SHEVAT/ADAR I 5752 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 BBYO Puppet Theatre Brings History to Life In an effort to bring this unique educational program to all BBYOers, BBYO began a pilot Ten years ago, B'nai B'rith puppetry project in January of Beber Camp started a puppetry this year. BBYO directors from program for its young overnight Chicago, Boston, Memphis, Los summer campers. Initiated by Angeles, and Milwaukee met with BBYO staff person Lowell Lustig, International Leadership Pro- and run by Beber Camp staff, the grams Director Marlene Zakai for puppet performances were aimed an overnight seminar at B'nai at teaching Jewish youth about B'rith Beber Camp in Mukwona- the weekly Torah portions by go, Wisconsin. bringing history alive. The workshop was designed Designed for youth who had to be a model for training BBY- minimal exposure to the Torah, Oers to run their own Torah pup- the puppet theatre helped the pet theatre. In addition to Torah kids get a feeling for what Torah study, the staffers met with is all about. The program was nationally renowned Jewish pup- tremendously successful and has peteer Marilyn Price. They wrote continued for the past decade. and rehearsed their own skits Lustig, together with Beber and gave one another feedback Camp Director Leonard Keilin, on puppet manipulation. As a wrote a number of puppetry skits result, five BBYO regions are now which were performed by junior Directors from five regions recently met to initiate a in the process of creating their counselors during Saturday BBYO puppetry project, to become national ifsuccessful. own Torah Puppet Theatres as morning services. At first, the part of the pilot program. skits were interpretations of each Rehearsals have already begun, week's Torah portion. However, Torah stories. The Torah portion at BBYO CLTC and ILTC, with and performances at BBYO con- over time "Torah's Greatest Hits" is still read during services, as the great results. As well, the puppet ventions, JCCs, and seniors citi- evolved, highlighting some of the puppet skits are meant to theatre was performed for the zen homes are scheduled to begin most interesting and meaningful enhance, rather than replace the first time at the 1991 BBYO Inter- in March. portion. national Staff Conference, where The five regions taking part Due to the success of "Satur- it received much praise from in the pilot program were chosen On The Inside day Torah Live" at Beber Camp, BBYO directors throughout the by BBYO area directors on the the theatre has also been featured world. basis of which region in each area had the resources, time, and Leaders' Lines Pages 2-3 energy to take on such a pro- Regional Roll 4-5 gram. However, a few other Happenings 8-9 Stanley Kaplan Test Prep regions have taken the initiative Teen Connection 10 Centers, BBYO Join Forces and started their own puppet theatres as well. Membership 11 Each region is recruiting ISF Statistics 12 Stanley H. Kaplan Education- classes will be offered to BBYO BBYOers to run the puppet the- al Center, the world's largest col- members in other cities in the atre in different ways - some are lege test preparation organization, future. utilizing the AZA and BBG has forged a partnership with According to Mr. Kaplan, "The regional boards to kick-off the AZA Alumnus Wins BBYO to create a mutually bene- goal of these seminars is to help program, some are taking volun- U.S. Racquetball ficial relationship. Kaplan will students raise their test scores teers from throughout the region. help raise funds for BBYO and make the transition to col- The puppets that will be used Championship through its test preparation lege easier." Both organizations are coming from different places courses. are optimistic that the BBYO- - some are store bought, some Page 7 Beginning this spring, BBY- Kaplan partnership will benefit are hand made, and some are Oers will be eligible for a $50 dis- everyone involved. stuffed animals with the stuffing count when they enroll in a test The Stanley H. Kaplan Educa- emptied out - all contribute to preparation course for the PSAT tional Center Ltd. was founded in the success of bringing the Torah or SAT, and a $30 discount on 1938. Last year, more than to life. International News, tuition for the ACT prep class at 140,000 students from around the "Helping our members en- BBYO in Australia any Stanley H. Kaplan Education- world enrolled at one of Kaplan's hance their knowledge and al Center. For each BBYO mem- 150 permanent centers and 600 appreciation of the Jewish reli- and Israel ber who registers for a Kaplan See Kaplan, Page 10 See Torah Live, Page 3 test preparation course, Kaplan Page 6 will donate a portion of the tuition to the BBYO National Office. In addition, as part of the See Stanley Kaplan-BBYO BBYO program, in Miami, Hous- Youth Executives ton, and Dallas Kaplan will offer Advertisement and Clip-Out Meet in Washington two FREE seminars, "Pathway to College" and an introductory strategy session for the SAT, Coupon on Page 10 Page 10 PSAT, and ACT to BBYO students. If successful, it is likely these free