Talking: it's one of the most Jewish things I know of. We chat, we catch up, we debate—it comes naturally to us. Hebrew has at least eight different words to describe talking. Every Friday night we gather around dinner tables to discuss events over chicken and challah. Jewish salons across Europe were home to lively discussion and discourse, fostering the foundation for modern Zionism as we know it today. More precisely, conversation holds a special place in our community. Conversation isn't just one person talking while another listens—it's the collective contributions that bring ideas and aspirations to life. These exchanges teach us more than we could ever acknowledge in the moment, whether on blue benches at the top of a quad, in the back seat of an Uber, or on FaceTime from across the world.
Shalom y'all (meaning 'you all' for those unfamiliar), I'm Logan Reich from Eastern Region, North Carolina Council in the beautiful mountain city of Asheville, NC. I'm beyond excited to begin the #NextCenturyTour as I visit communities throughout the order (possibly yours) to support leaders, build momentum, and grow AZA and BBG. If you haven't met me yet, you'll soon discover that conversations are at the core of how I want to lead us into our next century. Throughout the year, I'll take you along on my journeys as I share what I'm learning from Alephs and BBGs across the movement and the big wins we're achieving worldwide.
The year began with the 101st Grand Board and 81st International Board gathering in Washington, D.C., in early June for our inaugural board retreat. The weekend was full of memory-making moments: running separates together, sessions on different functions of the movement, and exciting planning for the year. The retreat culminated with setting our priorities for this next year. We considered where we are as a movement and where we want to lead it. As we stood in the room, we dove deep into our individual priorities and how to combine them for the order. These are the priorities for the next year as accepted by the 101st executive body:
Member Experience
Jewish Identity
Teen Voices
Leaving retreat more excited than ever, I returned home to North Carolina to work at Camp Judaea. I was a counselor with rising freshmen from across the Southeastern United States. One night on the porch, my campers asked the simple question: "So Logan, what's next?" They were asking about college, but quickly learned about BBYO. Throughout the night, I watched two rising freshmen fall in love with our movement. I showed them my bluebook and shared pieces of our history. I saw in each of them the same spark that came across my eyes when I was their age—a passion for community and being the changemakers that build it. As people from a large city, often surrounded by Jews, it wasn't the idea of making Jewish friends that excited them—it was building Jewish community that entranced them.
Following camp, I traveled to Lake Como, PA, to visit ILTC and CLTC. This was one of the most unique weeks in both programs' histories as a storm hit northeast Pennsylvania just a day before my arrival. The storm wiped out power and brought us all back together as one. Landing at the small Scranton airport, I had no idea what was in store. When I arrived at Perlman, lights were off, phones were away, and a community was shaken, yet closer together than ever. After Kabbalat Shabbat in pajamas and a Saturday of lake showers and a visit to CLTC 2, we gathered to turn on the Perlman tree lights for just a few moments. We stayed up late awaiting dinner, which brings me to the next conversation. Sitting around a picnic table with people from across the order, we just talked—catching up on life, looking forward to the year ahead (and a shower). Throughout the night, although lights were out, people were hungry, and tiredness consumed everyone, there was somehow energy from every person I spoke with. Amidst the darkness of camp, we were drawn together and bonded through the chaos. Despite the conditions, ILTC shifted to Scranton, and we spent two days taking on the city through leadership training in historic synagogues and baseball stadiums. The program's dynamic movement reminded me of what I want this year to be about: taking risks and going with the flow as we continue building a stronger movement.
A month after departing ILTC, regional presidents and representatives from across the order descended on Fairfax, Virginia, for the 2025 August Executives conference. For a long weekend, we oriented the movement's executive body around what's to come in BBYO's next century. The 101st Grand Board of the Aleph Zadik Aleph and the 81st International Board of the B'nai B'rith Girls were installed, officially stepping into their roles as movement leaders. The boards led the weekend through interactive leadership sessions, Shabbat experiences, and training moments that brought people closer. We also conducted a historic business meeting, passing three official motions: Establish an Environmental Action Hub, Establish a Training Resource Hub for AIT/MIT Bootcamps, and Open the ILTC Coordinator Positions to any Senior Applicants (amended to keep Kallah Coordinator as a position responsibility for the International Sh'lichim). The motion to strengthen our movement's leadership programs showed the intense dedication to democracy and development that the 101st executive body has. Throughout the business meeting, over six amendments to the motion were proposed. This wasn't simply passion from the delegates—it was affirmation that our movement's leaders are dedicated to making changes that best represent each member's ideals. The business meeting's conversation was one of engagement, dedication, and excitement for the year ahead. Leaving execs and heading into the year, August Executives was the perfect kickoff. The excitement from the weekend was amazing.
As I left and embarked on the #NextCenturyTour, I traveled to my first destinations: Philadelphia with Liberty Region, Long Island with Nassau-Suffolk Region, and New York City with Manhattan Region and Big Apple Region. On these visits, I joined regional board retreats and trainings, engaged with chapter leaders, and witnessed these regions begin forming big plans for the year. The regional and chapter board members dove into chapter excellence, MRIHA perfection, and community engagement 101. Each leader walked away equipped to excel in their role, elevating the experience for every member of their communities. They will each undoubtedly leave an impact that stretches far beyond their time in BBYO, reaching more Jewish teens and truly building more meaningful Jewish experiences.
This was just the introduction to an amazing year as we head into the next century, and I'm ecstatic to continue! If you want to follow along more closely, follow me on Instagram @azagodol to see #ReichOnTheRun. You can also follow my food journeys on Instagram @reichsratings (if you're not sure you're in the right place, the profile picture is me with a beautiful platter of cannolis). I'll see you around as we keep pace!
Fraternally submitted with undying love,
Aleph Logan Bennett Reich, 101st Grand Aleph Godol
Logan Reich is an Aleph from Eastern: NCC, who served as the 36th Grand Aleph Shaliach and is serving as the 101st Grand Aleph Godol.
All views expressed on content written for The Shofar represent the opinions and thoughts of the individual authors. The author biography represents the author at the time in which they were in BBYO.
