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.
