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 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 30 | February 2025

WELCOME NOTE

Dear Parents,

My name is Jen Appel, and I am proud to serve as BBYO’s Senior Manager of Marketing Communications. As a BBYO alum from the Gold Coast Region and a former advisor, being back in this movement is deeply personal. BBYO shaped my leadership journey, and it’s an honor to now help elevate the work of this extraordinary community.

I work closely with regions across the U.S. and globally to create customized marketing campaigns rooted in trends, metrics, and the unique needs of each community. These campaigns include event promotion, membership drives, and highlighting immersive experiences, like summer programs, to ensure teens and families feel connected to BBYO’s full range of offerings. By weaving together strategic communication and best practices, I aim to help every region showcase the incredible strength and unity of BBYO while building meaningful connections within their communities. It’s incredibly rewarding to see these efforts come to life and play a role in strengthening BBYO’s impact worldwide.

As we look ahead to International Convention, I’m inspired by how it showcases everything BBYO stands for. This February, thousands of Jewish teens from around the world will gather in Denver, Colorado, for the largest Jewish youth convention of its kind. It’s a powerful reminder of the connections BBYO fosters, uniting teens from diverse backgrounds in a celebration of Jewish life, leadership, and friendship. I can’t wait to see our incredible regions shine on this international stage.

Thank you for your continued support in making these experiences possible. Together, we’re empowering Jewish teens to grow, lead, and connect in ways that will shape their futures—and our global Jewish community.

With gratitude,
Jen Appel
Senior Manager, Marketing Communications

AROUND THE ORDER

International Convention 2025 | In just a few days, our Movement will join together for #AZABBGIC2025, bringing together over 3,400 teens worldwide. Delegates will be joined by educators, thought and business leaders, celebrities, musicians, and philanthropists from around the world, including big names such as Eden Golan, Ellie Zeiler, and Giancarlo Esposito. Check out our Grab Bag section to see all the ways you can follow along with IC from home.

Spring Kickoffs | Gearing up for another amazing semester, hundreds of communities around the Order have been celebrating with Spring Kickoff events, featuring exciting programs including ice skating, rollerblading, arcades, trampoline parks, and so much more! This spring, our communities will continue to host engaging events, offering your teen chances to build friendships, gain new experiences, and make unforgettable memories. To learn more about events in your area, reach out to your local BBYO staff!

Advisor Appreciation Month & Advisor of the Year | Our advisors generously volunteer to mentor and support our teens, making a vital impact on the success of our local communities. Learn more about the essential work BBYO advisors do here, and join us in celebrating your local advisors this March! Each year at IC, we recognize a few standout advisors who demonstrate true dedication to our teens. Check out this year's nominees nominees for the David Bittker Unsung Hero Award, a recognition for exceptional advisors who demonstrate integrity, humility, dedication, and hard work.

Summer 2025 + IC 2026 Guarantee | Summer 2025 is just around the corner, and it isn’t too late to register your teen for the summer of a lifetime AND guarantee their spot at IC 2026. With IC registration selling out in just minutes each year, teens race to secure their spot before the waitlist begins. By attending a BBYO Summer program this year, your teen can travel the world, create lasting memories, and make new friendships. Register for Summer 2025 by March 17, 2025 to guarantee your teen a spot at IC next year!

JEWISH PRIDE

Next week, BBYO International Convention kicks off in Denver, Colorado, offering thousands of delegates an experience that is truly one-of-a-kind in the Jewish world. While our teens come from diverse denominational backgrounds, we provide opportunities for everyone to engage and learn about Judaism in an inclusive environment.

At IC this year, there will be multiple options for daily and Shabbat services, as well as a variety of Jewish learning spaces, including Mini Israel and J-Lab. Mini Israel is a space where teens can relax, listen to their favorite Israeli music, play some Matkot (Israeli paddleball) or SheshBesh (backgammon), and immerse themselves in the sounds, tastes, and culture of Israel. The J-Lab offers teens a hands-on, interactive way to explore Judaism creatively. Each year, the J-Lab features a new theme, and this year, it is focused on the Beit HaMikdash (Temple). In this immersive space, teens can play, create, and design their own modern interpretation of the Temple, while reflecting on its core themes of gratitude, morality, and self-reflection.

BBYO also brings educators from across the religious spectrum to IC to lead learning sessions, covering a wide range of relevant and meaningful topics. This is a unique opportunity for teens to deepen their Jewish knowledge and connect with their peers in meaningful ways.

