BBYO TEENS UNITE TO TACKLE SOCIAL ISSUES AND INITIATIVES FOR J-SERVE, ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL DAY OF JEWISH YOUTH SERVICE

April 18, Worldwide—Throughout this month, Jewish teens around the world are engaging in community service and improvement initiatives as part of J-Serve, the annual International Day of Jewish Youth Service. Thousands of BBYO teens organized projects tackling important social issues, including homelessness, poverty, food insecurity, health and wellness, environmental conservation, and Holocaust education.

This year, there was a marked increase in Israel-focused service projects following the October 7th terrorist attacks. In Gedera, Israel, 230 teens built a commemoration garden in memory of those whose lives were lost, while teens in BBYO Evergreen region raised funds for Leket, the national food bank in Israel. In Hudson Valley Region, teens hosted a silent disco honoring those who were killed at the Nova Music Festival, with proceeds going to HaGal Sheli, an Israeli organization directly supporting survivors through surfing-based trauma therapy. And in Nassau Suffolk Region, teens collected items for IDF soldiers while writing letters of support. 

BBYO’s International Sh’lichim (teen vice presidents of Jewish programming), Judah Moskovitz and Mercedes Benzaquen, alongside J-Serve teen coordinators Ari Zatlin and Hanna Swird, challenged each community to engage in direct hands-on service aimed at making a tangible difference in their local and global communities. This initiative embodies core Jewish values of gemilut chasidim (acts of loving kindness), tzedakah (just and charitable giving), and tikkun olam (the responsibility to repair the world). 

“J-Serve empowers Jewish teens to be catalysts for change, igniting their passion for service and compassion,” said Judah Moskovitz. Mercedes Benzaquen added, "Seeing teens' collective energy and impact in action is truly remarkable, especially in such a challenging year with everything our community has been through.”

Some of the diverse and inspirational J-Serve program highlights included:

• Manhattan and Big Apple regions partnered with Repair the World to address community health and homelessness by assembling and distributing hygiene kits to local shelters and enhancing awareness and empathy towards homelessness and poverty among New York Jewish teens. 
• In Novi Sad, the Balkans, Serbian teens engaged in cemetery cleaning to pay respect to their ancestors.
• Teens in Australia BBYO Canberra held their first-ever J-serve program. They partnered with JewishCare Canberra to engage with Holocaust survivors in the local Jewish community, which included making care bags and having afternoon tea with them, keeping them company, and hearing their stories. 

"J-Serve is a testament to the collective strength of Jewish youth worldwide, as they unite with compassion and determination to address pressing societal issues," said Jess Zimmerman, Manager of Content Operations Jewish Enrichment. "It embodies the essence of tikkun olam, mobilizing young leaders to make a tangible difference in their communities."

To commemorate BBYO's centennial anniversary this year, teens across the globe are uniting to accomplish an extraordinary feat: completing 100,000 hours of service. The impactful projects undertaken during this year's J-Serve play a pivotal role in achieving this remarkable goal. This initiative not only demonstrates the unwavering dedication of today's youth to effect positive change but also exemplifies the enduring legacy of BBYO in empowering young leaders to make a meaningful impact on their communities.

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About BBYO
BBYO is the leading pluralistic Jewish teen movement aspiring to involve more Jewish teens in more meaningful Jewish experiences. Since its founding nearly 100 years ago, BBYO’s purpose has been to unleash the power of youth. 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 hundreds of thousands of alumni who are among the most prominent figures in business, politics, academia, the arts, and Jewish communal life. Together, AZA and BBG form a global Jewish teen movement in over 60 countries around the world that now approaches its Centennial anniversary. With year-round activities in hundreds of local communities, a plethora of summer leadership programs, and inspiring worldwide travel experiences, BBYO’s programs enable teens to explore all facets of leadership, service, civic engagement, Israeli education, and Jewish values. For more information on BBYO, please visit our website and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Please note that BBYO should not be referred to as the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization but rather as “BBYO.”