JANUARY, 1981 the SHOFAR B'NAI B'RITH YOUTH ORGANIZATION ALEPH ZADIK ALEPH (AZA) B'NAI B'RITH GIRLS (BBG) LPS LE The National Jewish Monthly (NJM), the magazine life of B'nai B'rith International, asked the editor of THE THE GIRLS OF DEBRA. SHOFAR to write profiles of a BBG chapter and an AZA st Region chapter which would reflect what is happening in BBYO service today for our parent organization's members. The two mula is THE GUYS OF BRANDEIS stories were published in the August/September NJM. There Both Brandeis AZA in Bethesda, MD. and Debra BBG in st the Baltimore, MD. went on to win "best chapter" awards in led did their respective councils. THE SHOFAR invites BBYO vor of members around the world to submit stories profiling the e personalities and the groups which make up BBYO. y ormula is BALTIMORE eath Debra Gerber BBG - "We're Debra!" they tell you. represent Twenty-nine Jewish girls, ages 13 to 18, from gy for the Baltimore's northwest suburbs. eveloping Seated on sofas, chairs, chair arms and the carpet efforts of of Joy Marcus' living room, some of the girls are FACT) to awkward and giggly. formula. Many girls wear the unisex teen uniform: blue he BBG jeans, tee shirts, athletic shoes or clunky backless y Service clogs. One girl sports a cowboy hat. Some of the older girls are dressed in slacks and blouses. Judi Bodenheim, a Debra who has been n'siah - president - of Baltimore Council B'nai B'rith Girls (BBG), wears a tweed blazer and skirt. sheer hose and shoes with a slight heel. These older girls seem aware that they have become role models for their younger BBG sisters, as well as the organization's spokeswomen with the parents. The meeting opens with a creative Shabbat service written by Andrea Abramson. Older girls 7 told by enthusiastically recite the blessings over the challah, al chapter the wine and the candles. Younger girls follow more ut the haltingly - especially with the kaddish. he first Harriet Wilder, a dark-haired high school senior NFACT who is the chapter n'siah, calls on members to rote letter describe programs coming up and programs which C relation the chapter has completed. r Parents learn that over the preceding program-packed weekend. Debra sponsored a dance, of the sleep-over, a visit to the Maryland Historical account Society and Baltimore's Lexington Market, an Israeli tributed dance lesson, and a Sunday morning rap session. the The chapter held a model Passover Seder, also written by Andrea Abramson. Parents at the Seder motes didn't notice that the order of the cards with the lies in girls' speaking parts had been scrambled. The Seder uctions was a success. "But," one girl recalls, "Harriet's eggs are not smelled!" be used Debra visited a children's hospital ward and these entertained patients with guitars, other instruments ng. Many and records: "That was fun." Amy Greenebaum was S support the main planner of that event. A candy sale netted the chapter $127.98 for the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization (BBYO) International Service Fund. The girls won an additional $12 prize for selling the most candy of the thirteen AZA and BBG chapters in the Baltimore BBYO Council. "I bought three boxes," a mother says. Her daughter adds, sheepishly, "I ate most of it." The chapter played in a volleyball tournament. held a Says Laura Flehinger, the girl in the cowboy hat: f infant Fun, but not terribly successful. I hope we can get releases it together a little better for softball." ents of Continued on page 2 to ferences the indations bra WHAT'S PROGRAMS THAT WORK nd support FANTASY, REALITY & FELAFEL CEMBER