Shotar The B'nai B'rith Youth Organization Tevet 5744, December 1983 Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA) B'nai B'rith Girls (BBG) The Biggest AZA/BBG Convention Yet And The Most International Over 400 members of AZA and BBG, which kicked off the year-long celebration representing the 36 regions of North of the 60th Anniversary of AZA, and an America, plus Districts #14 (Israel), #15 introduction program to the 1983-84 INTERNATIONAL (Great Britain and Ireland), and #19 (Con- membership campaign: MEMBERSHIP BNAI tinental Europe), gathered at Starlight, MACCABIAH/RITUAL REVIVAL. Pennsylvania, for the largest International One of the main features of the Conven- BBYO Convention ever held. The six-day YOUTH ORGA tion was the introduction of a major new event was deemed fantastic experi- book, Dealing In Futures, which chronicles ence," and "the best ever" by most of the the sixty years of the B'nai B'rith Youth participants; many of whom were conclud- Organization. Copies of the book were ing an eight-week summer at the B'nai rushed to camp directly from the printing B'rith Perlman Camp. In fact, for nearly house nearly a month before release to half of the delegates to the program, Inter- the general public; and the book's author, national Convention was the conclusion Dr. Max F. Baer, presented the first copy to of their BBYO summer which began with the International Convention. Dr. Baer, Kallah, ILTC, ISI, CLTC or Shirkada. who served as BBYO's International Direc- The Convention schedule, which ran very tor from 1945 to 1977, and who was a smoothly and kept the participants busy close associate of AZA pioneers Sam morning, afternoon and night, included a Beber, Julius Bisno, Philip Klutznick, etc; number of programs designed around the recalled a number of anecdotes related to theme: TRADITION WITH A FUTURE. the growth and development of BBYO. Af- Segments were devoted to highlighting the terwards, he autographed copies of his many traditions that have evolved in AZA new book for the Convention delegates. and BBG over the years and relating these Another highlight of the program was to the relevance to Jewish teenagers of the presentation of the coveted Sam Beber today. Many of those in attendance were Distinguished AZA Alumnus Award to surprised learn that much of what they Gerald Kraft, President of B'nai B'rith In- thought were new or recent practices ternational. Jerry, an alumnus of Indianap- and programs in BBYO were actually a olis AZA, told the Convention body that part of the AZA or BBG repertoire 20, 30 he considered receiving this award, or even 40 years ago. Even more surpris- named after the founder of the Aleph ing is that these activities were as "in" Zadik Aleph, among the highest of honors then as they are now. he has attained. He added that through In addition to the always exciting Inter- AZA "I learned responsibility, how to plan national Forensic Contest finals, Contest a successful project, how to conduct an Awards presentations, and of course, elec- effective meeting, and how to influence tions and installations, the delegates the decision-making process." He said that took part in a giant balloon launching he also gained a special bonus from his membership; he fell in love with his AZA chapter sweetheart, who is now his wife of Membership some 30 years. The delegates were also treated to ad- Maccabiah dresses by Dorothy Binstock, President of B'nai B'rith Women; Aaron Grossman, Chairman of the B'nai B'rith Youth Com- Enters mission; Dr. Sidney Clearfield, Interna- tional Director of BBYO; and Dr. Daniel Phase Two Thursz, Executive Vice-President of B'nai B'rith International and the former direc- The BBYO Membership Maccabiah/Rit- tor and developer of Kallah/ILTC and ISI. ual Revival is the second phase of a pro- The biggest ovation of the entire conven- gram begun last year to increase member- tion, however, was reserved for AZA Inter- ship recruitment and retention. In addi- national Sweetheart and BBG pioneer, tion, this year's program will seek to im- Anita Perlman. prove the quality of ritual programming On a more somber note, two plaques within the chapter. were added to the Memorial Grove. The first read: In Memory to Those Who Died Fighting for the Israeli Cause In Lebanon. It was affixed to the stone tablet by Inter- national N'siah, Judy Altenberg, and by Revital Levi-Sabag, a member of the Noar Membership LeNoar (District #14) delegation whose Maccabiah brother was killed while on duty in Leba- Membership-recruitment is important non only three months earlier. The second to BBYO. It provides the group with new plaque read: Julius Bisno-1983 and was faces, new ideas, new vitality, and new en- affixed by Grand Aleph Godol, Adam ergy. In BBYO, it also provides one very Petrovsky, and by Neal Bisno, a grand- important ingredient continuation. For nephew of the late Mr. Bisno; who is now in a high school-aged organization, there himself a member of AZA in Memphis, is a 100% changeover of members every Tennessee. Jack Spitzer, a former Grand four years. Aleph Godol and Past-President of B'nai Through Membership Maccabiah, chap- B'rith International, as well as a past re- ters can recruit members, and through cipient of the Sam Beber AZA Distin- revival of their rituals (improved quality guished Alumunus Award, and a close programs) chapters can hopefully retain a friend of the man whose memory was larger percentage of their members. being honored, related the many signifi- The concept is very basic, non-com- cant contributions made by Julius Bisno petitive, and every chapter can be a win- to the establishment of BBYO. ner. Continued on page 3 Continued on Page 2