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BBYO In the News
The Hebrew Watchman in Memphis reported
on the recent activities of Kriger BBG, including
International CLTC and Kallah participation, a
visit from International President (N'siah) Dina
Finer, MIT intake, self esteem programming and
upcoming elections (September 14, 2006).
Past International President (Grand Aleph
Godol),
Pinchas Landis, is the newest instructor for
the Read Hebrew America campaign branch in Symmes
Township in Ohio. An article in The American
Israelite in Cincinnati explained that the program
is designed to teach graduates to read Hebrew
in six weeks. Read Hebrew America is sponsored
by the National Jewish Outreach Program and Kollel
(September 21, 2006).
The third annual Fall Food Drive in Little Neck,
NY is led by a group of Big Apple Region BBYO
members and community leaders. According to the
Glen Oaks Ledger and Little Neck Ledger in Bayside,
NY, they hope to collect over one ton of food
for the hungry in New York City (September 21,
2006).
The St. Louis Jewish Light in Missouri reported
positively on BBYO's efforts to maintain the
quality of its Passport to Israel (P2I) trips,
despite the conflict with Lebanon this past summer
(September 27, 2006).
BBG in Houston, TX held its annual "Freshman
Pickup" which was greatly anticipated by the
new BBYO members and mentioned in the Jewish
Herald-Voice (October 5, 2006).
The Jewish News Weekly of Northern California highlighted International President (Grand
Aleph Godol), Jeremy Gelman's visit to Central
Region West. The article included information on b-linked.org,
BBYO Bulgaria and Jeremy's experience as President
(Godol) thus far (October 13, 2006). To read
the full article, click
here.
BBYO members from Kentucky Indiana Ohio Region
held their kick-off retreat this year at Camp
Swoneky. The Ohio Jewish Chronicle published
a photo from the event and an article about the
kick-off and upcoming BBYO regional programming
(October 19, 2006).
The Jewish Herald-Voice in Houston, TX featured
the Houston Federation's Gift of Israel program
and one teen who used her gift towards a BBYO
Passport to Israel program last summer. Stacey
Parven and her parents were interviewed for the
article and commented on her memorable experience
(October 19, 2006).
A program in which Israeli teens spoke to BBYO
members in Michigan Region was featured in the
Eccentric newspaper in Birmingham, Michigan (October
22, 2006).
South Jersey Region's Pink and White Gala was
announced in the Haddon Herald of Blackwood,
NJ. The event raised money and awareness for
breast cancer research (October 26, 2006).
A recent front page article in The Washington
Jewish Week in DC reviewed online threats to
teens. It mentioned b-linked.org as a more secure
alternative to MySpace and Facebook, with BBYO
staff monitoring the site (October 31, 2006).
To read the full article, click
here.
BBYO in Sarasota, Florida was featured in an
article in the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish News.
The article showed photos of the teens and explained
the programs and purpose of the organization
(October 2006).
Congratulations to new BBYO staff member Meryl
Hattenbach of Dayton, OH. Her appointment was
announced in the Dayton Jewish Observer (October
2006).
The Las Vegas Israelite and Jewish
Reporter announced BBYO's kickoff in Vegas. Advisors met
new members and the BBYO City Director, Neil
Popish (October 2006).
Dixie Council BBYO Director, Mindy
Odle wrote
an article for the Charleston Jewish Voice announcing
her retirement from BBYO and instatement of new
council director, Rona Goldstein. "BBYO is so
important and offers great opportunities for
all of the Jewish teens in our smaller southern
Jewish Communities," Mindy said. "Thank you to
BBYO and all of the teens and all of the adults
I have worked with for these wonderful opportunities
you have given me" (September-October 2006).
The Charlotte Jewish News in North Carolina
reported on International President (N'siah),
Dina Finer's visit to the region. Charlotte was
the first regional visit in Dina's year-long
term.
According to the Jewish Review in Portland,
OR, former regional president and chapter advisor,
Jeff Nudelman is a co-chair of the Jewish Federation
of Greater Portland 2007 Annual Campaign. Nudelman
said that his time as an advisor was "a great
opportunity to help mold and build some of the
young folks who are now on the federation board"
(November 1, 2006). To read the full article,
click
here.
BBYO alum, Mandy Patinkin, headlined at a fundraiser
for Lake Ontario Region on October 28. A photograph
of Patinkin and BBYO adult board members from
LOR appeared in the Canadian Jewish News (November
9, 2006).
