WHY bbyo?
BBYO is an amazing organization that provides teens with experiences that they can't get anywhere else. There are an infinite number of reasons as to why someone should join BBYO, and what better way to understand the passion people all over the world have for this organization than by hearing from our past and present members themselves!
hear from teens and alumni:
Adam Witz (Class of 2019 Alumni, Samson AZA)
BBYO is different for everyone and no one can have the same journey through it as another. We each learn our own lessons and make our own stories within it. I began attending meetings in 7th grade and loved it from the second I stepped into my first event. I was a shy kid who had no idea how to participate in any social interaction whos only friends were my brother’s friends who I happened to tag along with, however, bbyo had changed that. This organization made me into who I am today; a leader, an extravert, and most importantly a proud Jew. Being in the Aleph Zadik Aleph order opened a plethora of doors for me I still utilize to this day. For example, in my first week of college, the only kids I knew were two other former alephs who made me feel at home at Ohio State. Also, when branching out and meeting new people I met a good friend Zach - a kid from Chicago who I should have no connection with whatsoever - but as I got to know him, we began talking about highschool and we discovered we both were members of bbyo which only strengthened our newly formed friendship. Serving multiple terms on chapter board and one on regional allowed me to cultivate the necessary skills to thrive in not only school but the “real world.” I understand how to disagree with someone and work through it with discourse instead of argument, I understand how to collaborate with people, I understand how to challenge myself and reach for my goals, and most importantly I understand how to make genuine connections with people as those are the most important investments one can create. BBYO, and more importantly NSR, will always have a special place in my heart as I credit it as the most influential chapter thus far in my life.
Abby Nussbaum (Class of 2019 Alumni, Yachad BBG)
For me, it wasn’t really about why I joined bbyo, but why I stayed with it. I never wanted to join in the first place, I didn’t have an interest. It was the multiple reasons that kept me involved that were so important to me. Bbyo was an escape for me. A place where i was never afraid to be myself. A place where people just like me were not only loving, and caring, but friends that i now can say will last me a lifetime. I stayed in bbyo for the people. I met some of my very best friends through the organization, which made it that much more special. I stayed in bbyo because of the experiences. The organization offers countless opportunities for teens to not only travel, but meet people with different backgrounds along the way. Bbyo gave me a social outlet as well. I can confidently say I made friends not only within my region, but from other major cities, and even countries as well. I stayed in bbyo because of the happiness it brought me. My high school experience would have been completely different if i had never taken that first step to go to an event. Bbyo definitely changed me, but i would not have wanted it any other way.
Ross Oginsky (Class of 2020 Alumni, Masada AZA)
BBYO was a tradition in my family, my cousins were all very involved which got my older brother involved, so naturally when I was in eighth grade I became a member too. At that point in my life I was a very socially awkward kid with low self confidence and was looking for a place where I could be myself and grow as a person. Now looking back five years later I can confidently say BBYO gave me everything I wanted. I used to not be able to give a one minute presentation in front of a classroom of kids and now I’m able to lead full programs and give speeches with any number of people in the audience. I used to have a deathly fear of talking to anyone I didn’t know and now I can make friends wherever I go. I used to not be happy and now I am. BBYO changed me as a person and only for the better. It gave me a home, a place to grow, and a way to help kids who were just like me. I can confidently say BBYO was the best thing that happened to me in my life. I can’t imagine a world without it and want every single Jewish teen to be able to share my experience.
Emily Blumberg (Class of 2020 Alumni, Yachad BBG)
I never imagined that BBYO would be the place in which I found my home. I joined because my friends were and I thought it might look good for college. I had no idea the sisterhood and amazing network i was truly joining. After attending CLTC (Chapter Leadership Training Conference) in August 2017, I finally understood the true purpose of BBYO: to give teens a voice. I had never been a particularly outspoken person, but BBYO showed me the power of using your voice and forming your own opinions. It was the first social outlet in which my thoughts felt wanted, and others were eager to listen to me. My self confidence skyrocketed, and I fell in love with the idea of being a leader and having such a large support group. BBYO pushes me to come up with innovative ideas and meet new people at every single event, and I have its comforting and encouraging environment to thank for the confidence and excitement that I’ve gained throughout my four years.
