Dear Parents,

As we head into the final weeks of the year, I’ve been thinking about the energy in our communities and the many adults like you who help make BBYO possible. Your support gives teens the space to lead, try new things, and build friendships that last. I see the impact of that every day through the staff who work with them, and I’m grateful for the role you play in shaping their experience. 

My name is Max, and I run BBYO's Genesis Fellowship. Our Fellows are early-career professionals who support chapter life by planning programs, mentoring teen leaders, and helping build the sense of belonging your teens feel each week. I spend my time coaching and guiding these staff members as they learn how to build relationships, support teen leadership, and strengthen our communities. Seeing how much purpose they draw from working with your teens is one of the clearest reminders of why this work matters. 

The Genesis Fellowship is a paid, full-time, two-year program for recent graduates who want to grow as nonprofit professionals. We are currently in our third cohort of this immersive, hands-on program, and it’s been inspiring to watch each group of Fellows grow into confident community builders. Fellows work in local BBYO communities during the school year, where they learn how a mission-driven organization runs. They gain experience in budgeting, marketing, sales, event planning, data analysis, and cross-team collaboration. They build relationships with parents and community partners and learn how to lead in ways that help our teens thrive. Each Fellow receives steady coaching and the chance to learn from senior leaders throughout BBYO, which gives them a deeper sense of how to lead well and support the teens in their care. 

In early January, we will open applications for our fourth cohort. If you know a college senior or recent graduate who cares about the Jewish community and would thrive in a role that supports teens, I hope you will encourage them to learn more. Recommendations from friends, family, and mentors have been one of the strongest sources of great Genesis Fellows, and your referrals help us bring thoughtful, dedicated young adults into the lives of our teens. 

Thank you for welcoming our Fellows into your communities and for all the ways you support BBYO throughout the year. I’m grateful for the trust you place in us and excited for what the coming months will bring. 

Warmly, 

Max Hoffman 
Human Resources Business Partner 

Spring Kickoffs | As we launch the new semester, Kickoffs are right around the corner! Hundreds of BBYO communities are hosting amazing opportunities for your teen to connect, learn, and make lasting memories. From roller skating parties to rock climbing, these activities are a fun way for teens to celebrate and meet new friends in your local Jewish community. Be sure to check your email for updates regarding kickoff events offered in your area and check out your local BBYO Near You page for more information.

International Awards | We love celebrating the achievements of your teens! International Awards highlight those who have gone above and beyond in BBYO, showcasing their dedication on a global stage. Encourage your teen—or another teen you know—to apply and receive recognition for their hard work. Applications are open now, with a deadline of January 14 for acknowledgment at International Convention. Questions? Reach out to azabbg@bbyo.org.

Summer 2026 Staffing Application | We’re gearing up for another fun and enriching summer for our teens—and adults can play an important role! We’re looking for nurses, Jewish educators, wellness specialists, trip staff, and college-aged madrichim for BBYO Summer 2026. Check out all of the opportunities to get involved on our careers page, and if you’re teen isn’t registered yet, check out our 30+ program options at bbyosummer.org.

This past weekend, thousands of Jewish teens in more than 60 countries united for BBYO Global Shabbat—our largest annual Shabbat celebration. Through hundreds of teen-led services, programs, and shared community moments, Global Shabbat offered our teens around the world a powerful opportunity to reflect, celebrate, and connect.

This year’s theme, Am Echad, Lev Echad: One People, One Heart, highlighted the shared sense of belonging that threads through global Jewish life. Teens embraced the message by creating experiences that honored both local tradition and global unity, weaving together rituals, learning, creativity, and community building. To help communities elevate their celebrations, we also launched a Global Shabbat Cookbook featuring teen and family-submitted recipes from around the world, reinforcing the idea that food—like Shabbat—brings people together across cultures.

“Global Shabbat is one of the clearest expressions of what it means to be a global Movement,” said Jess Zimmerman, Senior Manager of Jewish Enrichment. “Our theme reminds us that no matter where we live or how we practice, we are one people with one heart.”

Across BBYO communities, teen leaders collaborated with staff, alumni, and partners to design elevated Shabbat experiences—supported in part by BBYO’s Global Shabbat Innovation Fund. Highlights included a musical Shabbat festival in Uruguay, experiential “Shabbats Around the World” in Moldova, a family Shabbaton across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Georgia, and glow-themed Hanukkah celebrations in Kansas City. Programs in Mexico, Australia, United States, and emerging communities such as Tokyo, Taipei, Uganda, and the UAE further showcased BBYO’s expanding global impact.

Global Shabbat is guided by teen Sh’lichim and an international committee that provides resources and inspiration for chapters worldwide, ensuring every community can celebrate in its own voice.

