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 36 | February 2026

WELCOME NOTE

Dear Parents,

This is an extraordinary moment to be part of BBYO. As I step into my new role, I do so with a deep sense of possibility, inspired by the teens, professionals, and communities who are shaping what Jewish life looks like right now and what it will become next.

That sense of possibility was unmistakable at International Convention 2026 in Philadelphia. Over the course of a few days, 3,400 Jewish teens from around the world came together to learn, lead, question, celebrate, and connect. The energy in the room was electric. Not because everything was easy or simple, but because teens were showing up fully, ready to take responsibility for one another and for the future they are inheriting and creating.

Our theme, We The Future, came alive in powerful ways. I watched teens lead with empathy, navigate difference with courage, and ground their decisions in Jewish values. I saw staff and volunteers build spaces where teens felt both supported and challenged, and communities rally around a shared belief: that when we trust young people, they rise to the moment.

BBYO is unique because it does not ask teens to wait for their turn. It invites them to lead now, to practice what it means to belong, to make meaning, and to stand for something larger than themselves. In a world that often underestimates young people, BBYO insists on their capacity to shape Jewish life with thoughtfulness, creativity, and care.

Looking ahead, our vision is bold and already unfolding. The momentum continues, with eyes already turning toward IC 2027 in Baltimore.

Celia Livshin
VP, Movement Experiences, International Convention

AROUND THE ORDER

Spring Regional and Chapter Events | As another incredible semester kicks off, hundreds of chapters and regions around the order have been hosting Spring Kickoff events, including snow tubing, s’mores at the campfire, escape rooms, and more! Now is the perfect time for your teen to get involved in BBYO, where they can meet new friends, take part in dynamic experiences, and connect with their Jewish identity. To learn more about events in your area, visit our BBYO Near You page.

Advisor Appreciation Month | As teens lead and shape our Movement, advisors generously volunteer their time and energy to mentor and support these changemakers while ensuring the ongoing success of our communities. Join us this March in celebrating your local advisors by learning more about what they do and participating in acts of kindness for them (find ideas here).

Summer 2026 + IC 2027 Guarantee | Summer 2026 is just a few months away, but it’s not too late to register your teen for the experience of a lifetime AND guarantee their place on the priority registration list for International Convention 2027 in Baltimore, Maryland. Any teen who registers for a Summer Leadership Experience by Monday, March 16 is automatically in—IC sells out in just minutes each year, so skip the line and register the night before!

JEWISH PRIDE

We’re excited to announce the launch of the Simchat Torah Challenge Podcast Series, a yearlong journey where teens across the Order explore the Torah, one parsha at a time. Recorded live at IC, this series is part of Table Talk with BBYOInsider, the official International AZA and BBG podcast. Teens reflect on weekly Torah portions, share insights, and celebrate their connection to the text and to one another. Episodes feature teens from around the globe breaking down the parsha, highlighting BBYO stories, and exploring meaningful ways the Torah relates to their own lives.

Episodes drop every Friday and are available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app. Whether your teen is actively involved in BBYO or simply curious about the Torah, this series is a great way to reflect and grow together as a global community.

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: College decision season is here, and my senior is anxiously refreshing their email and comparing themselves to friends. How can I support them through the stress and uncertainty? —Rachel M.

Dear Rachel: College decision season can feel like an emotional rollercoaster—for teens and parents alike. There’s anticipation, hope, fear, comparison, and sometimes disappointment, all wrapped into a few short weeks. For many seniors, it can feel like the culmination of years of hard work riding on a single notification.

Here are a few ways to help them navigate this season in a healthy way:

Normalize the nerves. Waiting is hard. Comparing is human. Let them know it’s okay to feel excited one minute and discouraged the next.

Separate achievement from identity. Teens may tie their sense of worth to an acceptance or denial. The constant update from social media can make them feel less than. As parents, one of the most powerful things we can do is remind our teen that they are not defined by a school’s decision—their character, values, friendships, and resilience matter far more.

Create boundaries around the refresh cycle. Constantly checking portals and social media can heighten anxiety. Encourage designated times to check updates and intentional breaks from checking and sharing updates with their friends.

Focus on fit, not prestige. Shift conversations from “Where did you get in?” to “Where will you thrive?” Talk about community, support systems, academic interests, and where they feel most at home.

Plan for multiple outcomes. Before decisions arrive, gently discuss how you’ll handle different scenarios. Having a plan for waitlists or denials can acknowledge their reality, reduce the shock factor, and help teens feel grounded.

Model steadiness. Teens often mirror our emotional responses. If we over-celebrate one outcome or visibly panic about another, it reinforces the stakes. Staying calm and grounded communicates safety.

Most importantly, remind your teen that this moment is a chapter—not the whole story. Many successful, fulfilled adults will tell you their path wasn’t linear or defined by one decision at 17 or 18. What matters most is how they grow, adapt, and continue to show up for themselves.

IN THEIR WORDS

Today we’re sharing a reflection from Alana Dunoff, a parent from Liberty Region, about her family’s experience hosting international delegates and attending BBYO International Convention 2026.

Hope. Faith. Joy. Connection. These are just a few of the words that come to mind when I reflect on our amazing, exciting, and exhausting week as a host family prior to BBYO International Convention.

We opened our home to four teens from Ukraine for six days before the convention. They were in awe of all things American as they tried foods they had only seen on TikTok and shopped at Sephora and Target. They were also grateful to meet Jews outside of their home—to celebrate Shabbat, attend services, explore Philadelphia, and even experience a Super Bowl party.

For me, witnessing this gathering of engaged Jewish teens from around the globe—all of them different and all of them absolutely the same—was heartwarming and inspiring. I felt a renewed sense of hope, knowing our future is strong because a generation of fierce and passionate young Jewish leaders is proudly making their voices known.

Watching my daughter and her friends cheering with Liberty Region pride alongside their new friends from Ukraine, Australia, South America, Georgia, and California captured a moment of pure joy.

BBYO and IC continue to build memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. Our family was deeply grateful for the opportunity to share in this global connection of community, and we hope one day to visit our newly adopted daughters.

GRAB BAG

Dive into the heart of BBYO International Convention 2026 with this roundup of some of the most captivating content captured by our teen Press Corps!

SHOFAR ARTICLES
The Shofar is the International AZA and BBG newsletter and home to the IC 2026 blog, which featured behind-the-scenes articles on all things IC. Check out three of our top pieces below:

VIDEOS
See all IC video content on our YouTube channel, and check out our favorite:

IC Recap Video

PODCASTS
Table Talk with BBYOInsider is the International AZA and BBG Podcast with the inside scoop on all things BBYO. Check out some greatest hits recorded onsite at IC!

Shape What Jewish Engagement Looks Like After B’nai Mitzvah

Conscient Strategies, in partnership with The Marcus Foundation, is bringing together a group of parents/guardians of children aged 10–14 to learn about how you view Jewish engagement, especially pre and post-B’nai Mitzvah. They are gathering perspectives on what your real-life experience has been with the B’nai Mitzvah process, and what keeps your child excited about being Jewish.

What: An asynchronous virtual (text-like) conversation (via the Remesh platform)
When: Thursday, March 5, at 12:00 PM ET–Saturday, March 7, at 11:45 PM ET

Go here to register your interest in participating by March 3 at 12:00 PM ET. The Conscient Strategies team will reach out to you with further information on participating.