More than 100 packages of food were assembled
and distributed on the annual Midnight Run to
a local homeless shelter in Livingston, New Jersey
by members of GJHRR BBYO. The West
Essex Tribune featured the upcoming event and asked community
members for donations for the homeless (November
9, 2006).
The American Israelite of Cincinnati, Ohio announced
the arrival of new BBYO staff member, Amber
Feldman (November 9, 2006).
BBYO's University of Texas College Tour was
highlighted in the Jewish Herald Voice of Houston.
"Our time in Austin was amazing," said high-school
senior Julie Judson of Dallas. "The program was
a great mix of social activities and admissions
information, and all of us came away very much
looking forward to college life and Hillel" (November
30, 2006). To read the full article, click
here.
Tulsa BBYO member, Genna
Pollack has been raising
money for solar ovens for women affected by the
genocide in Darfur, Sudan. The TulsaWorld newspaper
reported that her efforts were inspired by attending
a BBYO summer program in Los Angeles, California
(December 13, 2006). To read the full article,
click here.
TEENS
FROM ALL OVER THE U.S. UNITE TO SUPPORT ISRAEL (Continued)
The
Summit was organized into two tracks. Panim's
Israel Education and Advocacy participants gained
a better understanding of Israel as central to
Jewish identity and the Jewish future. This curriculum
probed the meaning of Zionism, explored aspects
of Israel's history, and examined the role that
Israel plays as a cultural, spiritual, political
and intellectual center. AIPAC's Israel Advocacy
and Activism track provided teens with the know-how
to influence the pro-Israel movement through
political education, engagement and action. They
learned advanced advocacy techniques and received
hands-on training to make their case effectively
on Capitol Hill.
Through discussions, role-playing activities,
speaking engagements and interactions with policymakers,
the teens were equipped with the necessary tools
to return to their local communities and share
the importance of America's strategic partnership
with Israel, which is based on shared values
and common objectives. Conference highlights
included:
· Meeting with Capitol Hill leaders to
thank them for passing the Iran Freedom Support
Act and to encourage their vote for the new Foreign
Aid bill;
- Visiting the Israeli Embassy for a briefing
by Spokesman David Siegel and Director of Public
Affairs, Rafi Harpaz;
- Creating personal action
plans to advocate for Israel in local high
schools;
- Learning how to confront anti-Israel
sentiment;
- Connecting with college activists
to understand the campus environment as it
relates to Israel.
The Summit culminated with the presentation
of a BBYO petition urging the U.S. government
to take every possible step to prevent Iran from
developing nuclear weapons. The petition included
nearly 10,000 signatures collected by BBYO teens
across the country. White House Jewish Liaison
Jay Zeidman accepted the petition on behalf of
President Bush.
In her opening remarks to Zeidman, BBYO Regional
President Renee Sharon of Charlotte, North Carolina
described "the overwhelming response" to the
campaign, which mobilized hundreds of BBYO teens
to educate people in their home communities about
the threat posed by Iran.
The teens in attendance represent the future
pro-Israel activists, and they are stepping forward
at a time when the situation in the Middle East
is changing quickly. "These teens care about
a vibrant, safe and secure Israel and a thriving
Jewish community," said Matthew Grossman, BBYO's
Executive Director. "Our partners, AIPAC and
Panim, provide an exceptional training ground
for these teens who will no doubt ensure that
the future is strong for Israel the Jewish people."
Back to Article
BBYO
GIVES JEWISH TEENS MORE SUMMER OPTIONS THAN EVER
BEFORE (Continued)
BBYO's 2007 summer
options include programs open to all Jewish teens:
- Nitzotz, offered in Los Angeles and Baltimore, MD, is
a two-week community service program where teens have the
opportunity to "give back" in a meaningful way.
- The Apprentice meets Project Runway in Project
NYC, a
new 10-day program based in New York City, designed to
immerse
teens in the fields of entertainment, marketing, Wall
Street and fashion.
- Etgar 36 Journey, a 36-day coast-to-coast
tour of the U.S,
and Etgar West, a 22-day excursion from Atlanta to
San Francisco, provide Jewish teens the opportunity to explore politics
and social activism as they discover America.
- Panim
Works enables teens to live on a Native American reservation
and work with the local community to promote positive
change, while earning 60 community service hours.
