BBYO LEADERS LEARN ISRAEL ADVOCACY AT aipac teen summit

Earlier this month, the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation sponsored the AIPAC Schusterman Advocacy Institute High School Summit, a conference coordinated by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). A joint effort between AIPAC, BBYO, PANIM, and the Curriculum Initiative, the Summit brought more than 200 Jewish high school leaders from dozens of high schools, youth movements and community programs together to engage in political dialogue, learn advocacy techniques and develop strategies for promoting a strong US-Israel relationship in high schools across America.

Katie Glueck, a BBG member from Kansas City, MO, was one of more than 60 BBYO members in attendance at the AIPAC summit. She found the program to be an invaluable learning experience. "The AIPAC High School Summit has provided me with essential tools and has allowed me to chart a course of action with regard to my pro-Israel future."

For more information about BBYO's partnership with AIPAC and upcoming opportunities click here.

BBYO ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH GIFT OF LIFE BONE MARROW REGISTRY


Turning 18 has its benefits, and now the mitzvah of joining the Gift of Life Bone Marrow Registry for FREE is one of them! Thanks to a new partnership with Gift of Life, the only donor registry in North America dedicated to recruitment in Jewish communities, BBYO members will receive an invitation to request a free testing kit which will allow them to be tested to join Gift of Life's registry as a volunteer donor. The Registry, which is linked to the international donor pool, provides life-saving matches for individuals in need of blood stem cell and bone marrow transplants to survive life-threatening illnesses. READ MORE...

Alumni News

WHERE YOUNG LIVES TAKE SHAPE: NANCY KAUFMAN


Where Young Lives Take Shape is a feature of the BBYO e-News focusing on the accomplishments of BBYO alumni. This month, meet Nancy Kaufman, Executive of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston.
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BBYO ALUM PUBLISHES BOOK TO ANSWER QUESTION: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

What distinguishes a geek from a nerd, a democracy from a republic, and partly sunny from partly cloudy? For the first time, the answers to all such nagging mysteries are in one place. Marc Tyler Nobelman, a CVR BBYO alumni '90, has recently published his first adult book, What's the Difference?, available exclusively at barnesandnoble.com and Barnes & Noble stores. As a writer and cartoonist, Marc has authored more than fifty books and drawn forty times as many cartoons. His titles include How to Do a Belly Flop, 365 Adventures and Vocabulary Cartoon of the Day. He also writes regularly for Nickelodeon Magazine. His cartoons have appeared in publications including The Wall Street Journal, Barron's and Forbes.


BROOKLYN BBYO ALUMNI REUNION PLANNED FOR JULY '06
 
Brooklyn alumni, Fran and Hank Fleischman, started with a list of 40 fellow Brooklyn BBYO alumni, which quickly grew to over 300. More than 65 alumni have already confirmed they will be attending. Are you a Brooklyn alum? Have you RSVP'd?

The July 4th Reunion for Brooklyn BBYO Alumni will be hosted by the Fleischmans on Sunday, July 2nd, 2006 at 1-11 pm at their home in Merrick, New York. For more information about the event, please visit www.reunion06.com/. To find your old BBYO friends, please visit www.bbyoalumni.org/.

Regional News


BBYO RETURNS TO WESTCHESTER, NEW YORK

For the past two years, BBYO has been working to identify key communitites throughout North America where exponentially more teens can be involved in meaningful Jewish experiences. One of the communities where BBYO saw significant room for growth was Westchester, New York. While Westchester boasted a strong BBYO community in the early 90's, and recently has had active members as part of the Greater Jersey Hudson River Region, it has not had a major presence in the region for several years. With the generous support from International Board member and Westchester resident, Andrew Suzman, BBYO was able to establish a Westchester BBYO Region and named Jessica Rothstein the new BBYO Program Director for the area.
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GOLD COAST TEENS SEE COLLEGE THROUGH JEWISH EYES

Over the weekend of October 21-23, nearly 50 Jewish high school juniors and seniors from Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties embarked on the 2nd Annual Gold Coast Region BBYO Junior/Senior College Tour. Over the course of the weekend, the teens had the chance to tour three major state universities in Florida, interact with Jewish college students and have an incredibly fun experience. READ MORE...

