BBYO MEMORY WALL

I was the Aleph Godol of Rocky Mountain Region in 1958. I had the honor to start the Cheyenne BBYO and made lifelong friends. Becoming a leader helped me throughout the rest of my professional career. AZA/BBG/BBYO changed my life in so many ways.

The lifelong friends that I made during membership and then as an advisor are the basis for my entire adult life. The most exciting story was when my husband was advisor to Harry S Truman AZA and we planned and then participated in an event at the president's Library in August 1962. All of our members, parents, and local leaders were present in the Auditorium of the Library with the President and he invited everyone visiting the Library that day to hear his speech.

My family had just moved to San Bernardino and I knew one Jewish girl from Temple Emanuel. She was going to a BBG conference about a half hour away and her mom convinced my parents to let me go. Marion and I roomed together and thus began our lifelong friendship of 68 years and counting.

I remember travelling to Israel in the summer of 1960!

The year 1963 or 1964 was approximately the time I was in BBYO in Montreal, chapter was the Aspirettes. At the time, BBYO had a group of young adults called BBYA. There was a convention taking place in Long Island, NY in 1965. I went with a group of friends. There were many cities taking part in this convention. Toronto was one of them. I met a "guy", Harvey S., at one of the programs. He was from Toronto. Upon returning to our own cities, we started to correspond or talk on the phone. No internet, etc. at that time. We became fast friends and before we turned around, got engaged in November 1966 and married in October 1967. I made the move Toronto. Well, we will be celebrating our 56th anniversary this October 28th. In 1987, I got a job at BBYO LOR, where the director was Arlo Gutner. I worked at BBYO for almost 24 years. Those were the best years I have had. Being with the teens was an amazing introduction to that age group. I have made some wonderful people over the years and am still in touch with some who live in Montreal. With love'n'pride in BBG, AZA, LOR!

At Camp B’nai Brith attending a BBYA convention, I met a very special person, who became a friend. After camp, Jeannie F. came to Philadelphia and stay about fives days. The next spring, I went to Chicago fora long weekend. That was in 1965. We have stayed in touch all these years. Getting married, having children, visiting each other over all these years. We saw each other in July when she and her husband came to Philadelphia for a convention.

I was in North Hollywood AZA from 1958-1966 or so, and an advisor for Ben Negev AZA from 1966 on. Those experiences gave me incredible memories.

Too many memories! Basically, BBYO WAS my high school social life. From the meetings, the dances, the Jewish girls, our sporting activities together, the regional conventions and so much more. Many of my current friends I met while in BBYO. I am still amazed that at least 10 couples that met in BBYO during my time from '60 to '64 got married and are still married to this day! I have become involved in our reunions over the past 20 years or so. Our last one was the first week of August this year and over 60 of our alumni attended. We always finish these reunions with our Friendship Circle and ALWAYS end our singing with the singing of "Friends, Friends, Friends we will always be." So there you have it!

As a community service initiative, we (I do not recall if the AZA team was from just my AZA group, Leon Greenberg AZA #52 or a select team taken from the three AZA groups in Worcester MA, #52, #346, and #685) were invited to the Worcester County Jail to play a team of inmates our age or a bit older in volleyball. After a tour of the jail which was pretty grim, we made it to the exercise yard where a volleyball court awaited us. The inmates beat us rather handily 5 games straight before we asked if we could play games using regular volleyball rules. They still beat us, but the games were close.

My high school years were filled with very special BBYO moments. Some of the most meaningful experiences I shared were "friendship circles". I imagine this tradition is done differently in many communities but in Youngstown, Ohio they were special moments when the lights were out, candles were lit, and special songs and thoughts were shared while we stood arm and arm with our friends. Also, I met my future husband in BBYO during a joint program between my BBG chapter and his AZA chapter in 1964. We have know each other for over 60 years and we celebrated our 54th wedding anniversary on March 22, 2024.

I went to a Forest Preserve Park for BBYO meetings, in the north part of Chicago. I met lots of people there and have great memories of time spent together.

I am still in touch with Roberta S., Sherry R., Joanne P., Anita H. who were former leaders and members of BBYO with me in Skylettes chapter in Daly City, CA. Although many decades lapsed, we still meet periodically for dinner.

When I was in BBG in the 1960s, our meeting place was a group of rooms above a menswear store. The was a very handsome guy who worked on staff there on Sundays. We met, we dated and we married. I am proud to say that all 5 of our grandchildren have been very active in BBYO both locally and at the regional board level. They have all learned and grown so much and will carry these experiences with them always. The best is that they know that it is thanks to BBYO that their grandparents met. We are all forever grateful.

