AUGUST
In preparation for an incredible program year, BBYO communities around the world received an exclusive Centennial Brand Kit to start using ahead of Kickoff events and Conventions that highlight the vibrant new logo and colors for the 100th year.
BBYO HEADS HOME TO OMAHA FOR AUGUST EXECUTIVES CONFERENCE
August Executives Conference is an annual gathering of BBYO Regional Presidents from around the world. This year, BBYO started the year where it all began—Omaha, Nebraska, the birthplace of the Aleph Zadik Aleph.
In addition to the incredible training and democratic moments that happen during this conference, AZA and BBG participated in a special visit to Central High School where the first chapter of AZA was born and the alma mater of Sam Beber. The Regional Presidents participated in a once-in-a-lifetime experience witnessing the origins of the BBYO Movement.
On the opening night of August Executives Conference, the 99th Grand Board of the Aleph Zadik Aleph and 79th International Board of the B'nai B'rith Girls were installed. TJ Katz and Courtney Saxe, the current Grand Aleph Godol and Anita M. Perlman International N'siah, who will lead BBYO into its Centennial year, delivered a powerful inaugural address speech setting the tone for AZA and BBG's best year yet. The presidents were joined by Omaha chapter members, alumni, and community supporters. Watch the live event in the video above.
RECONNECTING WITH 100-YEAR-OLD AZA ALUM
Alephs from the Greater Jersey Hudson River Region met and interviewed William (Bill) Schrimmer, a 100-year-old AZA alum and Holocaust survivor from Germany, to learn about his story and history with BBYO. Bill still remembered and fondly spoke about many of the AZA traditions and rituals from when he was a teenager.
SEPTEMBER
BBYO regions and chapters worldwide are welcoming the Centennial Class of new members to AZA and BBG through epic Kickoff events. Thousands of teens are joining these events and 'kicking off' the Centennial year in style.
BBYO LAUNCHES ONLINE SHOP
BBYO proudly opened its first online store for members, alumni, parents, advisors, and supporters to purchase BBYO merchandise year-round. The BBYO Shop launched with a limited-edition line of BBYO Centennial swag. Proceeds support the International Service Fund (ISF), AZA & BBG’s treasury.
JUMPING INTO A NEW CENTURY
Jonathan Morris, BBYO Board of Directors member and Chair of the BBYO United Kingdom Board, took a leap of faith by skydiving into our Centennial Year in a breathtaking fundraiser for BBYO United Kingdom.
PRESERVING 100 YEARS OF TRADITION
One of the most powerful and enduring parts of BBYO is the traditions of the Aleph Zadik Aleph and B'nai B'rith Girls. In an effort to preserve and pass these traditions down, the Alephs and B'nai B'rith Girls at International Leadership Training Conference (ILTC) filmed videos to ensure members can learn the words and tunes to AZA and BBG's oldest and most treasured songs and rituals.
BBYO PARTNERS WITH MOISHE HOUSE AND ONETABLE FOR YOUNG ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT
Moishe House and OneTable are two of the Jewish community's best platforms for young adult engagement. BBYO is eager to work with these two organizations to provide resources for BBYO alumni to plan events and Shabbat dinners, and reconnect with their friends and the BBYO community in honor of the Centennial.
AZA & BBG SHATTER RECORDS SELLING OUT IC 2024 IN 30 MINUTES
The Centennial International Convention will welcome 3,700 teens from around the world to Orlando making this the largest IC to date. BBYO opens registration for the alumni and adult community to join an expanded homecoming-style weekend for this community unlike anything before.
OCTOBEr
TJ Katz, the 99th Grand Aleph Godol, and Courtney Saxe, the 79th Anita M. Perlman International N'siah are in full swing on their Road to 100 Tour. On this year's Godol and N'siah Travels, TJ and Courtney have elevated their visits inspired by the Centennial. In each community, they are hosting AZA and BBG ritual and tradition nights for new members, meeting with civic leaders, connecting with BBYO alumni, and facilitating strategic conversations with local teen leaders.
Get a taste of their travels by listening to an episode of their Road to 100 podcast.
BBYO LAUNCHES THE DELI PROJECT
BBYO is honoring 100 years since the founding of the first chapter of the Aleph Zadik Aleph through The Deli Project. The Jewish deli is a vibrant, living archive of the American Jewish experience and the perfect place for creating intergenerational conversations between Alephs and members around the impact of AZA and BBYO. The Deli Project kicked off in Phoenix, Arizona at BBYO's Board of Directors Meeting and may be coming to a city near you soon!
RECONNECTING WITH THE 15TH INTERNATIONAL N'SIAH
Sarah Miller McCune, 15th International N’siah, met with Rebecca Sereboff, 73rd International N’siah, Read through Shofar BBG President Updates from 1959 and 1960 when she served, learned about how BBYO started her activism journey and love of writing which lead her to found her publishing company.
NEW CHAPTER PROGRAMS LAUNCHED
Chapters are celebrating the Centennial with fun, new chapter programs from the Program Bank. From trivia nights to alumni dinners to a special AZA 'Friday Night Lights' Shabbat experience, chapters can mark this moment in dozens of meaningful ways.