NORTH STAR BBYO MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITY

On Sunday, October 23, the BBYO members of North Star Region participated in Make A Difference Day, the biggest day of volunteering in the United States, sponsored by USA Today. BBYO members, with the help of community sponsors, planned a full day of activities for the entire community, including parents, other teens and young children. READ MORE...

HELP HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN AFFECTED BY HURRICANE KATRINA
 

Would you love an opportunity for your BBYO region/chapter to come together as a community and participate in an amazing hands-on community service project? Soaringwords, a non-profit organization devoted to helping millions of ill childen and their families heal, is inviting BBYO to participate in an exciting national initiative by helping to decorate quilts and pillows (on or around Martin Luther King Jr. Day), which will be donated by Soaringwords to 1,500 children hospitalized in Houston and New Orleans on Valentine's Day. Soaringwords makes the event turn-key by providing flyers, instructions for running the program, a Soaringwords DVD and a CD to play while BBYOers decorate the quilts. Please note, there is a fundraising component to this event to cover the cost of materials. Regions/Chapters wishing to participate should contact Erica Steen.    

BBYO In the News

The launch of BBYO's new college site, b-accepted.org was announced in several Brooklyn, New York publications, including the Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill Courier, Canarsie Digest, Park Slope Courier, Bay News, Brooklyn Heights Courier, Kings Courier, Brooklyn Graphic, Flatbush Life, and Bay Ridge Courier (October 2005).

The Jewish Voice of Wilmington, DE featured an article written by CRE BBYO member, Oren Schragger, about his experience as a member of the USA soccer delegation to the 17th Maccabiah in Israel in July, 2005. The USA team finished fifth out of 14 teams in the youth competition (September 23, 2005).

The Southfield Eccentric announced that Stacey Wolf, alumnae of Michigan Region BBYO, was recently appointed assistant director of Michigan Region. Stacy will be responsible for Detroit Teen Connection, community service programming and chapters in Oak Park, Hungtington Woods and Ann Arbor (September 25, 2005).

The Fort Lauderdale Jewish Journal featured an article about BBYO's new Jewish teen networking site b-linked.org. BBYO member Dave Klipper of Davie, FL was quoted in the article, "By creating an online community of Jewish kids my age, we can more easily find one another, network and eventually get together to do those things we like doing" (November 3, 2005).

The Jewish Review of Portland, OR and the Jewish Independent of Vancouver, BC featured articles about Evergreen Region's annual Jewish Education Converence (JEC).  At this year's JEC, Evergreen Region members attempted to join the Guinness Book of World Records by braiding a 78-foot Challah (November 1, 2005 and November 4, 2005).

The Jewish Herald-Voice of Houston, Texas announced that Lonestar Region BBYO recruited approximatey 200 new members this fall (October 20, 2005).

The Hebrew Watchman of Memphis, TN announced that Memphis BBYO members raised close to $2,000 dollars for Katrina/Rita hurricane relief with their "Fill the Bucket" fundraiser, part of the national Y.A.D. (Youth Aiding the Distressed) weekend initiated by members of the Cotton States Region (November 10, 2005).

The Oakland Press of Oakload County, MI featured an article about Michigan Region's Mind Body Attitude program that had over 65 women in attendance. The program included three informational sessions about yoga, body image and nutrition (November 21, 2005).

The New Mexico Jewish Link announced that BBYO will be re-starting in Albuquerque (October, 2005).

The Texas Jewish Post featured an article about North Texas Oklahoma's first annual "Teen Expo." Over 300 Jewish teenagers from the Dallas area attended the event sponsored by NTO BBYO which featured a fashion show and "Jam Session," as well as an inspirational speech from Becky Miller, Mayor of the City of Carrollton (October 27, 2005).

Has BBYO appeared in your local press? Please let us know by emailing astrunk@bbyo.org.

BBYO HOSTS FIRST NATIONAL COLLEGE TOUR IN DC (Continued)

Guided by the expertise of a personal college counselor who traveled with the BBYO Tour, participants were able to gather information about the schools through a variety of sources including information sessions, guided tours and student panels. At each of the colleges, participants were also able to interact with BBYO alumni on campus who offered them insight into the transition from high school to college life. 

Despite a rigorous tour schedule, participants were able to kick back and enjoy the social benefits that college life has to offer including dinner and shopping on M Street in Georgetown, ice skating and a late night BBQ with Maryland Hillel. The highlight of the weekend was participating in University of Maryland's "Shabbat 1140" where over 1,300 Jewish students joined together for Friday night services and Shabbat dinner. A participant from River Vale, NJ found it "amazing to see 1300 students giving each other hugs and saying hello. We could really see the strength of the Jewish community on campus."

