Focus on Youth
Chabad at FGCU
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habad at FGCU serves the religious, educational and social needs for Jewish students at FGCU and other nearby colleges in a warm welcoming environment, emphasizing Jewish tradition and unity. We are a home where every Jewish student, from any background and affiliation, feels welcome and accepted. Chabad inspires Jewish students to
proudly resonate with their Judaism, love it and progress continuously. Rabbi Mendel 347-452-0489 mendelgordon@gmail.com www.ChabadFGCU.com.
BBYO
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he leading Jewish pluralistic teen movement that aspires to involve Jewish teens in more meaningful Jewish experiences, BBYO has been shaking up the Naples community for eight groundbreaking years. We’ve reached as many as 50 Naples Jewish teens, and each year, we work to welcome them to the brotherhood and sisterhood that is BBYO Naples. The 8th- to 12th-grade chapters are Negev AZA #2560 (boys) and Mishpacha BBG #2552 (girls), which are part of North Florida Region (NFR) BBYO, engaging teens from Orlando, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Melbourne, Gainesville, Tampa, Sarasota, Fort Myers and Naples. On Wednesdays each week, Negev and Mishpacha teens meet at the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples for chapter programming and leadership training. Our Naples teens plan larger-scale events for the weekends, like day trips to Miami: private experiences at Revolution Cable Park: spa days; cycle or yoga studio takeovers; pickup basketball and football games; sorority-themed events, like bid day; and themed boys’ and girls’ sleepovers, to name a few. NFR hosts three conventions each year — fall, winter and spring. BBYO also promotes events, such as International Convention (IC), the largest gathering of Jewish teens in the U.S., 50
summer programs and travel experiences, like Chapter Leadership Training Camp (CLTC) and International Leadership Seminar in Israel (ILSI). Last year, Naples teens participated in IC, CLTC, ILSI and the March of the Living, with the assistance of the incredible Jewish Federation of Greater Naples and Temple Shalom’s Men’s Club. We are indebted to the generosity of our community partners and their commitment to assist all Jewish teens, ensuring that no teen is turned away from an experience for monetary reasons. What makes Naples BBYO special is support from the entire Jewish community of Naples. The organization receives support from the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples, Temple Shalom, Beth Tikvah and the Chabad of Naples, with the goal of welcoming the entire 8th- to 12th-grade Jewish community to the movement. We are supported by many donors making up the Naples Jewish community, resulting
CONNECTIONS 2022
in a very successful youth program for which we are extremely grateful. We are also supported by the Naples BBYO Board of Directors, a dedicated group of community leaders, parents, advisors and BBYO staff. BBYO’s network of Jewish teens, alumni, parents, volunteers and philanthropists serves as the Jewish community’s most valuable platform for delivering fun, meaningful and affordable experiences to the post-Bar/ Bat Mitzvah audience. BBYO looks to offer teens leadership skills designed to take them through college and beyond while offering them the opportunity to explore their Jewish identity in a safe, supportive community. The question is, what are you waiting for? Come out and join the fun! Follow BBYO on Instagram @mish pacha_bbg & @negevaza. Like us on Facebook @NaplesandFtMyersBBYO. For more information on 8th- to 12th-grade Jewish programming in Naples, please contact: Jess Zimmerman Regional Director of North Florida Region 941-677-3018 jesszimmerman@bbyo.org.
A Guide to Jewish Living in Greater Naples
