'Kallah 09' is Meaningful for BBYO'ers

Forty seven Columbus BBYO teens recently spent a meaningful weekend together at "Kallah 09 - I Feel Home" event. The weekend was the annual Regional Shabbaton for Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio (KIO) Region. More than 110 teens participated in the weekend that was coordinated by Ariel Wasserstrom and Elliott Snay, both students at Bexley High School and members in the Columbus BBYO chapter.

"Columbus and the region had an outstanding turnout because of the hard work of Carly Herman. She called everyone in the region and got others to help her recruit KIO members to the weekend," said Wasserstrom. Herman is a sophomore at New Albany High School.

Saturday morning services were led by Rabbi Idit Jaques, the Vice President of JEDI at the Columbus Jewish Federation, with the members participating in the Torah service. Students also had the opportunity to speak to a professional at Hebrew Union College; Sarah Weiss spoke about Holocaust education as part of the programming. Libby Bear, the Columbus Sh'liach, also was on hand to teach the teens about Judaism, while Kasa Bayisin told the teens her story of being an Ethiopian Jew and her journey to Israel.

The members also had the opportunity to work together in several programs including B'nai Brith Girls Separates that included making a beaded bracelet designed by one of the Columbus BBG's mothers. Judy Ankerman made beautifully detailed beads that had the BBYO Logo Menorah in them and also beads with little rubber duckies in them. The rubber duck is the symbol of the KIO region. She is the mother of Jordan Ankerman, a member of Aliah, who attends New Albany High School.

On Sunday everyone participated in an amazing community service project where the teens were split into groups and prepared care packages and personal letters to be sent to soldiers overseas.

This was also the last convention for seniors to attend as members of BBYO. It was a very emotional time for them after spending four years together in BBYO. Many of them know where they are heading to college and feel a special bond with other members in the region.

Toga! Toga! Toga!

BBYO AZA Chapter Heart of Ohio #55 hosted their annual Toga party recently, with more than 75 people attending the fun-filled evening with snacks, costumes and music. Columbus JCC staff Shira Hurwitz, BBYO City Director, and Samara Chodesh, JET Director, chaperoned the party in the Zussman Center. Parents volunteering at the event were Maureen Emoff, Judy Ankerman, Lynn Tallan and Andrea Kleppel. Also helping with the event by hosting friends from out of town were Richard and Jill Herman, and Jeff and Dawn Langer. Jeff Levison, BBYO AZA Chapter Advisor and his wife, Tonia, also attended as chaperones.

Eighth graders and Columbus non-BBYO guests also were invited to attend the event as an outreach for membership.

The event was planned by Lex Tallan, sophomore from Pickerington; Aaron Wasserstrom, sophomore from Bexley, and Daniel Emoff, a freshman from Gahanna. The program started with a Havdallah service organized by Regional Officer Elliott Snay, a sophomore from Bexley. Leading the service were Eric Langer, a senior from Bexley, Brad Donner, a senior from Dayton and Daniel Ensign a senior from Louisville.

For More Info...

BBYO currently is recruiting participants for next year. For more information about BBYO, contact Shira Hurwitz at (614)559-6212.