In 1968, my future wife, Rita and I attended a BBYO District Convention at University of Illinois. We both attended a meeting in advance of the convention at Al L.'s home, who was regional AZA president at the time. We had never met. We both attended the conference and we also arrived on the same bus to Champaign, IL. During this time, we got to know each other by participating in the numerous activities planned for the convention. Shortly, after arriving home, I built up enough confidence to ask my wife out on a date. Yes, she did attain permission from her mother. After that first date, we dated off and on for six years throughout college. Rita lived next door at the SDT house and I lived at the AEPi house. On July 21, 1974, we got married. On July 21, 2024, we will be married for 50 years. To summarize, I met my best friend through BBYO. Also, I have served as an AZA advisor twice including the time, my younger son participated in AZA.

It was a joint BBG/AZA meeting at someone's home. I was 15 and a student at Palisades High School. One of the guests was celebrating his or her birthday (I can't remember who it was). The Beatles' White Album had just been released a few days before (November 1968). The record was put on the stereo turntable with the sound turned all the way up and the song "Birthday" blasted into the room. That was the start of a great party! Also, I think my husband, Marshall Ratinoff, who was a member of AZA and four years older than me, was at that same party, but we did not meet until years later. The first time I saw him, I thought he looked familiar, but we couldn't ever definitely placing our meeting at that party.

I met my wife at a BBYO conference, and we will be married 50 years this year.

Dallas, Texas had a hugely popular BBYO culture (still does) and I was in Henry Monsky AZA during all my HS years. All three of my brothers were active. I was the regional Texoma Vice President and in charge of planning our 1970 winter regional convention. Additionally, I participated in BBYO’s 1971 three-week summer program in Israel where I made life long friends. When my mother died young at age 38 of cancer in 1968, the Dallas Jewish community got together and formed BBG chapter Ginny Weinstein #1604, in 1969 in her honor. What a meaningful legacy. I was so moved by this loving act of kindness I was determined to pay it forward and in 1979 I became the BBYO KIO (Kentucky, Indiana, & Ohio) Regional Director. I eventually became the President/CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas for 14 years. Thank you BBYO for making me the person I am today.

BBYO was a lifeline to me in high school and showed me what real friendship is like.

So many memories, but the one that stands out the most is the fact I met my the woman who would become my wife at a house party in Everett, MA in August 1970. We didn't start dating until several years later, but we will always have AZA and BBG in common as our foundation.

I met Steve R. in 1973. We went to the same school, played baseball on the same little league team and both joined Chesapeake AZA in Randallstown, Maryland, a suburb of Baltimore. It’s been 50 years since then. Steve’s my oldest friend!

I grew up in a small city (Ottawa) with not a smaller Jewish population than Toronto or Montreal. I went to public school and was the only Jewish kid in the class for many many years. When I finally went to my first BBYO meeting, I met lots of Jewish kids my age and before I knew it, I was elected to Chapter President. Then I ran for Area President, then Regional N'siah. These years were amazing and filled with many memories of conventions, Beauhart Balls, ILTC and IC too. The friendships I developed are still relevant even if they are thousands of kilometers away - we are still connected and will always be connected. What an incredible organization.

I was honored to serve as Grand Aleph Godol during the 1986-87 program year. I attribute my closest friendships to my years in BBYO - as well as the skills I developed to help me succeed in the years that followed. Like so many others, I also met my wife in BBYO. Congratulations to BBYO on this tremendous occasion.

I was part of people creating BBYO in France, and then in Europe. I was the first Regional Aleph Godol elected in Europe, District 19. I had the opportunity to participate to ILTC, IC, and then the international leadership meeting in Washington DC. BBYO was key in my life, friendship, leadership, and gave me great memories. Today, I still have friendships with some people in the USA, Canada, and of course my friends in Europe through BBYO.

BBYO was the most memorable and impactful experience as a teen. Even as a pre-teen I watched both my older brother and sister get involved and couldn't wait for my chance. Our parents also were involved as teens in Denver. As a freshman, I joined BBG 201 and was immediately engaged and found community, friendships, and a connection to Judaism that I never had before. My first spring I immediately became involved and was elected to office and learned about leadership, taking responsibility, failing, succeeding, and self-confidence. As I grew and learned, I was determined to grow event further and as a sophomore, I was elected to Regional Mit-Mom/Morah, which led to running and being elected to Regional N'siah my Junior year. During college years, I became an advisor for the same chapter that gave me so much. I staffed anything and everything that I could and before I knew it, I found myself submitting an application to become the Regional Director of Rocky Mountain, which I did from 1989-1993. This was the most rewarding and enjoyable parts of my career. I still speak of this time often and have lasting connections to the teens that I mentored. After my tenure as a Regional Director, I joined the adult governing board and spent 5 years volunteering to serve on search, scholarship, and fundraising committees. Following all of this work with BBYO, I spent over 23 years working for a local synagogue and eventually started two non-profit organizations. I always attribute my success to the experiences and learning from BBYO.

I served as Grand Aleph Godol in 1987-88 and my wife, Sarah Edelman Blattner, was International S'ganit that same year. Although we did not date then, we knew each other. In the summer of 1989, we both worked at B'nai B'rith Perlman Camp and started dating then and have been married since November 1994.