Rachel Zweig (12th grade, Summit BBG)
When I joined BBYO, it was originally just another thing for me to do; I had my school friends and knew I would get through high school just fine as it was. But after just one month in this incredible organization, I realized I could have more than just a fine time in high school, and that these four years could be the best of my life. In my first month of BBYO, I discovered this wasn’t going to be just another thing for resume, and that it was going to be MY thing, the thing I thought about all week during school and longed for all weekend. As a scared, uninterested freshman, having a senior girl come up to me, wanting to be my friend and introducing me to her friends let me see the atmosphere I not just wanted, but needed to have for the next four years. A place where age doesn't matter and you can have the same friendship with a senior that you can have with a freshman. A place where you can bring out the parts of yourself that you feel you need to hide from others. A place of smiles, laughs, and friendships that allowed me to spend the past three years much happier and more myself than I have in my entire life. Since joining, I have become the strongest me I could ever imagine being; I actively seek out leadership positions that I would’ve been terrified of in the past, I’ve created bonds with girls and guys all across Long Island, types of friendships I never even dreamed of having, and I’ve been able to be myself and be embraced for it. As I grew, BBYO grew with me, and even after years within this organization, my love for it expands with every convention, meeting, and new member. With all the ups and downs of high school with tests, college, drama, and friends, having a place and group of people I can be myself around like BBYO is something I’m beyond grateful to have.
Cooper Kirschner (10th Grade, Nesher AZA)
Before I joined BBYO, I heard these 4 great letters over and over again throughout my family. Honestly, I wasn’t really pressured into joining BBYO, but I thought I would give it a try. My sister was in Summit and my Cousin was the N’siah of Summit. After attending my first event, I realized that this organization might be the right one for me. I am not in a comfortable position when it comes to friends at school, so I was treating BBYO as an escape. It turned out to be much more than that. At my first convention, last year I realized that BBYO was becoming a part of me. After convention a regional board member texted me, “Yo Cooper it's Adam. Just wanted to say how awesome it was to see you at your first convention having a great time and treating everyone like you've known them for years. That's what I love to see in younger members and I hope you keep with it. Sucks it was my last convention and your first because I would love to see what you do for Nesher and the region.” This is when I realized that BBYO and everyone in it will be there for me no matter what. BBYO is turning me into a person with such strong friendships and leadership skills. 2 people in my chapter convinced me to run for board and apply for regional committees. So far not everything that I have set out to do has happened but BBYO has made me into a proud jew. I can not believe how much BBYO has changed me. The amount of memories I already have and know that I will make, will remind the impact of this great organization.
Eden Spielman (10th grade, Lchaim BBG)
I joined bbyo in eighth grade after extreme curiosity emerged from watching my sister be so passionate about a program for 5 years. To be honest, I wanted to know if bbyo could be my jewish escape. As an outgoing girl who attends sleep away camp, I assumed a jewish program would be right up my alley. One of the board members asked me to apply for her chair this year, which was an eye opening experience into a unifying position as spirit chair. At the pre-convention meeting I fell desperately in love with bbyo while listening to the eager voices explain what would come to be the best weekend of my life. The board members have made me felt wanted. The positivity being radiated by every person in the room is undeniable. The girls in your chapter make you feel overwhelmed with love it is as though you grew up alongside them. At convention I not only met some of my regional best friends but had countless opportunities to form bonds with girls from my own town. The little things like singing at shabbat services simply made me forget the little stress of the previous week. The jewish escape I was in need of, had been found! I fell in love with bbyo because of the people and the memories being made!
Alex Weinstein (12th grade, New Frontier AZA)
My BBYO story is far from traditional. For the first few months of my 8th-grade year, I did not enjoy my time in this organization. I was forced to attend events by my friends and/or family, and I did not see how older kids were able to enjoy themselves for so many years. It was not until I attended a convention that I realized how much BBYO has to offer. Yes BBYO looks great on college resumes, and it also teaches you vital leadership skills, but I find the most enjoyment from the people. Nowhere else will you find such welcoming, and kind people than in BBYO. My favorite memory was at last year’s International Convention in Denver. I walked into a room, filled with thousands of kids yelling and screaming, to demonstrate their pride for this organization. I think of BBYO as light or flame- without a person, event, or experience to turn on or light your flame, you cannot truly find your place in BBYO. It is not until now, 4 years into BBYO that I can truly say I understand all it has to offer.
