Evergreen:‍

For American Thanksgiving, I was lucky to spend time at home with family after a nice long stint of travel. But before leaving the PNW, I had to make it down to Portland to visit my Evergreen siblings to the south. I loved getting to go to chapter programs, meet with the regional board, and, of course, eat some delicious food. Seeing how far my region has come in my absence is inspiring, and I am unbelievably proud of all the work they are doing. Before hitting the road, I trained back up north for our very important #givingBBYODay. I was happy to spend this event at Seattle’s calling party, and they absolutely smashed their goal. But we didn’t just see success in Evergreen—our Order crushed our goal and raised over $1.1 MILLION. Seeing teens mobilized not just across the U.S. but across the world to raise crucial funds to support BBYO was exciting, and I can’t wait to see how this money allows us to keep spreading BBYO.

KIO:

On the road again! After a restful Thanksgiving at home, I was back on the 180° tour in the Midwest with KIO. Starting out in Columbus, I was excited to visit the home city of many ILTC friends. While they are no longer in BBYO, seeing their chapter and being there during an exciting time was great. I had the chance to see chapter elections, and witnessing the transition of democracy is always amazing. While I was in KIO, I also ran my AZA Legacy Night in each city. Seeing how differently each city engaged with the rich history and traditions of AZA was very interesting, and I’m excited that so many teens were able to learn about our Order’s origins. I loved KIO because of their closeness despite distance. Although the cities are hours apart, seeing how much love they have for their siblings across states was special, and I am certain those relationships will transcend BBYO. After some other meetings with community partners and stakeholders, I felt very confident in the longevity of KIO, and I am excited to see how Columbus, Cincinnati, and Louisville continue to grow and flourish.

RRR:

For my first time leaving the U.S. this year, I headed north to what will probably be my coldest visit of the year—Winnipeg, Manitoba. At -40 degrees (yes, that’s where Celsius and Fahrenheit cross) and with a whole lot of BBYO, it was a visit to remember. From going to KIO, which is one of our largest geographically diverse regions, to RRR, which is all found in Winnipeg and even more centered within one Jewish school, the contrast was fascinating. I had the chance to be there for Global Shabbat and the Red River Award Show that went along with it. This black-tie event was a super fun way to celebrate Shabbat, and even though the tunes were a little bit different, celebrating Shabbat in that space—knowing that 150+ other communities were celebrating that same ritual—was truly special.

But the fun didn’t stop there. With several AZAA events, we played a variety of sports—from a snowy game of American football to the Canadian classic of floor hockey. I loved seeing AZAA events being executed at such a high level. Lastly, since so many Red River teens are going to summer (AND SO SHOULD YOU), we had to do some summer engagement events. Seeing how excited these teens were to go on BBYO Summer—especially given the historic increase in engagement—was very exciting, and I can’t wait to hear how these teens enjoy their programs. After some zoo visits and Jets games, my time up north came to a close, but I hope to return soon.

Board Retreat:

For one of the last times 180 will all be together, we traveled to Philadelphia for a week of planning, bonding, and celebrating. It was amazing to join with the incredible team that is making the Movement move this year, and we were locked in. We started off the week celebrating the wins of the term. From #GivingBBYODay to BBYO Summer, there were so many wins across the board, and just as important as making those wins happen is celebrating them when they do.

But reflection isn’t just about the positives. We also took time to analyze our shortcomings over the last six months and figure out how we can propel into the new year with practices in place to successfully lead the Order. Once we knew the “how,” it was time to work backward and talk about the “what.” IC, J-Serve, Founders Fest, and so many more BBYO staples are coming up, and we are excited to innovate and deliver these new experiences to the movement.

But of course, we didn’t just work. We had several amazing experiences over the course of the week that will stick with me for the rest of my life. Celebrating Shabbat together was so special because we were each able to lead a piece of the service and give the other teens a glimpse into what the traditions mean to us. We also got to explore the great city of Philadelphia and our IC 2026 host city: the King of Prussia Mall, Reading Terminal, Mosaic Gardens, and so much more. Most fun was when our Philly tour ended with a meetup with Liberty and SJR regional boards. Joelle and I have so many chances to meet our counterparts throughout our travels, but giving our other counterparts the chance to meet with the ones they work so closely with over the course of the year was so special. Unfortunately, our week came to a close, but it wasn’t goodbye—just see you in February.

‍Israel:

Although leaving 180 was bittersweet, the sweet came from traveling to our people’s birthplace. For 12 days, we had the chance to explore Israel, meet with present and past BBYO teens, and talk with amazing community partners that help BBYO accomplish our mission.

We went to two huge events with Maccabi Tzair (MTZ) members. First was their big camping trip—500 teens ventured into the woods for a night of Shabbat, Hanukkah, and meeting other teens from across Israel. While it didn’t look like the conventions I was used to, I loved how much teens were able to have fun and create their own activities to enjoy with their chapters. We also went to the biggest event of the year, the 3,000-person (teen madrichim and younger campers) Mirot Lapid. We split up and went on hikes across Israel before all meeting in Hadera for a huge celebration. Since this was the 80th anniversary of these trips, they were extra special and exciting.

On top of these trips, we had the chance to meet several other chapters for their events and see what their experience in the chapter is like. Every Snif (chapter) in Israel has its own building that they decorate, adorn, and meet at. I loved seeing how each different building reflected their chapter’s character and how much work they put into maintaining them.

We didn’t just meet with the teens but also with the ShinShinim, who are taking a gap year to assist the various chapters across Israel. They live together in communes and get to support MTZ before going to the army. But MTZ doesn’t stop there—they can continue being involved by joining the Garin Nahal, where they serve in the army alongside other Maccabi alumni. Seeing how many people are excited to stay connected even after they graduate is very exciting, and now anyone from BBYO can take their gap year with Maccabi!

While in Israel, we visited many historic sites, both new and old. From the Kotel to the Nova site, we saw many integral parts of Israel’s history. Especially at the Nova site and Hostage Square, we reflected on how we can continue to support our siblings in Israel. Although my time in Israel has come to an end, the strife the community has gone through will persist in my mind, and I am excited to support them with all the resources and teens BBYO has.

What’s Up 2025??

With a new year comes many things: new experiences, new leaders, and new opportunities. I hope that during this new year, peace and safety come to all those across our community who need it. Through BBYO, we have the opportunity to build that. I can’t wait to continue my travels—make sure you follow along @AZAGodol and #MapMez, and I will see you on the road!