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Parent Pulse

Parent Pulse is a bi-monthly newsletter for BBYO member parents to help keep up to date with goings on across the Order. For nearly a century, parents have trusted us to provide a safe space in which their teens can thrive, and Parent Pulse offers an insider’s glimpse into those spaces every other month. Take a look through our past issues here!

Issue 37 | June 2026
Welcome
WELCOME NOTE

Dear Parents,

When I joined BBYO this past September, I quickly came to understand why this organization means so much to so many families. In just a few short months, I’ve witnessed an extraordinary level of joy, leadership, belonging, and Jewish connection that is truly special to experience. During my time with BBYO, I’ve had the opportunity to meet teens, staff, advisors, and parents from communities across the country and around the world, and one thing has stood out everywhere I go: BBYO is a place where teens feel seen. It is a place where they learn to lead, build confidence, strengthen their Jewish identity, and create friendships that genuinely shape who they become.

 

As someone who has spent much of my career working with teens and young adults through leadership development, I’ve been incredibly inspired by watching BBYO teens step forward to create experiences not just for themselves, but for one another. I’ve seen teens welcome new members with warmth and intention, support each other through challenges, and lead with a level of authenticity and care that gives me tremendous hope for the future of the Jewish community.

 

As we close out another program year, I also want to acknowledge the role that all of you as parents play in making this possible. Your support, encouragement, flexibility, and trust allow these experiences and relationships to flourish. Behind every meaningful teen experience is a network of adults helping to make it happen. Even as a relatively new member of the BBYO community, it has become very clear to me why so many families remain connected to this Movement for generations. The impact is real, and the excitement, joy, and sense of purpose I’ve witnessed this year has been remarkable.

 

Thank you for allowing BBYO to be part of your family’s journey.

 

Seth Reder

Associate Vice President, Community Impact

Around The Order June 2026
AROUND THE ORDER
Leadership Opportunities Await | Congratulations to all the newly elected boards across the Order! Looking for ways to keep your teen engaged and connected with BBYO beyond board elections? The International Leadership Network (ILN) offers teens meaningful opportunities to form friendships and build leadership skills through committees, cohorts, clubs, and networks. From writing for BBYO’s international newsletter The Shofar with Press Corps, to working with the ADL to fight against antisemitism as a Rise UP member, the ILN has something for every teen. Applications open June 8 and close August 19, so don’t delay! Explore the ILN on the Lead Hub page.
Convention Highlights | This spring, conventions brought teens together for unforgettable weekends of spirit, leadership, and connection. Michigan’s regional convention featured everything from skating at an ice rink to a casino night dance, plus a special visit from Sasha Farber from Dancing with the Stars. Lonestar Region hosted two teens from BBYO Bulgaria for a week, showcasing the power of BBYO’s global siblinghood through international connection and shared traditions. In Spain, BBYO chapters from across the region came together for a meaningful weekend of chapter and regional elections, leadership sessions, and an energetic Israel Fest celebrating community, growth, and Jewish pride. Across the Order, convention season has showcased the creativity, leadership, and connection that make BBYO so special.
Congrats to the Class of 2026 | As this year’s seniors prepare for graduation, we’re excited to welcome them into the BBYO Alumni Association family. While their high school experiences may be ending, the friendships, leadership opportunities, and Jewish connections built through BBYO continue long after graduation. Encourage your teen to visit our alumni page and create an account on the portal for networking opportunities, exclusive events, and to stay involved in the BBYO community for years to come.
Jewish Pride June 2026
JEWISH PRIDE

In response to a series of antisemitic attacks this spring, BBYO’s teen leadership launched a new campaign that mobilized the Movement to take action. Here We Stand, Hinei Anachnu: Teen Voices Against Hate inspired dozens of members to write letters to the editors of their local newspapers and to elected officials. These messages expressed why Jewish safety and security matters to teens, highlighted what it means to stand up to hate, and shared meaningful stories of Jewish joy, pride, and connection. Explore the campaign here.

Dear Drew June 2026
DEAR DREW

Drew Fidler, LCSW-C, is the Senior Director of the BBYO Center for Adolescent Wellness, where she helps ensure that BBYO and other youth-serving organizations are places where teens can thrive through best practices in health and wellness. Email your burning questions to Drew and she’ll select questions to answer in future Parent Pulse issues.