College Tour participants can stay ahead of the curve through the college admissions process by using BBYO's new college preparation website, b-accepted.org, which includes the only college search engine featuring both Jewish and secular data, an application organizer and articles that offer advice about everything from choosing schools to how to write college essays. And, through a partnership with The Princeton Review (TPR), BBYO is offering all members 10% off TPR's renowned test preparation courses. Visit b-accepted today to learn more.

BBYO has begun planning a National College Tour for Spring 2006. If you are interested in getting a head-start on your college search, e-mail Tali Golan for more information or check the b-accepted.org site for updates. To read about a local college tour that recently took place in Gold Coast Region please see Regional News.

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BBYO ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH GIFT OF LIFE BONE MARROW REGISTRY (Continued)

When Jay Feinberg, Founder and Executive Director of Gift of Life was diagnosed with leukemia a year after he graduated from college, his doctor told him that he needed to find a donor for a bone marrow transplant in order to survive. Since tissue type is inherited, like eye color and hair color, Jay's best bet of finding a match was from someone of the same ethnic background, an Ashkenazi Jew. Jay's friends and family tested thousands of individuals in his quest for a donor. At the last drive they organized, the last individual they tested turned out to be his miracle match.

Jay realized the need to inform the Jewish Community about bone marrow donation in order to increase the number of Jewish donors in the worldwide registries. The Gift of Life Bone Marrow Registry has nearly 100,000 potential donors and is part of an international network available to patients in 40 countries.

Jamie Konigsberg, a former International N'siah of the B'nai B'rith Girls ('01-'02) became involved with Gift of Life as a student at The George Washington University where she ran two successful donor recruitment drives, adding over 500 potential donors to the Gift of Life Registry. Jamie's first drive has already yielded five life saving matches and one transplant has already been facilitated. "I was thrilled to learn about BBYO's new partnership with the Gift of Life. This is a simple, yet powerful way for BBYO members to make an impact."

Lynn Schusterman, President of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation and Chair of BBYO said, "I am thrilled to see BBYO and Gift of Life partner in a campaign that will save lives and teach an emerging generation of young Jewish leaders not only of our obligation to repair the world but also of our power to give the gift of life."

Joining the registry is easy, and involves only a swab of cells from inside the cheek to determine tissue type. For more information about BBYO's partnership with Gift of Life and to request a kit please visit www.bbyocares.org/.

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WHERE YOUNG LIVES TAKE SHAPE: NANCY KAUFMAN (Continued)

As member of Unity BBG in Brookline, MA, Nancy Kaufman established a strong connection to her Jewish identity, a love for Israel and a passion for social justice, as well as cultivated the leadership skills necessary to serve as the Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston.

In high school, Kaufman describes her experiences in BBYO as a monumental learning experience: "My Jewish identity was formed during those four years in a very substantial way. BBYO was the first place that I learned about the Holocaust; it exposed me to my Jewish heritage." For Kaufman, BBYO comprised all of her extra-curricular activities in high school. She gained leadership experience as the Vice President of her chapter and region and served as Regional Jewish Heritage Chairwoman.

Kaufman did not have a lot of resources as a teen, and when she became interested in BBYO's Israel Summer Institute she didn't have enough money to pay for the trip. The three week adventure cost $1,000, so Nancy turned to BBYO for help. She received a $500 scholarship, but this was only half of the battle. In her first fundraising experience, Nancy called her Uncle to ask him to match her BBYO scholarship. He agreed on the condition that she would give back to her community and speak about her experiences when she returned from her trip. "If it wasn't for the $500 scholarship from BBYO, I never would have been able to go to Israel, a teen trip to Israel is one of the most important things that can happen in a young person's life."  Nancy returned from Israel and spoke about her experiences and has never stopped giving back to her community.

Since her first trip to Israel with BBYO in 1967, just three weeks after the 6 Days War, Nancy has been back to Israel 19 times.  She credits BBYO for her love of Israel. "The seed was planted, and it has been flourishing ever since."

