BY ELISSA TOBIN AND EDEN WEISEL

 

BBYO, the pluralistic and international Jewish teen movement founded in 1924, aims to unite, engage and empower Jewish teens. BBYO offers flexible opportunities to be and to stay involved. BBYO is the place where every Jewish teen is included and can truly feel that they belong.

 

Leviticus, the Stamford chapter of AZA for boys, and Tikvah, Stamford chapter of BBG for girls, welcome new and current members to a spectacular year of programming, friendship and fun. The chapters meet every other week for teen-led programs that blend a varied assortment of activities such as sports tournaments, skating nights, spa parties,  and the celebration of Jewish holidays, which include potluck dinners in a sukkah, white elephant parties for Chanukah, and so much more.

 

Members attend meetings as often as they can to share honored BBYO traditions such as singing the international youth movement songs and holding business meetings. Rituals connect teens as a community, a chapter, and also link them to BBYO members worldwide.  Beyond chapter meetings, there are opportunities to broaden teens’ skills and social networks, including regional and international conventions, travel, summer experiences and leadership training. 

 

This year, Leviticus (AZA) and Tikvah (BBG) are advised by: Ryan Murace (former Leviticus member), Mindy Hausman (mother of Steph Hausman, former Tikvah Chapter Member and International Board Member), Rachel Steinmetz (Director of JCC summer camps) and Eden Rafaelovich (UJF’s Community Emissary). This past summer, Board Members traveled to the Connecticut Valley Region’s 2025 BBYO Board Member Training Conference (B’Yachad) held at the KenWood and KenMont Camp to bond and kick off the upcoming year with energy. Advisors assisted with planning this year’s event calendar and board member training.

 

If you want to learn more about the BBYO chapters in Stamford, please direct message the Chapter Presidents on Instagram  Harrison Tronick  (Leviticus President - @leviticusllamas) or Sylvie Rosenberg (Tikvah President – @tikvahbbg1233) Harrison is a senior at Westhill High School and Sylvie Rosenberg is a Junior at Westhill High School. 

Elissa Tobin, a senior at Stamford High School, and Eden Weisel, a sophomore at King School, are Tikvah BBG's Co-Vice Presidents of Membership.