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"They've warmed up to me and think I'm cool," he says of the youngsters. "We're enjoying our relationship a lot."

As regional executive director-youth director of United Synagogue — an association of more than 800 Conservative congregations around the world — Reitman will tend to a range of tasks, including assisting the region's approximately 20 synagogues with programming, finances and personnel.

Working with the high schoolers in USY, and with the Kadima groups, whose participants are in grades five through eight, will also comprise a major part of his responsibilities. The youth groups' agendas include social activities as well as social action and Jewish educational projects.

In working with Jewish youth, the 36-year-old Reitman has, in a sense, come home.

Growing up in Foster City, where he now lives with wife Lisa and sons Jeremy and Adam, Reitman was heavily involved with the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization, holding leadership positions on both the local and regional levels. In fact, it was through BBYO that he met his wife.

Reitman credits BBYO with helping inspire him to pursue a career in Jewish communal service. The San Diego State University graduate holds a master's degree in social work from the University of Maryland and another in Jewish studies from Baltimore Hebrew University. He has worked in Jewish camps and religious schools, as well as in federations — both in Baltimore and on the South Peninsula.

In BBYO, "I learned the ABC's of programming, how to plan an event," says Reitman, who came to United Synagogue after having served as executive director of Redwood City's Temple Beth Jacob. "I learned how to work with professionals and other teens in making decisions."

Now he hopes to impart those skills to teens in United Synagogue's Northern California region, which includes Reno.

"A lot of it is relationship-building, helping the kids get access to programming and to the community," says Reitman. "You have to let them know they have control over their programs and their own destiny."

Reitman, who succeeds Elana Feinsmith in the United Synagogue position, says he hopes not only to increase membership among the Conservative youth groups, but also to heighten their collaboration with other youth groups.

He also looks forward to encouraging more Conservative synagogues to affiliate with the regional United Synagogue and reports that those interested in the organization can check out its new home page on the World Wide Web.

The page — which can be reached at http:/uscj.org/ncalif — includes names and addresses of affiliated congregations, information about regional programs and USY activities. It also provides links to synagogues with pages on the Web.