Object ID	XXXX.451
Object Name	records
Abstract	The Young People's Society (YPS) Collection contains photographs, slides, negatives, meeting minutes, programs and invitations, flyers, services, prayerbooks, magazines and journals, clippings, newsletters, correspondence, constitutions, and calendars of events. The collection also includes materials relating to YPS's involvement with National Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY) and Michigan State Temple Youth (MSTY).
Admin/Biog History	Founded in 1886, the Young People's Society of Temple Beth El is the oldest member of the North American Federation of Temple Youth. At first, called the Beth El Almuni Association, it developed a program which would create a charitable, social organization whose Moonlight Cruise was a traditional high light for the young people of Temple Beth El, and its cultural activities and educational programs spanned the globe. In changing its name, in 1903, to the YPS, the group also enlarged its age requirements to admit greater numbers to join. As its enrollment increased, its program expanded to include drama productions, educational symposia, Bible history and Jewish Study classes, and a Red Cross Unit, as well as the social gatherings. During WWI, its membership diminished but the group bounced back in 1922 to the point where it had to strictly restrict its membership to children of Temple Beth El members. During the 1920s and in to the 1930s, the Young Peoples' Temple Club (as it was then named) remained active, but replaced its Moonlight Cruise with garden parties and held its first annual Shabbat Service during those years. Through WWII, the YPTC was dormant, but reopened its membership rolls in 1947, changed its name back to the Young People's Society (YPS) in 1952, and split into a Junior and Senior Youth Program. The Junior YPS became the youth group of Temple Beth El as it exists today. It distinguished itself throughout the years of 1952 to the present through innovative programming, pilgrimages to New York, Cincinnati, and Chicago, theatre presentations and social activities. Activities were created from the adoption of Russian Jews in Krakow, to memorable Purim Carnivals, to its high profile in Michigan State Temple Youth (MSTY), and its service to Temple Beth El. Junior Young People's Society was started in 2003 by Denise Goodman.
Catalog date	07/24/2002
Collection	Young People's Society Collection
Container	12 MS, 3 OS boxes
Dates of Accumulation	unknown
Finding Aids	A finding aid is available.
Language	English and Hebrew
Level of description	Folder
People	Katz, Irving/ Grossman, Dr./ Levin, Carl/ Reagan, Ronald/ Blanchard, James J./
Home location	Rabbi Leo M. Franklin Archives Stacks.
Search Terms	"Dear God"/Beth El Alumni Association/Flint Area Temple Youth/gymnasium/high school/Israel/Kutz Institute Camp/Maccabi Youth Games/Michigan State Temple Youth/Mitzvah day/Moonlight cruise/MSTY/music/National Federation of Temple Youth/NFTY/pilgrimages/religious school/retreats/Summer conclave/theater/Winter Conclave/Young People's Society/Young Peoples' Temple Club/YPS/
Title	The Young People's Society Collection

The Rabbi Leo M. Franklin Archives, 7400 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301 (248) 851-1100, ext. 3137     franklinarchives@tbeonline.org
Last modified on: June 20, 2006