Dear Drew: As summer approaches, how can I help my teen to be more in the driver’s seat when it comes to handling challenges, managing their time, and make good decisions? —Ricky J.

Dear Ricky: Summer is a great time to help teens take on more responsibilities and manage challenges. As a parent, one of the goals of the teenage years is to be the sideline coach. Letting your teen call the plays on the field, but still being present and able to jump in when something is unmanageable.  

When it comes to helping them to take on more responsibilities, start with being clear about the expectations. What is in their bucket to manage—camp schedule, packing a suitcase, making sure they have the items they need for the day, packing lunch, planning outings with friends, school forms, managing social media time, etc.? Write it down and talk it through. Set up in advance how they want you to follow up or support them, so that you aren’t nagging them and they know how to ask for help.  

By giving them more responsibility you are supporting their long-term mental health. They are learning to handle challenges, accomplish tasks, and manage things that may be stressful or uncomfortable. Experiencing stress and struggle helps teens learn how to navigate challenges. Taking on more responsibility builds teen’s self-confidence.  

Giving them the autonomy to manage schedules, time, and more doesn’t mean that parents step away entirely. Instead, parents are monitoring progress and are touching base to help teens understand when they things are beyond what they should and can navigate on their own.  

Good mental health is not the absence of conflict but learning how to handle challenges and build their struggle muscle. Summer is a great, low stakes time to practice those skills and help set your teen up for success. 

In Their Words June 2026
IN THEIR WORDS
Our teen co-presidents, Logan Reich and Mercedes Benzaquen, recently joined an episode of Good Things, a podcast from Lemonada Media, to reflect on why participating in democratic processes is so powerful, and what the record-breaking number of teen candidates during our elections at our International Convention says about young people's motivation to engage today.
As we celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month, we are given a unique opportunity to reflect on the wide spectrum of Jewish identities, practices, and global perspectives that we welcome at BBYO, which was more evident than ever this past year. Our more than 725 local chapters across 65 countries engage 70,000 teens each year who connect with their Jewish culture in a variety of ways.
And as Mercedes so eloquently put it: “No matter what your Jewish practice looks like or how you look like or what your background is, you're welcome to this Movement.”
Please join us as we embrace pluralism and amplify the leadership of Jewish youth by checking out the episode and sharing with your networks.
Grab Bag June 2026
GRAB BAG
This issue's Grag Gag comes to you from Ruthie Perlman, BBYO's Senior Manager of New Chapters and Community Expansion.
As summer approaches, chapters across our movement are marking an exciting season of transition and celebration—electing new leaders, honoring graduating seniors, and preparing for another incredible year ahead. It feels especially important to pause and recognize the power of our chapters, the heart of BBYO.
For most teens, the chapter experience is where their BBYO journey begins. Chapters are where teens discover their voices, build lifelong friendships, and take their first steps as community leaders. While supported by staff and advisors, these communities are shaped and sustained by teen leaders themselves (likely, your teens), who carry forward the legacy of BBYO in their local communities.
And that impact continues to grow. This year alone, 35 new Start-Up Chapters were founded, and 49 chapters earned their Temporary or Permanent Charters around the world. In March, more than 50 chapter founders from across the United States gathered in Dallas, Texas, for our second annual Chapter Founders Summit, united by a shared vision of teen-led entrepreneurship and expanding BBYO to new communities.
In Upstate New York, we’ve seen firsthand how one new chapter can spark momentum across an entire region. Two years ago, a group of teen leaders set out to found a new chapter in Syracuse. In the years since, their efforts have spread to teens across the region, who have worked hard to establish several new chapters in Rochester, Buffalo, Albany, Utica, Binghamton, and Ithaca. This spring, we celebrated that growth by hosting our first local convention in Upstate New York in years, bringing together teen leaders in Rochester for a weekend rooted in AZA and BBG traditions, leadership development, and new friendships.
As we look ahead, we want to dream even bigger. If you know teens in communities without BBYO chapters, we would love to help them find their place in our movement or even become chapter founders themselves. If you’d like to learn more or partner with us to expand BBYO’s reach, please reach out to me at [email protected].