Adolescence is a challenging time with significant mental, emotional, and physical changes. Having a place like BBYO, that helps teens to develop meaningful and supportive relationships, feel a sense of belonging, and find safe spaces to be themselves helps to shape who youth are for the rest of their lives.
In today’s world, these spaces are more vital than ever before. To explore this more deeply, we are partnering with Yael Findler, PhD, of the Collaborative for Applied Studies in Jewish Education (CASJE) at the George Washington University to study how Jewish teens feel about their friendships today.
 
We invite you to partner with us—you can learn more below, and we hope you will approve your teen’s participation in this study.
 
ABOUT: Research Study of the Social Lives of Jewish Teens
 
Healthy peer relationships help teenagers thrive. How do Jewish teens feel about their friendships today?
 
A pioneering research study about Jewish teenagers today needs your help to learn about the friendships and social experiences of Jewish teens, including reflections on trusted relationships and their experiences of anti-Jewish discrimination in their peer networks.
 
Your teen can only participate in this study if you provide your consent. Please access this link to learn more about the study and its goals, and to provide your consent for your teen’s participation.

LEARN MORE & GIVE PERMISSION→

The research is being conducted by Yael Findler, PhD, of the Collaborative for Applied Studies in Jewish Education (CASJE) at the George Washington University. Please email yael.findler@email.gwu.edu if you have any questions about the study or about the consent process. You can also reach out to Julia Finn at jfinn@bbyo.org if you would like to connect with a BBYO staff member about the study. The study is conducted in collaboration with BBYO, but no individual participant information will be shared with BBYO. 

*If you have more than one child who is part of BBYO, please re-access the link to provide your consent for each child.
*It is possible that, in the future, BBYO may notify your child about this study. If you do not want your child to receive this possible communication from BBYO about the study, please email the research team at yael.findler@email.gwu.edu with the name of your child.

This #GivingBBYOday, part of the global day of philathropy, Giving Tuesday, 8,200 people from more than 20 countries made donations to BBYO totaling more than $1 million. One of our teen leaders, Dani Wolpert from Gold Coast Region, shares her reflection on what it meant to be involved in this important effort. 

As a teen leader, I see the impact Giving BBYO Day makes on this organization. Watching teens be able to participate in activities they would be unable to normally because of the scholarships is one of the best feelings, especially when you know the role you played in helping. To be a part of the Giving BBYO Day fundraising team was to be a part of those expanding the reach of this meaningful experience to more Jewish teens. It's giving teens the opportunity to participate in an organization that will change their lives. BBYO is straightforward about where these funds go—they go to granting teens the resources to have creative programming, to the ISF (International Service Fund), to scholarships, and to providing the best five-year experience we could get. This is what motivates me every year to donate and spread the cause, because I know what the singular dollar can do.

Recently, I completed my second year of serving on the social media campaign squad for Giving BBYO Day and the ambassador team. Each year this fundraising is so inspiring to participate in. Watching teens across the globe promote this fundraiser reminds me of the unity that we have when we come together. The teens I worked alongside are driven to help support the organization we call home because of the impact it's had on all of us. 

Spotlight on BBYO Communities Around the Globe
From Bangkok to Cleveland and beyond, BBYO communities are creating powerful moments of connection, leadership, and Jewish pride. Here are three highlights from across the Movement this season.

Asia Pacific Regional Convention | Bangkok, Thailand
Asia Pacific Regional Convention took place in November in Bangkok, gathering 40 Jewish teen leaders from Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei, and Tokyo. Ambassadors from Australia and Abu Dhabi joined for the first time, strengthening cross-regional collaboration. Teens experienced a blend of Thai culture and Jewish learning through cooking classes, a Grand Palace tour, a river cruise, and spiritual moments led by clergy and song leaders from across Asia and Israel—showcasing how Jewish identity thrives in small and dispersed communities.

Ohio Northern Region | The BBYO Dawg Pound Tailgate
Cleveland turned out in full force for the BBYO Dawg Pound, a fall tailgate at the Mandel JCC that brought together Jewish teens (and many parents) for an afternoon of high-energy fun. Teens enjoyed flag football, QB challenges, bubble soccer, carnival games, inflatables, crafts, and a friendship-bracelet bar. Food trucks, an apple cider bar, s’mores, local Cleveland touches, and a live DJ created a festival atmosphere that highlighted the spirit and community of ONR.

North Star Council (Minnesota & the Dakotas) | 100 Years of BBYO
BBYO in Minnesota celebrated its 100th anniversary amid remarkable growth across the region. The centennial celebration in November brought generations together for an unforgettable evening that reunited friends, relived favorite BBYO memories, and honored a century of Jewish teen engagement. The program also featured the premiere of a new documentary on BBYO’s history in Minnesota and a teen-led program showcasing the leadership, community, and connection that define North Star.