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: With the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, what can I do to help my teen process these types of events and manage feelings of stress and uncertainty? —Lily G.

Dear Lily: Teens are just as vulnerable to the fear and anxiety surrounding us right now. They hear our voices, get alerts on their phones, and see social media posts. As parents and educators, it’s our job to figure out how to help teens manage stress and build resilience for the future. Here are some ways we can support them:

Be honest: Teens can sense when we’re not being truthful. Help them understand the facts and clear up any myths or rumors about the wildfires.
Make space: Sometimes our own emotions fill the space, leaving little room for teens to express their feelings. Let them share their thoughts in their own words.
Monitor media and encourage breaks: Constant news and social media doom-scrolling can increase fear. Encourage your teen to step away from devices and take breaks from the continual stream of information.
Empower them to help others: Feeling helpless can heighten anxiety. Guide your teen toward ways they can help, like fundraising or volunteering.
Keep your eyes and ears open: Short-term changes in behavior are normal during stressful times but continue to watch for signs of distress. If behavior shifts significantly, seek help.

By providing support, understanding, and opportunities for connection, we can help our teens process these challenges and build the resilience they need for the future.

IN THEIR WORDS

In March, the BBYO Movement celebrates Advisor Appreciation Month—a highlight of our year when we thank the 530+ incredible advisors across the globe who volunteer their time in their regions to guide our local chapters, mentor teen leaders, and staff programs. In honor of this special month, below is a reflection from Allison Arking, an alum, advisor, and parent of a BBYO teen in South Jersey Region.

BBYO was a huge part of my high school experience back in the 1980s in Northern Region East: Baltimore Council, so I know firsthand the impact it can have on a teen’s life.  When my daughter called me from college to tell me that her chapter advisors were stepping down, she asked me to take their place. I resisted for a while, staffing an event now and then because I knew they needed help, but I did not want to step on my son’s toes, as he was a senior on regional board. I was also concerned about the responsibility—I was already responsible for my own three children, and didn’t know if I was up to taking on the responsibility of a whole chapter full of teens! Little did I know that it would be one of the best decisions I could have made. 

Being an advisor is so rewarding. I love helping the teens work together to take a spark of an idea and turn it into something they can truly be proud of.  I love watching them grow as people, leaders, and responsible community members. I love seeing their passions ignite and develop throughout their high school years and beyond. The best part is that after my daughter Zoë graduated from college, she became my co-advisor for the Chevrah chapter.

I love the time I get to spend with her as we work together and bond in new ways; we even room together when we staff IC!  Now that my youngest daughter is a senior in our chapter (and also regional N’siah), my time as an advisor is even more special as the three of us experience it together. What I didn’t know six years ago was that every single Chevrah teen would become one of my kids—and that I would love BBYO as an adult maybe even more than I did as a teen.

GRAB BAG

How To Keep Up With IC 2025 From Home

(You can read the full article, originally published in The Shofar, the international AZA & BBG newsletter, here.)

If you’re not joining us in Denver this year, don’t worry, your International Mazkirim are here to help you explore Limitless Horizons from wherever you are. You can still experience the magic of International Convention and stay connected with the Movement right from home. Through live videos, news desks, blogs, and endless social media updates, you will feel the energy and excitement of IC 2025 through your screen. The possibilities to connect are endless, just like the horizons we are celebrating.

Check out all of ways you can follow along with us on the livestream, news desk, blog, and social media here.

Tune Into BBYO International Convention 2025 For a Virtual Parent Event

Navigating Tough Conversations with Youth
LIVE From BBYO IC

With Dr. Logan Levkoff | Author, Educator, and Wellness Expert
Thursday, February 13
3:30–4:30 PM ET | 1:30–2:30 PM MT

Streamed from our BBYO IC Adult Experience in Denver, Colorado, this informative session with award-winning author and educator Dr. Logan Levkoff will provide you with tools and insights needed to effectively navigate tough conversations with your teen.

Blending Jewish wisdom, personal experience, and practical communication techniques, award-winning educator Dr. Levkoff will explore how to approach sensitive topics—whether related to identity, sexuality, values, or life choices—with empathy, clarity, and confidence, offering a framework for handling difficult conversations in ways that align with Jewish values and parenting approaches.

REGISTER HERE

Check out our Grab Bag section for a full list of live stream moments at BBYO International Convention 2025.

PARENT PULSE