By Rebecca Pinsky, Eastern Region
Shabbat at BBYO International Convention was a diverse and exciting affair. After eating a traditional Shabbat dinner, participants were given a variety of options to choose from for their services. Kabbalat Shabbat, the Friday night service, was split into four different choices: AZA Shabbat (boys only), BBG Shabbat (girls only), creative services (a more relaxed service with singing and dancing), and traditional services (a “Conservadox” blend). After personally attending the traditional service, I was launched into an impromptu song session were the order was taught “The Shabbat Song” by the UK delegation. Not only were the services meaningful and thoroughly fascinating, they were incredibly entertaining and easy to connect to.
The next morning, we again commenced with four services, this time AZA Shabbat, BBG Shabbat, Services: Summer Program Style, and traditional. Again, BBG and AZA Shabbats focused on religion within one’s gender and the bonding that came along with it. The summer programs service featured popular song-leaders Rebecca Ungerman (from CLTC at AHA) and Eric Hunker (from Kallah). The two led the participants in an inspirational reminiscence of Shabbat at BBYO Summer programs. The traditional service featured ritual prayer, a Torah and Haftarah service, and a D’Var Torah given by Saul Brodsky, Grand Aleph Shaliach. After services, all participants elected to take part in two different programs. An extraordinarily wide range of programs, from “Kosher sex” to “Across the Water: Q and A with the overseas delegations” lent an option to every member. These Shabbat Electives were both fun and impactful, further epitomizing the IC body’s passion for Judaism. After such intense programming, we were allotted “Shabbat reflection” time, where members partook in MBA (Mind, Body, Attitude) and AZAA (Aleph Zadik Aleph Athletics) programming as well as spiritual reflection about our faith and our values. Shabbat at International Convention, as a whole, was particularly meaningful because it allowed for teens from literally all over the world to come together under one powerful, spiritual medium: Judaism. Meeting new people, exploring new customs, and refining tradition were all part of the exquisite tradition of Shabbat for IC’s AZAs and BBGs.
Watch part of a BBYO Song Session:
