HAZAK is an acronym for three Hebrew words: Hokhmah (wisdom), Ziknah (maturity) and Kadima (looking ahead). Dedicated to serving the social and religious needs of Jewish adults ages 55 and over, HAZAK takes its cue from the ongoing success of USCJ's youth grops, Kadima and USY, with such services and programs as trips, summer hostels, adult education, and much more! Goals include comaraderie, intellectual stimulation, religious guidance and fun!

USCJ Hazak
The function of Hazak is to deal with programming for, addressing the needs of, and working with Senior Citizens,who are members of full service affiliated congregations of the United Synagogue. As the name implies, Hazak notes that the senior represents cumulative knowledge, the ability to judge as zakeyn in a mature fashion, with aspirations to move ahead during the decades remaining. With that in mind, Hazak is designed to address the needs of seniors in full-service congregations where programming priorities are often largely targeted to the younger congregant.

Significantly, however, seniors are the most rapidly growing segment of the Jewish population. Hazak compliments congregational adult education programs with specially designed social, spiritual and educational components geared to and for the senior population of a congregation. Hazak members not only have the opportunity to meet on a regular basis with peers from their own congregations but with fellow Jews from other affiliated Conservative congregations in their community, region and nation.

These opportunities will help develop a broad sense of fraternity through the sharing of a variety of creative programs that include study, prayer, entertainment and socialization. Hazak affirms the traditional Jewish view that mature adults should have the opportunity to continue to learn and be active in their congregations, their communities and among themselves. Hazak promotes Judaism to seniors through projects and meaningful experiences both in the synagogue environment and on a community level.