- Panim Summer Jam, based
at a leading college campus in the nation's capital,
is an advocacy seminar rooted
in Jewish values, where participants interact with leading U.S. policymakers.
Also open to all Jewish teens are BBYO's Passport
to Israel (P2I) trips: Israel
Journey, a whirlwind
excursion perfect for first-time visitors;
Trek Israel, the ultimate eco-adventure; and
Euro-Israel Journey, a four-week odyssey through
Europe and Israel. Open to BBYO members only,
International Leadership Seminar Israel
(ILSI) is an enriching experience enabling teens to
explore significant issues facing Israeli diplomacy
and society alongside Israel's cultural and
political leaders. With community service and
military simulation extension options and six
different departure dates, teens can mix-and-match
programs to find the ideal fit for their summer.
BBYO will also continue to offer its renowned
Chapter and International Leadership
Training Conferences to develop BBYO members into future
Jewish leaders, as well as a series of Jewish
enrichment programs – Kallah East and
West – designed to help teens explore their Jewish
identity.
"There's no way to count the things I
love about BBYO summer programs," said Toby
Stein, a senior from Providence, RI who has
participated in five BBYO summer experiences.
"From leadership skills to new friends to Judaism,
summer programs have added so much value to
my life."
Click here for more information or to register
for a BBYO Summer Experience.
Back to Article
FROM
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD: HOWARD WOHL (Continued)
What strikes me most about BBYO is the deep
and lasting impression we have made on our alumni.
I continually meet proud alumni who have become
leaders in our communities. Recently, I met someone
who had been a BBYO member in BBYO's first community,
Omaha, Nebraska, where he knew a number of BBYO's
founding families. He spoke about the formative
experience BBYO offered him and many of his friends
and the Jewish path he has taken. In another
instance, a young Jewish professional who grew
up in Canada and didn't know about BBYO told
me about her recent discovery. She had accompanied
her husband, who is studying at one of the seminaries,
to a small town where he was conducting High
Holiday services. She was greeted by an elderly
couple who regaled her with having met each other
more than fifty years ago at their local BBYO
chapter. She was amazed by how their memories
brought warm, knowing smiles to both of them.
I have heard countless more stories from current
teen members and from alumni. And yet, until
a few years ago these stories and the very existence
of BBYO were outside my consciousness. As a bit
of background, I grew up in Brooklyn and did
not participate in any Jewish youth groups. In
those days where our circle of friends was almost
exclusively Jewish, these groups seemed superfluous.
Our three children (now young adults) participated
in youth groups within the framework of our denominational
movement. So, when I was approached by Matt Grossman,
BBYO's Executive Director, to become involved
in BBYO I had a lot to learn. The more I learned,
the more I liked the idea of joining BBYO's Board
of Directors.
I first met Matt when he was working for Hillel's
International office and my wife Diane had become
a member of Hillel's International Board of Governors.
Little did I know then that our chance encounter
would lead to my taking on the role of Chairman
of the Board. As Matt was applying for the position
he now holds, he was thinking about the endless
possibilities that lay before BBYO. He envisioned
the opportunity to harness a tradition of eighty
years, linked to an even longer heritage that
B'nai B'rith brings, with more than two hundred
thousand happy alumni and to combine it with
a message that resonates with today's teens.
And brings it to them where they are in a way
that they understand. North American Jewry has
been cursed by good fortune and the welcoming
embrace of our fellow citizens. The truth is
that we are all "Jews by Choice" today.
And how can choices be made by ill-educated consumers?
BBYO offers the potential to reconnect tens of
thousands of young Jews who may otherwise choose
to opt out of our community. These teens can
be the future leaders of our communities; BBYO
offers them the opportunity to be engaged in
meaningful Jewish experiences with Jewish friends.
In future issues of our BBYO eNewsletter I hope
to tell you what else I've been learning about
Jewish youth and our organization. I encourage
you to become re-engaged as alumni, as lay leaders,
and as donors who want to help us connect to
more Jewish youth who need our programs, our
teachings and our experiences.
Back to Article
WHERE
YOUNG LIVES TAKES SHAPE: LEADING UP NORTH (Continued)
"The country of
Israel gives so much to the Jewish people," added
Shauna Ruda, a student at American University
and former member of Rocky Mountain Region and
International President (N'siah). "It's a safe
haven, a religious and cultural center; it binds
every Jew together. I am looking forward to giving
back to Israel and giving part of myself to the
homeland that enriches my life and my religion
every day."