Nikki Rosen (11th grade, Integrity BBG)
In my town BBYO is something you hear about as soon as you enter middle school. Who’s joining, how fun convention is and how you get to miss a day of school. Yes, these things are all true but that’s not why BBYO for me. BBYO is an escape. A way out of the stress and pressure of school and home friends. One thing you constantly hear in BBYO is the question “who lit your flame?” Frankly, I don’t know who lit my flame. Maybe it was the older girls in my chapter or maybe it was the girls in my grade. I watched all of them love their first convention, and slowly one by one, I watched all their flames burn out. From that moment on BBYO truly became MY place and my passion for keeping my chapter alive became a huge part of who I am. I didn’t have to worry about my reputation at home following me and I was able to be my truest and weirdest self. BBYO has given me the best friends in the world from all across Long Island and of all ages. BBYO has changed my life for the better and I am endlessly thankful to everyone in my region and the organization itself.
Joey Starr (12th Grade, Nesher AZA)
Growing up in a conservative synagogue, I was never exposed to BBYO; however, I am so glad I chose the path I did. I initially did USY, but honestly it just wasn’t for me. After acknowledging that I want to stay connected to the Jewish community in some way, one of friends told me about BBYO. When coming to my first ever meeting, I really felt connected to Judaism on another level. This was not because the program had to do with Judaism; in fact, the event was a few days before Rosh Hashana and my chapter met up at a local park to play “apple baseball”. Taking part in such a simple and fun program was just the first step in my long journey so far in this region. As the year went by I continued to go to Nesher’s events and realized I wanted to get on board. After getting on board, the chapter president and I pretty much rebuilt our chapter. We went from a group of 8 active members to about 50 active members that year. This same year I went on my first international convention, which is the coolest thing that I have done so far in my life. This past summer I did two BBYO summer programs and had the time of my life. Now, I am the president of Nesher. It is awesome to see how the chapter has developed over the last three years. It is also interesting to see now, as an upperclassman, how my role has changed in this organization. Many upperclassmen drop out of BBYO because they lose interest. It is my responsibility now to be a mentor for all of the lower classmen. Even if you don’t hold a chapter board position, there are so many opportunities that this organization can give you. From regional committees, to summer programs, it is never too late to get involved.
Abs Lev (11th grade, Summit BBG)
I joined BBYO at the end of my eighth grade year. I planned to attend events, but things always got in the way. And then ninth grade rolled along, and I decided to make it a priority to become active. This was possibly the best decision I’ve made. I’m not in an extremely wonderful position when it comes to school friends. But BBYO never fails to allow me to have a break from all the stress and drama. It is an opportunity for me to feel pure joy and happiness. It’s truly impossible to explain the sensation that an accepting environment such as BBYO can provide. But it hasn’t only improved my social life. BBYO has taught me leadership, it has taught me to put myself out there, and most of all, it has showed me that people want to listen to what I have to say. And for that I am forever grateful.
Skylar Nevins (10th grade, Genesis BBG)
I first joined BBYO in 8th grade, being very curious and interested in the program having an older sister who has been in the program for 4 years and has fell in love with it and made amazing bonds and friendships. I have gone to sleep away camp for 6 years and have made the most unforgettable memories, and hearing all about bbyo from my sister made me very interested in joining. At one of my first meetings I wasn’t sure about joining bbyo because of the experience I had but after talking to board members my mind set had completely changed. I have made so many new friends that were older and younger and I couldn’t be happier. I decided to run for a chair this year because of all the fun things I heard you get to do. I ended up getting the one I wanted and love working with other chairs to make our chapter the best it could be. When I went to my first pre- convention meeting I was so excited about learning all the cheers and dances and listening to how much fun convention is and how it will change your life. I made the most unforgettable memories at convention and can’t wait to go on many more. I fell in love with bbyo because I have made such amazing bonds with not just the girls in my chapter but I’ve made many regional friends that I hope will last a lifetime.