BBYO Naples teens in action

By Bobbie Katz and Marc Saperstein, co-chairs of BBYO Naples

BBYO Naples teens participated in two key programs in February. The first, on Sunday the 12th,was an ice cream social Meet & Greetwith new BBYO Naples staff professional Cayla Schreier. This event was attended by 13 Naples teens.

The second event, on Sunday the 26th, was a cookie decorating and informational session for the teens and their parents. We had 17 teens and six parents in attendance at this second event. Bella Schaab, Chapter N’siah (president), ran the informational session along with Schreier. Both events were held in our new home, the BBYO Lounge at the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center.

This year, BBYO Naples is celebrating its 11th year serving Jewish teens in Greater Naples in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples, Temple Shalom, Chabad of Naples and Beth Tikvah. Each of these organizations provides nancial support, along with the generosity of our BBYO Friends and alumni donors.

Over the past decade, BBYO Naples has engaged over 350 local Jewish teens in programs that allow them to connect to their Jewish roots, serve others through community service, build leadership skills and create lifelong friendships. Today, we have over 30 AZA and BBG members in our two chapters in BBYO Naples. We are also partnering with BBYO Ft. Myers teens on various programs.

International convention

BBYO held its International Convention in Dallas in mid-February, with over 3,000 teens from around the world participating in person. Presenters included luminaries such as former Israel Prime Minister Naftali Bennett; Second Gentleman of the U.S. Douglas Emhoff; Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jodi Kantor; David Hogg, co-founder of March for our Lives; Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt; and many other inspiring individuals. In addition, the teens heard songs from the cast of “Hamilton.” BBYO’s 100th birthday is next year, and the International Convention will be held in Orlando, Florida.

Upcoming events

We are looking forward to several upcoming events including a Shabbat Beach Cleanup and an Escape from Egypt escape room trip for Passover. The teens are also looking forward to the North Florida Region Spring Convention in Orlando in April.

Finally, as we create a safe, fun and engaging space for our BBYO teens in the new BBYO Lounge, we have procured a ping pong table, bean bag chairs and games for the teens to play both inside and outside in the courtyard.

BBYO is the leading pluralistic Jewish teen movement aspiring to involve more Jewish teens in more meaningful Jewish activities. BBYO welcomes Jewish teens in eighth through twelfth grade regardless of background, denominational affiliation, gender, race, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status. Today, BBYO reaches over 70,000 teens globally in over 60 countries with hundreds of chapters across North America.

Jewish continuity is critically important to our future and finding ways to keep our teens engaged Jewishly, post B’nai Mitzvah, is a key element of what BBYO provides.

If you know of someone who has a teen who might like to join BBYO Naples or know of someone who might like to be an advisor to our chapters, please email Cayla Schreier at cschreier@bbyo.org.

Scholarships to attend BBYO conventions and summer programs are available through both Jewish Federation of Greater Naples and Temple Shalom Men’s Club. For more information on scholarships, please contact Schreier.

If you are a BBYO alum and would like to be included in our friends and alumni mailing list, please email us at mjs0821@aol.com.