As BBYO participants, both Erica and Shauna
served as leaders of BBYO's Israel advocacy efforts,
participating in AIPAC policy conferences and
initiating local, regional and national Israel
programming. Along with Erica and Shauna, dozens
of other participants on the Leading Up North trip are BBYO alumni who were introduced to the
rich history, culture and conflict surrounding
Israel as teens in the organization.
"BBYO definitely impacted my relationship with
and feeling towards Israel," said David Litner,
an alumnus and regional board member from New
England Region. "Being in a Jewish atmosphere
with my peers made my connection to Judaism stronger,
both religiously and culturally. The strong sense
of community service, as well as the connection
to Israel that I formed during my BBYO years
strongly influenced by decision to participate
in Leading Up North."
BBYO's travel and education programs – which
have inspired Erica, Shauna, David and many others
to take play a role in Israel's future as young
adults – continue to impact the lives of thousands
of Jewish teens today.
"During my BBYO trips to Israel I got to truly
experience the best life has to offer," said
Erica. "I am so glad that I have been given the
opportunity to do something in return."
Back to Article
DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A LIVING BY MAKING A DIFFERENCE? (Continued)
BBYO is not only
dedicated to providing an enriching experience
for our teens, but also for our staff. Whether
you're just starting out in the Jewish Community
or are looking for new challenges, BBYO has
the training and professional development opportunities
necessary to help you grow both personally
and professionally.
Currently BBYO is looking for qualified applicants
for the following positions:
Area Executive Director - New York/Northeast
Managing Director – Central Region West, San
Francisco Bay area, CA
Program Director – Southwestern Region, San
Diego, CA
Development Director – International Office,
Washington, DC
Executive Assistant – International Office,
Washington, DC
To apply or find out more about the following
jobs, please contact Rebecca Rottenberg, Human
Resources Coordinator, at 202.857.6684 or rrottenberg@bbyo.org.
Back to Article
LOOKING
TO HAVE FUN, MAKE MONEY AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE
THIS SUMMER? (Continued)
BBYO is looking
for counselors and administrative staff as well
as Jewish educators, song-leaders, Israeli dance
instructors, and arts specialists. BBYO summer
staff have an opportunity to:
- Serve as role models
- Develop important skills
- Build their resumes
- Explore a potential career
- Earn a competitive
salary
- Make friends and network
- Help shape the Jewish
future
To learn more about BBYO summer programs, visit
www.bbyo.org and click on Summer Experiences. If
you have outstanding leadership skills, a strong
work ethic, a good sense of humor and a passion
for working with teens and building the Jewish
future contact Sarah Feldman at sfeldman@bbyo.org or (202) 857-6639 for an application.
Back to Article
B-LINKED.ORG
SURPASSES TEN THOUSAND TEENS; FEATURES NEW CAMPAIGNS
(Continued)
 October marked
the beginning of a new interactive b-linked game,
The Hunt: An Online Photo Scavenger Hunt for Jewish
teens everywhere! Every two weeks, b-linked teens
race to capture pictures of themselves with the
three assigned items. From birthday cakes and turkeys
to rainbows and school buses, teens across the
continent are grabbing their cameras in order to
gain points that can be cashed in for great prizes
and gift certificates. More than 230 teens joined
The Hunt and currently compete for the coveted
"top ten," listed for all to see on the homepage
of b-linked. All teens are invited to join as the
Hunt continues through December; visit www.b-linked.org/the
hunt.
 Test your advertising skills by submitting the
perfect slogan for b-linked's Bumper Sticker
Contest.
BBYO will be distributing bumper stickers encouraging
teens to show their support for their Jewish homeland
by traveling on a Passport to Israel (P2I) trip
this summer. b-linked users are being asked to
log in to b-linked to submit their most creative
slogan ideas; the winning slogan will be produced
on a bumper sticker and distributed to Jewish teens
around North America. The winner will receive a
P2I t-shirt and an Israeli CD of their choice!
Teens: Be sure to visit b-linked.org daily to
check out the latest features, including music
downloads, polls and more!
Back to Article
BBYO
TOUR PROVIDES TASTE OF COLLEGE LIFE AT UNIVERSITY
OF TEXAS (Continued)
Among the key
objectives of the trip was making the teens aware
of Jewish programming at UT, which is among the
largest and most vibrant Hillel campuses in the
country, with more than 4,000 Jewish students.