After high school, Nancy put the skills she learned in BBYO to work as a social activist. In college she became part of the anti-war movement. After college she attended social work school and became involved in community organizing, throwing herself into anti-poverty and homelessness work. In May of 1990, Nancy was attending a Yom HaShoah service at the State House as Massachusetts's Director of Health and Human Services under Governor Dukakis when she learned that the Executive Director position for the Jewish Community Relations Council would soon be vacant. She decided to apply for the Job.

The position was perfect for Kaufman as it required her to combine both her love and commitment to social activism and her Jewish heritage. "[The JCRC] links the Jewish community to its urban roots and its roots in the former Soviet Union. Most of the work we do is mobilizing the Jewish community to pursue justice. We put learning grounded in Jewish texts into action, and train the community to be activists."  One of Nancy's current projects is Telem, a Jewish service program aimed at involving Jewish teenagers in meaningful social action projects.

Nancy encourages all BBYO members interested in pursuing a career in the Jewish community or as an advocate of social justice "to learn everything you can about what's Jewish about social justice, about what is 'just's about Judaism, and put the two together for they are inextricably linked. You need to be advocates for serious Jewish learning and social justice. When you put them together it is a winning combination. BBYO provides the opportunity and foundation for this."

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BBYO RETURNS TO WESTCHESTER, NEW YORK (Continued)

Rothstein is a former member of BBYO from Evergreen Region and has worked with a variety of organizations that have prepared her for her position as the Westchester Director. After graduating from Savannah College of Art and Design with a B.A. in Graphic Design, Jessica relocated to Savannah, Georgia where she served as the director of Camp and Youth Services of Savannah's Jewish Educational Alliance. While in Savannah, Jessica maintained her connection to BBYO as the advisor of Wexler Clark BBG in Dixie Council.

As the new Program Director of Westchester BBYO, Jessica spent her summer becoming familiar with the Jewish Community in the Westchester area, reconnecting with Westchester BBYO alumni and meeting with teens and parents interested in what BBYO has to offer. As the Regional Director of BBYO, Jessica hopes to "open their eyes to the larger Jewish community in this area, exposing Jewish teens to cultural experiences within Judaism that will give them the opportunity to connect with their Jewish identity."

Jessica is currently working with Westchester teens to plan a holiday toy drive for families affected by Hurricane Katrina. Many community organizations have expressed interest in partnering with BBYO on this project including several local synagogues.

If you would like more information about BBYO in Westchester please contact Jessica Rothstein.

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GOLD COAST TEENS SEE COLLEGE THROUGH JEWISH EYES (Continued)

Dave Press, the Assistant Director of Gold Coast Region, designed the trip in 2004 as a means of retaining older members of BBYO, engaging unaffiliated Jewish teens and exposing South Florida's Jewish teens to the next step in the real world - college - through their peers's eyes. The trip combines touring universities and getting a taste of college life with hands-on interaction with Jewish students and organizations at each of the campuses.

Highlights from the tour included a traditional Israeli lunch at the FSU Hillel building, campus tours led by members of Jewish fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Pi and BBYO alumni and a student-led Havdallah service in a Hillel Sukkah. Chelsea Kesner, a junior in Chaverot L'Yad BBG in Coral Springs expressed how valuable she felt the trip was. "I don't have any older siblings, so when we first arrived at each campus, I felt overwhelmed. But after meeting Jewish students and getting a feel for what each school offered, I feel much more comfortable about what lies ahead of me. Now that I've seen that the next step [after BBYO] is Hillel, I'd like to stay active in Jewish life when I get to college."

For more information about the GCR College Tour please contact Dave Press.

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NORTH STAR BBYO MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITY (Continued)

The goal of Make a Difference Day is to give people hands-on community service opportunities and to show them what they can do every day to help make a difference in their community.  Four organizations were showcased in this year's Make a Difference Day: Soaringwords, Cheerful Givers, Camp Ripley and To Save a Life.

BBYO members adopted Cheerful Givers as an ongoing project after participating at the Cheerful Givers "Big Birthday Bash" at the Mall of America last March. Cheerful Givers is a non-profit organization that donates birthday bags to families who would otherwise not be able to afford birthday presents. On Make a Difference Day, BBYOers held a "Birthday Bash" where they decorated and filled over 75 birthday bags. These bags were then donated to local food shelves where they will be picked up by families in need of some extra help to celebrate birthdays.

For more information about North Star's Make a Difference Day, please contact Cara Porter.

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