I met several of my best friends today during my time in BBYO. Debbie Rose S. and I met at a Halloween party when we were 14 in 1984. She was just my Matron of Honor at my 2nd wedding. My leadership experience from BBYO has enabled me to serve on boards in college and throughout my adult life. I’m currently a board member of the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) Westchester N.Y. I’ll also never forget hugging in a circle singing “You’ve Got A Friend” every time we left Convention.

BBYO cemented my Jewish identity so that I could participate in Hillel on campus, then lead the Jewish student group in grad school, then join a synagogue when I got married, then raise two beautiful Jewish sons. As a place to reinforce Jewish identity, you can't beat BBYO.

My favorite BBYO memory was my final one - coordinating ILTC 2006. There is something so magical about Perlman and all the memories that place holds. Getting to watch over 100 teens embrace the meaningful BBYO summer program experience that I helped coordinate was the perfect way to leave my final mark on BBYO. The memories created, skills acquired, lessons learned and most importantly lifelong friendships created on summer programs will always impact your life, even decades later.

Havdallah is something that is a meaningful memory of BBYO. The singing your hearts out, standing around a bonfire with your closest Jewish friends and reflecting on the weekend was the best part. Once Havdallah was over, BBGs and Alephs would run off and break into a big cheer session. That was one of my favorite memories of going to conventions!

I met my husband, Justin, in BBYO when we were 15 at the hangout spot we all went to after projects. We started dating when I became Sweetheart of his chapter, Berger AZA, and have been together ever since. He proposed at the fountain at that same hangout spot in 2019 and we got married in 2021. BBYO helped me find my soulmate! I've attached pictures of us while we were Sweetheart and Beau in high school.

Leading up to our senior year, my best friend in BBYO and I ran against each other for Regional N'siah. Tensions were high and I thought it was going to be the end of our friendship. Luckily, we had amazing advisors that reminded us to not let an election get in the way of our friendship, and after a tough election we had the most incredible year on regional board together. We remained best friends, devoted to each other no matter what, and this year she was the maid of honor at my wedding. That experience not only solidified one of the most genuine relationships in my life; it taught me that there's nothing love can't conquer.

I met Anna J. at August Execs when we shared our love for The Bachelor. As soon as I conversed with her, I knew she would be someone I could be myself around. Anna greatly enhanced my experience at August Execs, having not known many other Presidents since I had never attended a summer program. I was so excited to see Anna again at IC 2019, sharing many memories and laughs. Anna and I are still friends to this day!

I started BBYO in grade 8 and really didn’t know anyone. I was shy and quiet. At my first regional convention, during BBG Separates, we sat outside and looked up at the stars we were asked to say a fear out loud. Mine was I was afraid to start high school and worried I wouldn’t make friends. Four years later in grade 12 at my final regional convention in the same location as my first regional convention we sat outside and looked up at the stars. This time we were asked to say a fear but I looked up and thought about how I was about to give my senior life speech. I was surrounded by amazing friendships I had formed through BBYO and I was in a place where I was sad to leave but ready to start university in the fall. It was a full circle moment.

I remember being so nervous attending my first event. But one thing led to another, and suddenly I was at every chapter and regional event. However, all of these events were online. Except for Chapter Big Little. This event changed my life. My big was my chapter N’siah, and she immediately became my biggest role model. She taught me everything that I know about this wonderful organization, and helped me find my heart and home within my chapter. She has since graduated, but we are still in touch to this day. I know that our bond is one that I will have for a long time. As chapter N’siah in 2023, I had the privilege of helping new members in the same way that my big did for me. Watching them fall in love with this organization is something so beyond special. I am so thankful that I found my heart and home in BBYO.

A moment that cemented my BBYO experience was at a “Senior Sendoff” event in my early years of BBYO. It was there I realized that my legacy mattered.

We did a BGG program at our regional convention where we all sat in a circle in a room with fairy lights circling us. The fourth year girls sat in the centre, and shared something deep about themselves using the prompt “something I wish people knew about me is…”. Then, they got everyone to write down something about themselves using that same prompt. Then we had an open discussion about mental health, and people who wanted to share could. It was beautiful how many people, especially the MITs, felt empowered to share stories about their own mental struggles. It was definitely the best region-wide bonding program I have ever been a part of, and I don’t think I’ll ever forget how safe and welcoming the space was.

In BBYO, I’ve found some of my closest friends all across the country and even the world. It’s not just Judaism that brings us together, it’s so much more. It’s a connection on a deeper level and shared experiences that bring us closer. You can’t find these types of friendships anywhere else, and I’m so glad I’m in BBYO.

If anyone ever tells you to travel with the people you know and be scared of new experiences because they might be dangerous, don’t trust him. My first BBYO international event consisted of traveling to a country I had never been to before with just one friend and not knowing anything about BBYO at all, and ended with beautiful memories, everlasting friendships, useful leadership skills, my indescribable passion for traveling, and of course, for BBYO.