UT is also one of the premier choices for Jewish
teens across Texas, with several hundred BBYO high
school alumni now studying in Austin. A Friday
evening reception brought together the high-schoolers
with friends from BBYO at the University. These
personal relationships create a sense of continuity
between high school and college that helps to strengthen
BBYO, Hillel, and the broader Jewish community.
Jeff Levine, an alumnus of BBYO and UT working
with the San Jacinto College District in Houston,
facilitated a "Tricks of the Trade" seminar to
give teens a leg-up in presenting themselves most
favorably to college admissions officers. He discussed
essay-writing, résumé-building and
the importance of leadership activities such as
BBYO.
Levine was joined by representatives from the
University of Kansas and Indiana University – both
popular choices among Texas high school graduates.
Sarah Thompson Booher, Associate Director of Recruitment
at Indiana University, praised BBYO for its commitment
to "teen leadership and involvement," and emphasized
the importance of programs such as the BBYO/Texas
Hillel tour that encourage teens to be proactive
and educated in the realm of college admissions.
Student leaders representing the myriad of campus
activities at UT met with the teens to talk about
organizations such as Texans for Israel, Jewish
fraternities and sororities, and Tzedek Hillel
(social action and service programming). UT History
and Sociology senior Mimi Hall – an activist with
Texans for Israel, AEPhi sorority – led a special
walking tour of the Forty Acres in Austin, including
the Tower and several of the University dorms.
"Our time in Austin was amazing," said high school
senior Julie Judson of Dallas. "The program was
a great mix of social activities and admissions
information, and all of us came away very much
looking forward to college life and Hillel."
Julie Fishman, BBYO's Director of College Initiatives
based in Washington, was thrilled with the success
of this pilot project. "It makes sense for us to
get involved in college prep opportunities, since
it's a major priority for our juniors and seniors.
We hope to replicate the Texas model in other communities
and continue to develop our partnership with Hillel."
Other college-related programs to be offered by
BBYO include mentoring (identifying college students
to share information about their campuses with
high-schoolers) and community-based college fairs.
"What's important is to make teens aware of Jewish
life after high school," said BBYO's Fishman. "Keeping
them involved is vital to the Jewish future."
Teens: For information on upcoming College Initiatives,
please visit www.b-linked.org and select the "College"
category when searching for "Events."
Back to Article |
BBYO
LAUNCHES ALUMNI NETWORK IN CHICAGO
LOOKING
TO HAVE FUN, MAKE MONEY AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE
THIS SUMMER? 
As the end of the year quickly approaches,
the BBYO family would like to thank you for your
continued involvement in the organization. We
are proud to have you as a member of BBYO's Alumni
Network and hope you will continue your involvement
long into the future. By making a donation no
later than December 31, you can help ensure that
the experiences you had as a teen are available
to future generations. Here are some examples
of how your gift can make a difference in the
life of a Jewish teen*: 
CHAPTER
ADVISOR RECOGNIZED
AS OUTSTANDING
YOUNG ADULT IN
NYC
imPACT is b-linked's
new Online Service and Advocacy Initiative, connecting teens who are
concerned about global issues with an online space where they can find
opportunities to make a difference via the Internet. Following are a
few examples of opportunities on which teens can take action on imPACT:
BBYO
CREATES UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP WITH JEWISH
STUDENT UNION TO REACH JEWISH TEENS IN
CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
EASTERN
REGION STAYS "UP ALL NIGHT" FOR ISRAEL 
WESTCHESTER
REGION BBYO INDUCTS FIVE FOUNDING MEMBERS
DC
COUNCIL MEETS WITH ISRAEL AT HEART AND
WINNER OF ISRAEL'S REALITY SHOW THE AMBASSADOR
NORTH
STAR REGION PARTICIPATES IN INTERFAITH
DAY OF ACTION FOR DARFUR
EVERGREEN
REGION INDUCTS FIRST BBYO CHAPTER IN BOISE,
IDAHO 
WISCONSIN
REGION HOSTS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS WALK
COMEDY SHOW MARKS EASTERN CANADA REGION
ADVISOR'S 30TH YEAR WITH BBYO 
GREATER JERSEY HUDSON RIVER REGION SENIOR WEEKEND REACHES GREAT
HEIGHTS 
SECTS
AND THE CITY – GREAT MIDWEST AND NORTH STAR REGIONS CO-HOST
INTER-REGIONAL KALLAH