Youth Organizations
Community Enrichment
Youth organizations vary across the world. And whether they are to promote goodwill, enhance community environments, educate, or offer a place of belonging, organizations focus on providing activities and socialization for youths.
BBG Formal Dance
BBG meeting at the home of Louise Firestone
BBYO
BBYO is a Jewish teen nonprofit organization. The organization builds the identity of Jewish teens and offers diverse leadership development programs. BBYO is organized into two different chapters. The fraternal chapter is known as AZA and their members are known as Alephs. The sorority chapter is known as BBG and their members are known as BBG. AZA and BBG were first independent organizations (beginning in 1924 and 1944) before becoming brother and sister organizations under B’nai B’rith.
1940’s: “The B’nai B’rith Youth Organization (BBYO) was born as the umbrella over both AZA and BBG. The B’nai B’rith Youth Commission was established as BBYO’s governing body.”*
1950’s: “Many of BBYO’s International Programs were established during this time period, including the International Leadership Training Conference, Kallah, and the Israel Summer Institute.”*
1960’s: “…was the establishment of Noar L’Noar as BBYO’s first partner in Israel.”*
Today’s Arizona BBYO (Mountain Region) is located on 12701 n. Scottsdale Road, Suite 203, Scottsdale, AZ. CLICK HERE: BBYO Mountain Region
Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA)
The Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA) is a youth-led fraternal organization for Jewish teenagers. It was founded in 1924 by Sam Beder, Henry Monsky, Abe Badoir, and Nathan Mnookin in Omaha, Nebraska. Members of the organization call themselves “brother Alephs’ and is open to teens from 8th grade through 12th grade.
1940’s: “During World War II, the Aleph Zadik Aleph sold more than $6 million in war bonds and committed countless human resources to the war effort. Over 10,000 Alephs in good standing at the time and alumni fought for the Allies in World War II with approximately 290 sacrificing their lives. Because the war pulled so many AZA members away from their home communities, the minimum age for membership was lowered to fourteen.”*
1950’s: “Camp B’nai B’rith opened in Starlight, Pennsylvania, in 1954 and became home to AZA International Convention.”*
1970’s: “The Aleph Zadik Aleph celebrated its Golden Anniversary in 1974.”*
B’nai B’rith Girls (BBG)
Rose Mauser organized the first permanent chapter of B’nai B’rith Girls (BBG) in San Francisco, CA. The popularity of BBG programming grew in popularity thanks in part by Anita Perlman. She developed invaluable program resources, introduced a formal structure and chartered the first official BBG chapters in 1944. Members of the organization call themselves “proud BBGs” and is open to teens from 8th grade through 12th grade.
1940’s: “The B’nai B’rith Girls (BBG) was officially established in 1944.
ASU Hillel
Their mission is to enrich the lives of Jewish undergraduate and graduate students so they may enrich the Jewish people, Israel, and the world. The organization strives on leadership development, professional mentoring, religious, cultural and Israel education initiatives.
Hillel at Arizona State University started in 1960. With the guidance of Rabbi Barton Lee, Hillel developed by leaps and bounds over the next several decades. Rabbi Lee remained apart of the organization for almost forty years until his retirement.
CLICK HERE: Arizona State University Hillel Jewish Student Center
Young Judaea
Young Judaea is the oldest Zionist youth movement, having formed in 1909. The organizations aims are advancing the cause of Zionism, furthering the mental, moral and physical development of Jewish youth, and promoting Jewish culture and ideals. In 1967, Hadassah took over sole sponsorship of Young Judaea and worked urgently to promote youth empowerment projects in Israel and America. Kids of all ages from 3rd grade to college can be a member of Young Judaea.
1948 – Camp Tel Yehudah was founded
1956 – Young Judaea established the Year Course Program, which eventually becomes the largest gap year program in Israel
1963 – Young Judaea became the only Jewish youth group to send an official delegation to the civil rights March on Washington
1973 – Kibbutz Ketura founded by Young Judaea graduates after the Six Day War
Sources: *https://bbyo.org/about-us/history/history-narrative, https://www.youngjudaea.org
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