The Charlotte Jewish News - November 2023 - Page 29 Education and Youth
BBYO Eastern Region Welcomes New Genesis Fellow BBYO’s (B’nai Brith Youth Organization) Eastern Region welcomes Zachary Tabachnikoff as its new Genesis Fellow. Zachary, known to Jewish teens across North Carolina and the country as “Tabby,” is a recent Florida State University graduate with a background in hospitality and event management. He has a strong connection to the Jewish community, having been involved in various Jewish organizations and activities throughout his life. Zachary comes from a family with deep Jewish roots, including parents and a grandfather who are rabbis, a stepmother who works for the Jewish Federation, and a grandmother who was a Hebrew school teacher. Zachary’s journey with BBYO began during his teenage years, and he credits the organization with playing a significant role in his personal growth and development. His goal as a staff member at BBYO is to provide the same transformative experiences to other Jewish teens in the Charlotte area. He is dedicated to helping them find themselves,
develop leadership skills, and build meaningful relationships. Zachary is part of a new BBYO Fellowship Program called “Genesis,” which involves working in various communities and also spending time learning how the international organization operates. In Charlotte, he primarily supports BBYO chapters and collaborates with other cities in North Carolina, such as Greensboro, Raleigh, and Winston-Salem. His responsibilities include assisting with event planning, coordinating transportation, working with event venues, and helping chapters become more self-sufficient in terms of scheduling, fundraising, philanthropy, and recruitment. BBYO is entering its centennial year, and Zachary is excited about the organization’s growth and the increased collaboration among its chapters in Charlotte. The addition of a staff member like Zachary has already had a positive impact, with teens appreciating his energy and enthusiasm for programming. One teen, Lindsay Pfeffer, pres-
ident of the local chapter Chai Chaverim BBG had this to say when asked about Zachary: “I’m truly looking forward to the great year we have ahead in BBYO! Specifically, though, I’m excited to work with our new associate regional director, Tabby. Already, he has opened so many doors for us that have been closed in the past like bringing new and engaging programming to popular venues throughout the city. I’m so grateful I’ll get to learn from him as a mentor and a friend this year. I can’t wait to see what we accomplish!” One of Zachary’s goals is to foster community-wide events, as the Charlotte chapters have typically operated independently. The Charlotte BBYO community is enthusiastic about working with him, and they anticipate a successful year ahead. Earlier this year North Carolina was privileged enough to host the BBYO international president, TJ Katz, for a week. During his time here he was excited to see the success and energy around all of the chapters.
Zachary Tabachnikoff
He was also able to meet with Zachary to help teach him some more about the current state of the order and include certain practices and themes that may have changed since his time in the organization. “As the International President of BBYO, it’s
amazing to see the work Zachary is doing with the teens in North Carolina. He’s already successfully been able to connect with the teens in the area, and we’re super lucky to have him on the staff team.” BBYO’s has already begun celebrations for its 100th anniversary, with events hosted by thousands of teens in communities around the world. Charlotte’s kickoff event was well-attended, and the region had a significant presence at the local BBYO International Convention registration launch night. The coming weeks will see various exciting local events, and there is a sense of enthusiasm and anticipation for what Zachary and the teens can achieve together. If anyone is interested in joining BBYO or has questions about the organization, they can reach out to Zachary at Ztabachnikoff@bbyo.org for assistance and information.
