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==Chapter Links==
==Chapter Links==
*[http://bereshis.googlepages.com/ Bereshis AZA #39]
*[http://siwiaza.org/ Simon Wiesenthal AZA #2524]
*[http://siwiaza.org/ Simon Wiesenthal AZA #2524]
*[http://jszbbg.homestead.com/ Jerusalem Shel Zahav #1516]
*[http://jszbbg.homestead.com/ Jerusalem Shel Zahav #1516]

Revision as of 23:08, 18 August 2007

B'nai B'rith Youth Organization (BBYO) is an international, pluralistic Jewish youth group for high school-age teenagers. In 2002, the organization split from B'nai B'rith and was reconstituted as BBYO, Inc., an independent non-profit entity. BBYO is split, by gender, into two sibling organizations: Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA, for young men), and B'nai B'rith Girls (BBG, for young women). Membership is open to any teenager in high school who identifies himself as a Jew. BBYO's mission is, "More Jewish teens, more meaningful Jewish experiences." The organization's uniqueness stems from its youth leadership model, in which teen leaders are elected by their peers on a local, regional and international level, and are given the opportunity to make their own programmatic decisions.

History

The B'nai B'rith Youth Organization originated in 1923 as a men's college fraternity in Omaha, Nebraska, though it was actually not affiliated with B'nai B'rith until April 1925. It began as a protest against the local Greek college fraternity, Alpha Zeta Alpha, which did not allow Jews to become members. The boys who organized it began their own college fraternity and decided to name it Aleph Zadik Aleph, or AZA, the Hebrew letter equivalent. In April 1925, AZA was adopted by B'nai B'rith at the B'nai B'rith National Convention.

An alternate history found in Dealing in Futures by Max Baer describes a schism between the founders of the AZA and members of the local Zionist youth group. The AZA founders split from the group and formed their own with the Greek-letter college fraternities in mind. When Nathan Mnookin, the first advisor, left, Sam Beber took over and chartered the Aleph Zadik Aleph on May 4, 1924, with the early vision of an international youth movement. The first International Convention of the Aleph Zadik Aleph was held July 4-6 of that year.

In 1944, B'nai B'rith Girls became recognized by B'nai B'rith, and BBYO as it is today was born. Anita Perlman is credited with the development of BBG as Sam Beber is credited with the AZA. BBYO as it is today was born. In 2002, BBYO changed its name to BBYO Inc., becoming a legally independent organization in the process. Lynn Schusterman now leads the organization's Board of Directors. The Aleph Zadik Aleph is currently celebrating its 83rd year of operation, and the B'nai B'rith Girls its 63rd year.

Structure

BBYO operates at four different levels, each one of which has its own elected teen leaders: international, regional, council and chapter. Depending on the size of and geography of a region, it may or may not skip the council level. All members are assigned to a chapter, which is part of a region (and sometimes a council). The combined regions make up the international organization.

International

On the international level, BBYO organizes large-scale programs and offerings for its members. This includes summer leadership, community service, educational and Israel programs, International Convention, International Execs, and others. The international organization is overseen by the professional staff of the international office, located in Washington, DC.

An International Board is elected for both AZA and BBG at International Convention, and the elected leaders help to shape the organization's goals and vision. The International Board members are also responsible for helping to supervise their counterparts on the regional and council levels. The international presidents are the only members of the organization who are high school graduates: after being elected during their senior year, they defer their college admissions to spend a year serving the organization.

In addition to North America, BBYO also exists in Australia, Bulgaria, Curacao, England, Ireland, France, Israel, Luxembourg, New Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland, and Thailand. BBYO affiliate chapters in South America, Europe, and Asia are coordinated by local B'nai B'rith chapters.

Districts

Districts were a now-defunct organizational unit, that were mostly replaced by regions in the 1980s. The last remaining international districts were disbanded in 2005 at International Convention.

Regions

On the Regional level, chapters are brought together on a regular basis for inter-chapter programming and regional programs. All regions have at least one weekend-long convention every year (with some offering as many as a half-dozen). Regions that do not contain councils elect a Regional Board on a yearly basis. The Regional Board helps to plan regional events, and supervise their counterparts on the chapter level. Regions are supervised by professional staff in a regional office.

Councils

Larger regions are sometimes split into councils, which operate much the same as regions, with their own council-wide events and elected council boards. A region that has councils will typically have both council events and regional events (encompassing all of the region's councils) over the course of the year. Councils elect a council board on a year basis; these boards function in the same fashion as do regional boards. Councils are supervised by professional staff, which may be in a regional office or a separate council office depending on the size of the council and region.

