Updates from Naples and Fort Myers BBYO

By Cayla Schreier, BBYO Southwest Coordinator

Our Naples BBYO teens had a strong start to the new year. On Sunday, Jan. 12, our Naples BBYO Chapter Board participated in required semiannual regional training with me and Regional Moreh and Naples BBYO member Adam Berman at the BBYO Lounge. The Board learned different recruitment and retention techniques and discussed goals for their upcoming term. The teens were also able to meet with the new Jewish Federation of Greater Naples President & CEO Nammie Ichilov. We look forward to working with Mr. Ichilov in the future to help Naples BBYO grow and flourish.

On Sunday, Jan. 26, our teens participated in Temple Shalom’s Mitzvah Day. We met up for a delicious bagel and lox breakfast at 8:30 a.m., which the Temple Shalom Men’s Club was generous enough to sponsor. Temple Shalom congregants and the teens participated in numerous mitzvahs, such as “Welcome Home” sign making for Habitat for Humanity, blanket making, bowl painting and Meals of Hope. Teens over the age of 16 also donated blood for the blood drive. Thank you to Bobbie Katz, the Men’s Club and Temple Shalom for organizing this wonderful day of mitzvahs.

Our teens planned three events for February. The Naples BBYO kickoff took place on Saturday, Feb. 8 at Hertz Arena, where the teens attended a hockey game to cheer on the local Florida Everblades as they played against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. The Negev Alephs got together to watch the 59th Superbowl with Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Feb. 9. The B’nai B’rith Girls hosted a Galentine’s Day party on Sunday, Feb. 16 at the BBYO Lounge.

Two of our teens attended BBYO’s International Convention February 13-17 in Denver, Colorado.

Upcoming events

More details on all upcoming events to follow. Please keep an eye out for emails regarding all upcoming Naples and Fort Myers BBYO 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

Having teens get involved in BBYO and be eager to create 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. We thank each and every one of 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 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: @Mishpacha_BBG and @Negevaza.

Scholarships to attend BBYO conventions and summer programs are available. Please contact me for more information on scholarships. If you are a BBYO alum and would like to be included in our Friends and Alumn.