nationwide, including in FAO Schwarz.
YALA Coordinator: Northeast
Lucy Siegel grew up in Westchester (Katonah), New York and spent her college years at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. Lucy studied art history and international relations, and launched multiple initiatives to connect students during the remote learning period. Since graduating, she has been living in New York City and working in the legal and hospitality industries. Lucy did a brief sabbatical as a farmhand while backpacking in Italy as well. Lucy loves reading, going to Rockaway Beach, spending time with her family and friends, and listening to anything and everything on the NYT audio app.
In her free time, she is part of the editorial board at Verklempt!, a new publication focused on Jewish culture. When she first joined the team, Lucy realized how much she loves dedicating time and energy to Jewish life. She decided to pursue a career in the Jewish non-profit world because she knows this will be fulfilling and fascinating. Lucy is so excited to help bring people my age into the Movement, especially at a moment when Jewish connection is more essential than ever. Lucy over the moon to be joining the YALA team at the USCJ and can’t wait to contribute to the Jewish community in this way.
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