Kislev, 5748, December 1987 Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA) B'nai B'rith Youth Organization (BBYO) B'nai B'rith Girls (BBG) The B'nai B'rith Beber Camp B'nai B'rith Teen Connection B'nai B'rith Perlman Camp Israel: Forty Years of Independence A Time for World Jewry to Pause and Reflect By Vered Rogel BBYO International Sh'lichah MASPERO This year, we celebrate the 40th an- I know it is a big deal four dec- niversary of the creation of the mod- ades. There are countries that exist ern state of Israel. This is not just for hundreds, if not thousands of another "Israel Independence Day," years. But none have done the impos- but a major milestone in the history sible. No nation existing today started of Israel and in modern Jewish from scratch and after 40 years stood history. with the rest of the world's nations, Therefore, instead of just celebrat- proud of achievements that took KODEKS WITH ing and honoring the day itself (the others centuries. 5th of Iyar, or April 22), we dedicate Today, our universities and scholars the whole year to Israel's 40th. are among the finest in the world, we The B'nai B'rith Youth Organiza- have made the desert bloom and we tion, as the world's largest Jewish have taken great pains to keep our youth group, is taking a leading role nation a democracy, the only one in in this international celebration. As a the Middle East. Jewish youth group, we proudly join What did we start with? A desert, a in Israel's year long celebration couple of swamps, a few thousand Tel Aviv, shown here during the mid-1930s, has come a long way since which started this past summer. dreamers who left everything to come Israel's pre-state days. In Israel 's 40 years of independence, Tel Aviv and As part of our activities, we are hav- to a far off place and fulfill a dream. its surrounding metropolitan area has become the country's largest ing special programming, our always- We had another few thousand that population center, home to about one million Israelis. superb summer trips to Israel and a came out of the ashes in Europe. special Adult Mission to Israel. They were the survivors, people who AZA/BBG Officers Attend B'nai So why are we making such a big saw one of the world's oldest civiliza- fuss about this year's Yom tions in flames. Yet, they still believed B'rith Commission Meetings Ha'atzmaot (Independence Day)? in the impossible: that there is hope! There are a couple of reasons as to Not even the Nazi death machine had why we make "such a big deal" out of defeated that hope. This is in fact one By Hillary Goldhar By Diane Green and Jefferson Paul Ehrlich 40 years of independence. of the secrets of the Jewish people BBG North America CJE When I think of all that we have eternal optimism. Commissioner BBG North America CVS done, I know that there is not really What else did we start with? There We are the next generation. It is vi- Commissioner and AZA North enough time to stop and reflect and were a few thousand more that es- tal for us to learn and experience our America CVS Commissioner Jewish heritage in order that we may The Community Volunteer Service put things into proper perspective. caped. They literally walked from That is what this year is for. We stop hostile countries that they could pass it on to our children. We must Commission (CVS) of B'nai B'rith is a to think and look around us. We see never call their home. They lived prepare for them a world which will very important commission that that, with all of the difficulties (who there in ghettoes under Moslem be open to them and filled with oppor- many of us know nothing about. It is can even start to count them?), and rulers that treated them as second tunities. In order to prepare for this, something that we should take the the problems (we've had more than class citizens. we must further our learnings and time to discover because its work our share), we have done what no Forty years ago, in the middle of knowledge as well as fight anti- directly affects us in BBYO. other nation could have. nowhere, all of this came together Semitism. Did you know that when your chap- Forty years ago, in a desolate place to start a new Babylonian Tower In mid-October, as the BBG Com- ter. council or region does community in the middle of nowhere, a nation complete with the many tongues and missioner to the B'nai B'rith Continu- volunteer service projects, you are that just lost almost two-thirds of its nationalities of our people. And sur- ing Jewish Education Commission often participating in a national CVS people was trying to rebuild what prise, today that tower still stands. (CJE), I attended in Washington, D.C., program? For example, the "AIDS: We Care" they had lost 2,000 years ago. They Hopefully, with a lot of love and hard a series of the commission's planning wanted to create a home for homeless work, (it never was and never will be sessions. booklets that may already be in your people, to build a safe haven for the easy), it will stand for a long time to Joel Silverman of Atlanta is the region were produced with CVS. In most persecuted of all people. In come. AZA commissioner. fact, CVS has developed even more short, 40 years ago, we tried to do continued on page 3 Throughout the three-days I spent AIDS education material for the B'nai what was considered by experts the there, I was continuously exposed to B'rith adults. new and exciting ideas, many which As BBYO commissioners to the CVS impossible! Every 10 years that went by, we entered a new decade, seeing can be helpful to our Order's pro- commission, we attended a series of with our own eyes that "If you will it, Special Summer gramming. For starters, I was encour- their mid-October planning sessions. it can be." aged to learn that the CJE, in the It was a three-day experience that With each passing decade, we leave Programs Insert hopes of helping to enhance our Jew- opened our eyes to the many chal- behind even more proof that we have ish education, has prepared and lenges facing our fellow Jews, some Inside accomplished the impossible; we made available to us much of its vast of them problems that you would not have made a dream, our dream, come resources. think Jews still encounter today. We true. From now through the coming sum- took part in the planning and policy mer, we are celebrating the 40th an- decisions of the commission, getting niversary of our state, Israel. The a first-hand look at many of its excit- INSIDE THIS ISSUE CJE has taken a leading role in pro- ing new initiatives that are still on moting this through making a series the drawing board or just now being implemented. Leadership Letters Page 2 of videotapes, "Pillar of Fire," avail- able. Any or all of the 19 episodes, all Just read about what we discussed; Reach for the Stars Page 3 on the different aspects and periods we are sure that you will have a better Happenings Page 4,5 of Israel's history, can be rented or understanding as to how we, as Jew- Regional Updates Page 6,7 ish teenagers, can help others in Sh'lichah's Column Page 8 loaned through the international Israel Summer Institute Page 9 office. need. If you have heard of Project HOPE Teen Connection Page 10 During the meetings, I saw one of these episodes and found it to be a (Helping Our People Everywhere), BBYO Around the World Page 11 very moving and well-done presenta- then you know that this is one of the Potpourri Page 12 Summer Programs Insert tion. My suggestion to most regions long-time CVS projects that provides CJE continued on page 3 CVS continued on page 3