“CLTC is life-changing.”

A phrase we have all heard or will hear sooner or later, whether from older girls in our chapter, staff, advisors, or anything else in between. I'll be honest, when I first heard it, I was not convinced. But after a huge push from many different people,  I had decided to sign up for CLTC 2 for summer 2026. I was extremely hesitant because I was feeling a bit lost in BBYO at the time. After losing chapter elections multiple times, I was thinking maybe I wasn’t cut out for leadership and BBYO. Well, after attending CL2C, I can confidently say that the phrase is 100% true: CLTC is life-changing.

This amazing summer program taught me that you do not need a board position to be a leader in BBYO. Leadership is many things, but a title is only one way to show it. You can join the ILN, apply for steering committees, and, most importantly, just be a role model within your chapter, region, and this beautiful organization. Before I attended CLTC, I was convinced that because I didn’t hold a board position, I simply was not a leader. I now know that I can be a leader by simply expressing my passion for BBG and BBYO. When my CLTC session visited ILTC, I had the absolute privilege of meeting this past year’s International N’siah, Mercedes Benzaquen. She told me that although many attendees at ILTC hold positions, half don’t. And they aren’t any less of leaders than the rest. This really resonated with me throughout the rest of my session and up to now, helping me meet my potential as a leader.

Although this was one of the key things I took away from CLTC, it definitely wasn’t the only takeaway that made my experience life-changing. Additionally, I had a completely new outlook on Judaism and my Jewish Identity. After getting the opportunity to study Torah, help plan a Shabbat, and even READ Torah, I am once again reminded how powerful it can be to simply love your Judaism and be in a community where everyone else does too. I had truly inspiring Jewish Educators who showed me that loving your Judaism can be expressed in endless ways, and no matter what, the way I express it is just as good as any other. During Shabbat at CLTC, I felt connected to G-d, my community, and my religion. It was simply magical. 

I also met my best friends. The people I met at CL2C will forever remain my people. As I told one of my new best friends, Melissa Reznik (Shoutout GAR!)  I felt as though CLTC was a place where I couldn't be anything but my authentic self. It was a place where I didn’t feel like I had to push down who I really was for others, but instead just be me. Between the magical song sessions with my friend's arms wrapped around me, chofesh naps in my friends' hammocks, and memorable separates, I feel forever connected to my people at CLTC, and NO distance can separate us.

So yes, CLTC is completely and utterly nothing but life-changing. I cannot imagine spending 12 days of my summer any other way, and I am forever grateful for the pushes made by many to get me to attend. I will take everything I learned from this experience and apply it to my home region, chapter, and this order as a whole. ​See you at Perlman '27!!

Submitted with my undying love for CL2C, song circles, separates, the gang-gang friend group, BBG Bunk 6, my AMAZING coordinators Mimi and Sam, and my heart and home, DC council #54, I forever remain,

Lily Beth Spiegel

A DAMN PROUD BBG!!!