BBYO is the leading pluralistic Jewish teen movement aspiring to involve more Jewish teens in more meaningful Jewish experiences.
For nearly a century, BBYO‘s leadership programs, the Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA, high school fraternity) and the B’nai B’rith Girls (BBG, high school sorority) have been providing exceptional leadership programs and identity enrichment experiences, shaping the confidence and character of more than 350,000 alumni who are among the most prominent figures in business, politics, academia, the arts, and Jewish communal life. Now, BBYO’s network of teens, alumni, parents, volunteers, and philanthropists serves as the Jewish community’s most valuable platform for delivering to the post Bar/Bat Mitzvah audience fun, meaningful, and affordable experiences that inspire a lasting connection to the Jewish people.
CORE VALUES
BBYO offers safe and welcoming opportunities for learning and growth to all Jewish teens, regardless of background, denominational affiliation, gender, race, sexual orientation, abilities, or socioeconomic status.
Jewish Identity
BBYO encourages Jewish teens to find meaning in Judaism and to develop their own Jewish identities. Committed to a pluralistic experience, BBYO attempts to accommodate and provide a comfortable environment across the halachic (Jewish law) spectrum.
Active Leadership
BBYO’s leadership model, AZA and BBG, prides itself on fun and meaningful teen—led programming, its responsibility to the global Jewish community, an unwavering commitment to the State of Israel, and its dedication to tikkun olam—repairing the world.
Tradition
BBYO’s stakeholders define the organization and are the stewards of its brand. They must act in a way that represents and celebrates BBYO’s rich history and tradition.
APPROACH TO ISRAEL
BBYO’s approach to Israel is values-driven, teen-centered, and educationally grounded, aiming to balance Zionist identity with open dialogue. The core pillars of our approach are:
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BBYO expresses Zionism as Jewish self-determination in its ancestral homeland, Israel’s right to exist and defend itself, and Israel’s responsibility to uphold Jewish and democratic values, including the pursuit of peace and equal rights within its borders.
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BBYO provides opportunities for teens to build and sustain a personal and lasting relationship with Israel through travel programs, summer experiences, learning initiatives, and engagement with Maccabi Tzair, BBYO’s partner movement in Israel.
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BBYO encourages teens to connect with Israel on their own terms while being respectful of their different perspectives.
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BBYO offers teens opportunities to engage with and understand the conversations and debates taking place about Israel in various forums, including educational, public, and digital spaces.
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BBYO invites a wide range of perspectives on social and political issues in Israel by providing access to diverse educators and speakers in settings where multiple viewpoints can be shared.
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BBYO will not engage with organizations or individuals who deny Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, attack other Jewish organizations, make statements that are hateful or not rooted in legalities or credible sources, and/or don’t respect differences of opinions.
For a list of downloadable programs and resources on combating antisemitism, please visit our Stand Up Against Antisemitism page. You’ll also find links to our joint site with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) for reporting incidents of antisemitism and bias.
BBYO HISTORY
With nearly a century of rich history, BBYO has brought leadership training, community service opportunities, Jewish education, a connection to Israel, and positive identity to thousands of Jewish teens. Today, BBYO reaches 70,000 Jewish teens in 700+ chapters across 50 countries around the world.
BBYO aspires to be a safe and welcoming community where teens develop their own personal Jewish identity. The teen-led programming is fun, with an emphasis on connectivity between young Jews across the globe. Teens emerge with precious friendships and practical leadership skills that will serve them well into the future. Committed to a pluralistic experience, BBYO welcomes all Jewish teens regardless of background, denominational affiliation, gender, race, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, or abilities.
Read our narrative history to learn more.
BBYO Annual Reports
2024 Annual Report
2023 Annual Report
2022 Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
2020 Annual Report
2019 Annual Report
2018 Annual Report
2017 Annual Report
2016 Annual Report
2015 Annual Report
2014 Annual Report
2013 Annual Report
2012 Annual Report
2011 Annual Report