Chapters

Chapters are BBYO's most basic organizational level, functioning at a local level. Chapters may be of three types: AZA (for young men only), BBG (for young women only) or BBYO (co-ed). BBYO chapters are a relatively new phenomenon, and typically exist in smaller communities where having separate AZA or BBG chapters is not demographically feasible. Additionally, BBYO chapters are sometimes used in partnership with an independent synagogue wishing to operate a single youth group chapter. Currently, there are over 600 chapters in operation (roughly 45% BBG, 40% AZA and 15% BBYO). These chapters contain about 18,000 registered members, and their programs reach over 40,000 teens every year.

BBYO Around the world

  • Israel: In Israel BBYO is an organization called Tzameret with roughly 20 chapters in the country with both Jewish and Druze membership, it used to be known as Noar L'Noar
  • UK & Ireland: BBYO UK (Or District 15 as they're also called) is still affiliated with B'nai B'rith and like all of the other international affiliates (besides Canada) D15's chapters are Co-ed.
  • France: Netzer BBYO is it's own organization, Netzer also administors the porgrams in Switzerland and Luxembourg.
  • Thailand: Thailand BBYO was formed in 2005 by Alumni who held a city wide Channukah in Bangkok.
  • Bulgaria: Bulgaria is one of the most involved programs outside of North America, everyear they have high attendance at summer programs, IC, and they even have there own Program called "Ambassadors to Bulgaria" where Teens from North America go and meet Bulgarian BBYO.
  • Curacao: Curacao has a single co-ed chapter called "George Maduro BBYO" named after George Maduro, Curacao is also used to administer the programs in South America.
  • South Africa: South African BBYO has 3 chapters in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban there more Community Service oriented then the North American Programs.
  • Australia & New Zealand: Australia & New Zealand has a program for a really long time, they have many youth leadership opportunities but not a lot of international attendance.

Board Positions

The teen leaders elected to office by their peers at various organizational levels have their own set of office titles, derived from Hebrew. Elections are typically held on an annual or semi-annual basis. The titles are often similar for the equivalent AZA and BBG positions (varying slightly due to a word's gender).

Position Literal Translation AZA BBG
President Big / President Godol N'siah
Programming Vice President Deputy S'gan S'ganit
Membership Vice President Teacher / Friends' Mother Moreh ("AIT Dad") Aym Ha-Chaverot ("Morah," "MIT Mom")
Secretary Secretary Mazkir Mazkirah ("Katvanit")
Treasurer Treasurer Gizbor Gizborit
Judaic Specialist/Community Service Emissary Shaliach, ("Chaver," "Dovair") Shlicha
Newspaper Editor Scribe Sopher Safranit

The exact board positions elected can vary slightly between regions and chapters. For example, some BBG chapters elect a Parliamentarian. Likewise, some chapters may choose to elect two Morehs or Mazkirs. Additionally, chairmanships may be appointed on an as-needed basis at every organizational level.

BBYO chapters typically contain the same positions as would an AZA or BBG chapters, with the exact position name corresponding to the gender of the person elected to the position. Some BBYO chapters may also elect both a male and female officer to certain board positions (e.g., electing both a Moreh and a MIT Mom).

AZA vs. BBG

While other Jewish youth groups have often criticized BBYO for its "gender-segregated" nature, most BBYO members actually view this characteristic as one of the organization's greatest strengths. Brotherhood is a key component and area of emphasis in AZA, just as sisterhood is in BBG. The single-gender environment often allows richer conversation and brotherly or sisterly interactions and friendships.

Although AZA and BBG chapters hold their meetings separately, they will often collaborate on programs (or plan a program and invite a chapter of the other gender to attend). The social aspect of BBYO is always emphasized. Local AZA and BBG chapters whose members particularly enjoy the other's company will often become "brother and sister chapters."

Organizational Differences

Every region, council and chapter may have its own AZA and BBG Constitution and By-Laws, so long as they do not conflict with the AZA and BBG International Constitutions, respectively. Likewise, Constitutions and By-Laws must not conflict with international BBYO policy, as established by the BBYO, Inc. Board of Directors, or with local policy set by regional staff and lay leadership.

In recent years, BBYO, Inc. has strived to make the previously somewhat-independent regions and chapters a more cohesive international unit. BBYO has introduced new, standardized regional logos and marketing materials, as well as a new centralized membership database and standard international dues rates.

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