November
Days after the devastating terrorist attacks in southern Israel, Alephs and BBGs worldwide launched a global fundraising and advocacy campaign to support Maccabi World Union and Maccabi Tzair Israel’s efforts on the ground in Israel. Our efforts helped transform the K’far Maccabiah campus outside Tel Aviv into a hub for Israelis evacuating southern Israel. Nearly 800 Israeli families, including children and teens, were able to access shelter, meals, clothing, rehabilitation services, childcare, and more. Our efforts have raised over $150,000, so far, for the Israel Relief Campaign to care for evacuees from southern Israel and help displaced families.
BBYO teens from around the world also united in Washington, DC alongside 300,000 people for the March for Israel. BBYO leaders took the stage to speak about how these events have impacted youth globally and called for message to denouce anti-Semitism, free the hostages, and protect all innocent lives.
TJ Katz, the 99th Grand Aleph Godol, made a stop on his Road to 100 to interview AZA's oldest living alumnus, Bill Schrimmer, for his 100th birthday.
BBYO HOSTS FIRST-EVER CONVENTION IN EAST ASIA
When Sam Beber helped found the Aleph Zadik Aleph, his one request for the fourteen boys was that what they were building would become a global movement. One hundred years later, BBYO is now thriving across all continents in more than 60 countries. BBYO proudly hosted a unique and first of its kind gathering for teens in the Asia Pacific Region welcoming teens from Singapore, Hong Kong, Taipei, Beijing, Shanghai, and Tokyo.
OUR BIGGEST #GIVINGBBYODAY TO DATE
BBYO teens, staff, advisors, alumni, and supporters around the world rallied to raise $1,000,000 for 100 years of BBYO.
DEcember
Global Shabbat has been a long-standing tradition of BBYO. This Global Shabbat was the largest to-date with more than 140 communities participating worldwide.
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CENTENNIAL EDITIONS OF THE BLUE AND RED BOOKS DROP
The Blue Book (Insider Information), the membership manual for the Aleph Zadik Aleph, and the Red Book (This Is Our Order), the membership manual of the B'nai B'rith Girls, have held the history, rituals, and tradition of AZA, BBG, and BBYO since our founding. When you get your hands on a copy of one of the Centennial editions, check out a brand new fold out map of where BBYO is around the world, passport pages to track BBYO experiences, and beautiful gold foiling on the cover.
JANUARY
NEW SPECIAL EDITION ANNIVERSARY PINS RELEASED
BBYO launches limited edition pins to mark 100 years of AZA and 80 years of BBG.
BBYO ORAL HISTORY PROJECT IS RELEASED
BBYO published a book that captures stories from alumni from across generations to preserve the rich history of the organization through their words.
FEBRUARY
BBYO SHATTERS RECORDS AT CENTENNIAL INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
Nearly 3,700 teens and hundreds of alumni representing over 60 countries made history in Orlando, Florida at the largest International Convention in BBYO's history.
The weekend was filled with of excitement, joy, nostalgia, and pride as our community marked this historic milestone together. BBYO launched a new Alumni Association to double-down on efforts to keep alumni close; welcomed big talent and powerful leaders including names like Tiffany Haddish, Ross Lynch, Meghan McCain, Joshua Malina, Noa Tishby, and dozens more; elected the 100th Grand Board of the Aleph Zadik Aleph and 80th International Board of the B'nai B'rith Girls; showcased BBYO history through a special museum exhibition; and so much more.
APRIL
BBYO SURPASSES 100,000 HOURS OF SERVICE
At the beginning of the Centennial year, BBYO launched an initiative to reach 100,000 hours of community service for 100 years of BBYO. BBYO proudly reached this goal during J-Serve 2024, the International Day of Jewish Teen Service.
BBG CELEBRATES 80 YEARS
The B'nai B'rith Girls marked its 80th year around the world. Dozens of chapters ran special anniversary events as a part of the Founders' Fest initiative to educate about BBG's history and connect members with the traditions of this historic Order.
NORTH AMERICAN STAFF GALA
BBYO's professional team in the United States and Canada gathered in Washington, DC for a special staff celebration event in honor of the Centennial.
BBYO RELEASES CENTENNIAL HAGADDAH
BBYO reached out to generations of alumni to gather stories and wisdom to create a special edition, custom made Hagaddah for Passover. Hundreds of copies were purchased and distributed around the world through the The BBYO Shop.
MAY
On May 3, 2024, BBYO proudly celebrated its 100th anniversary. The month of May was full of celebrations including chapter events, conventions, and special gatherings of alumni around the world. Centennial events for the alumni community were held in Buenos Aires, Chicago, DC, London, Melbourne, New York, San Francisco, Sofia, Tel Aviv, and Toronto. AZA and BBG marked this moment with the Founders' Fest initiative where chapters worldwide ran programming that celebrated history, educated about tradition, and connected members with the significance of this anniversary.
AZA CELEBRATES 100 YEARS
Honoring the 100th anniversary of AZA, the 99th Grand Aleph Godol, TJ Katz, released a special video featuring generations of past Grand Aleph Godolim to tell the story of AZA though today.
FOREVER YOUNG: A SPECIAL SERIES OF EVENTS ON BBYO ON DEMAND
BBYO hosted three digital events on May 3 to mark BBYO's birthday for teens, advisors, staff, and alumni. The events included trivia, a preview of the new Digital Archive, and blessings going into Shabbat.
BBYO GOES BIG IN TIMES SQUARE
In a bold and vibrant display of Jewish pride, BBYO marked 100 years in Times Square with a 24-hour billboard celebrating the strength of our Movement.
