| The
B’nai B’rith Youth Organization (BBYO) is a youth led, worldwide organization
which provides opportunities for Jewish youth to develop their leadership
potential, a positive Jewish identity and commitment to their personal
development. The youth participate in democratically functioning small
groups under the guidance of adult advisors and professional staff.
The objectives of the organization are as follows:
To help Jewish youth enhance their knowledge and
appreciation of Jewish religion and culture by discovering those aspects
which are meaningful to them.
To provide Jewish youth with the opportunities
to learn leadership skills and develop their leadership potential to their
fullest capabilities.
To help Jewish youth recognize opportunities for
service and encourage involvement in B'nai B'rith, B'nai B'rith Women and
in the Jewish and the general community.
To develop in Jewish youth an appreciation of
the meaning and practice of T'zedakah both in the Jewish and the general
community.
To help Jewish youth develop a commitment to the
State of Israel and K'lal Yisrael.
To help Jewish youth develop a positive self-image.
To encourage the development of friendships with
other Jewish youth.
The B'nai B'rith
Youth Organization consists of three youth components designed to provide
leisure-time programs of Jewish education, leadership, community service
and recreation:
-
Aleph Zadik Aleph
for ninth through twelfth grade boys
-
B'nai B'rith Girls
for ninth through twelfth grade girls
-
B'nai B'rith Teen
Connection for seventh and eighth grade boys and girls.
BBYO provides
Jewish living and learning experiences for Jewish teenagers. Programs include
holiday celebrations, religious services, inter-faith activities, institutes
and seminars, music and dramatics, speech contests and athletic contests.
BBYO operates youth camps in Starlight, Pennsylvania and in Mukwonago,
Wisconsin that are used for Judaism programs and youth leadership training.
The camps, with separate annual budgets are self-sustained. A summer exchange
program for members for study and work in Israel is sponsored, with Israeli
teenagers sent to the United States for a similar experience.
The International
office of BBYO is responsible for personnel, budget, standard-setting,
publication of "Shofar", "The Commish", an advisor newsletter, Judaism
pamphlets and other program aids. Most programming takes place on the local
level. Great reliance is placed upon 1,500 volunteer advisors to chapters
with recruitment and training of volunteers conducted by professional staff.
BBYO conceives of itself as a community-wide, non-ideological service open
to all Jewish youth, without regard to the possible affiliation of parents
to B'nai B'rith. About one-third of the BBYO chapters meet in Jewish Community
Centers. BBYO estimates that one-fourth of its chapters are in small communities
without Center or Synagogue youth programs. |
