From Friendship to Leadership: The BBYO Experience
By Max Berger
The BBYO (B'nai B'rith Youth Organization) traces its roots back to the 1920's and provides Jewish activities for young people in grades eight through high school. Eighth grader Max Berger has recorded his first impressions of his introduction to this organization, and we invite you to read his essay and see this experience through his eyes. – And special thanks to Aviva Maxon, Co-facilitator of New Mexico’s BBYO chapter, for bringing Max's essay to us.
When I first stepped into a BBYO event, I felt uneasy. Maybe even scared. I did not know most of the people, or what to expect. In BBYO my perspective on my Judaism has changed, even in the few months I have been involved. I am an 8th grader in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I joined BBYO in August. I quickly became a BBYO member, joined the board, and went to my first regional convention. BBYO, is an international Jewish teen movement that has chapters globally for 8-12 graders. In New Mexico, there is one active chapter in Albuquerque. BBYO is split into two sections, the boys and the girls. AZA (Aleph Zadik Aleph) is for the boys, and BBG (B’nai Brith Girls) is for the girls. Our Albuquerque chapter, which we lovingly call Alby, is a combined chapter of David Klein Shalom B’ahava AZA #1298 and Las Hermanitas de Judith Adina Simon BBG #1458. Alby is pretty small, so that’s why we have a combined chapter. Alby is part of RMR, or Rocky Mountain Region. RMR consists of chapters in Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming.
My first event was chapter elections, where we elected a board to plan events, host fundraisers, and lead the chapter. I agreed to run off the floor, when no one was running for my position, Rakazito. The board is made up of a N’siah/Godol (President), S’gan/S’ganit( Vice President of Programming), Yehudi/Yehudiah (Vice President of Judaism), Moreh, Morah (Membership, Recruitment, Retention), Mazkir/Mazirah (Secretary), Gizbor/Gizborit (Treasurer), and Rakazit/Rakazito (Photographer, Outreach). All these positions are essential to making each BBYO chapter what it is and what it may become. In my position I have learned how to communicate, recruit, and how to really reach and celebrate everyone in the chapter. After elections, I officially joined BBYO and became a board member.
Right away, we started planning events, and at that time we had about 12 official members, with those of us on the board being the most active. We needed to plan amazing events to get more members, and we did just that. Over the past few months, we have gained 8 new members, through events such as bowling, game night with ice cream, pizza making, a balloon fiesta event, and pumpkin carving. We are even planning to have a Holocaust survivor speak at a Shabbat dinner in the future! These BBYO events that we have created have led me to meet so many new people, make so many new friends, and just really explore my Judaism in a new way. BBYO members, adult advisors, and friends, are always so welcoming, nice, and always want to help you in any way you need. These past few months planning and attending events in Albuquerque were really fun, which led me to want to expand my horizons in BBYO.
Then I learned about Fall Con. Fall Convention is a BBYO convention that is held in each region in mid-November. RMR’s Fall Con was held in Denver. This was a three-day convention in a hotel in Denver where almost every chapter in RMR is represented by members. We did Jewish activities such as services, Havdalah, and Israeli dancing, met new people, and really just had an amazing time. It was a terrific Jewish way to have a great time, and it was a couple of days away from your parents. And believe me, Fall Con lived up to its hype. I had the time of my life there. We had Jewish services, had Maccabiah (Color War), and had so much spirit. I met many new people and made new friends, and now I can do even more in BBYO, like being on the Regional Board, going to summer programs, and being a more active member in my chapter. Being at this Fall Con just really taught me about Jewish life. I had fun, met Jewish teens, and really celebrated my Judaism.
Joining BBYO and going to this convention taught me so much, from leadership, to outreach, to how to really connect with my Jewish identity. BBYO has changed me in the past few months, and I can’t wait to find out what else it has in store for me.
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Where the North Ends, A Novel by Hugo Moreno
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