Summer updates from Naples and Fort Myers BBYO

By Cayla Schreier, BBYO Southwest Coordinator

Our teens had a busy final month of school with BBYO activities.

The chapter hosted a final exam study session at Panera Bread on Naples Boulevard, where they sat and studied for their finals while enjoying delicious Panera Bread delectables. Naples BBYO held its chapter board elections May 19 in the BBYO Lounge. Our teens elected the following members to the Fall 2024 Naples BBYO Chapter Board:

• N’Siah (President): Emily Schaab

• Siganit (Programming): Mimi Goldberg

• Mazkirah (Secretary): MJ Solomon

• Moreh (Membership/Recruitment): Noah Tsipursky

• S’hlicha (Jewish Enrichment): Brooke Glick

Let’s wish a big Mazel Tov to our new Naples BBYO Chapter Board members!

Let’s also congratulate member Adam Berman, on his recent election to the position of Moreh (Membership/ Recruitment) for the North Florida Region’s Regional Board. We are looking forward to having strong representation from Naples BBYO on the Regional Board.

Our new board has already hit the ground running by planning out a fun Fall 2024 term. The Naples BBYO Fall Kickoff will take place mid to late August. Please keep an eye out for more information about the Naples BBYO Fall Kickoff and other Fall 2024 events.

What is BBYO?

BBYO is a diverse and inclusive Jewish youth group to encourage Jewish teens to become more immersed and interested in meaningful Jewish activities and programs. This organization accepts Jewish teens attending 8th through 12th grades of all backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender, race, denominational affiliation or socioeconomic status. BBYO currently reaches over 70,000 teens worldwide, with participants in over 60 countries and hundreds of chapters across the United States.

Supporting our teenage Jewish community

It is crucial to engage teens post-B’nai Mitzvah age in Jewish activities. Having teens get involved in BBYO and confidently continue their own Jewish community is critical to our future.

The BBYO chapter of Naples has entered its 11th year of partnership with Jewish Federation of Greater Naples, Temple Shalom, Chabad of Naples and Beth Tikvah. Each organization provides financial support, volunteers and community involvement opportunities for the BBYO teens. We thank all our BBYO Alum, friends and other supporters for making this a safe and positive environment for the teens of BBYO Naples and Fort Myers.

If you know of someone who has a teen who might like to join BBYO Naples or Fort Myers or if know of someone who may want to be an advisor to our chapters, please email me at cschreier@bbyo.org. You can also follow us on Instagram at @Mishpacha_BBG and @Negevaza.

Scholarships to attend BBYO conventions and summer programs are available through both Jewish Federation of Greater Naples and the Temple Shalom Men’s Club. Please contact me for more information on scholarships. If you are a BBYO Alum and would like to be included in our Friends and Alumni of BBYO mailing list, please email us at mjs0821@aol.com.