THE SHOFAR The Newspaper of the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization SIVAN TAMMUZ, 5755 / SUMMER 1995 BBYOers Climb Capitol Hill Execs Descend on Washington rying to cram all the business of the were really great to meet with," said Danny ing programming year. One popular T world's largest youth organization into Cohn, Council Godol from Corn Belt idea was to offer a 50th Birthday Anita 5-Folds Change for AZA five days is a tall order, but from Feb. 16 Council in Omaha, Neb. "It was really cool. Perlman Gold Card to members who AZA made history at the February Executives to 20, BBYO executives succeeded in doing knew I wanted to go into politics to begin recruit at least five BBGs. The card meetings when it changed the five folds, the basic much more than just routine business. with so it was a great experience. They actual- would entitle members to special privi- The 1995 February Executives Meetings in ly treated us like adults, and don't think they leges such as discounts to regional tenants for programming for AZA, by a vote of 35 Washington D.C. were days for fun and would have if we hadn't been part of BBYO." events. to 12, with two abstentions. friends, but also a lot of work. Outside of Each BBYO member met with his or her AZA voted to honor Ed Asner for the AZA chapter leaders agreed to adopt recom- business meetings, BBYO representatives own representative or their staff at their AZA Sam Beber Distinguished Alumni mendations made by the AZA Five Fold Task descended on the nation's capital to lobby office in Congress. Award. Grand Aleph Godol Mark Force, changing the Religious and Cultural folds to their congressmen. After long hours in meetings, AZA execs Naparstek and the International Staff Judaic and Educational. The Athletic and Social These were not your typical high school decided the future of the folds, both groups will make the final choice. folds remain unchanged and the Community tours, however, but actual participation in debated campaign procedures for platforms Songs honoring the different interna- Service fold was amended to include Social Action. the legislative process. BBYOers were told at international elections and execs decided tional members, like Hatikvah and Trois The folds represent the major focus areas of that their opinions would be treated as legit- on charities and awards to honor. Trois BBYO, broke up the long hours of AZA, SO any changes could be seen to signal a new imate ones, and that their leadership in the BBG execs talked about ways to cele- meetings and kept spirits high. era in the organization. But the new folds are world's oldest and largest Jewish youth brate the 50 years of BBG in the upcom- almost exactly the same as those proposed over 70 movement would be respected. Reva Price, years ago when AZA was founded. responsible for the Political Action Network "These folds should stay a while," said Corey of B'nai B'rith worked with Tali Weinberg and Joel Pollack to prepare participants for Stern, Grand Aleph Mazkir. "The folds are the political fray. there to make things easier for the chapters..." The lobbyists-for-a-day had a number of The folds were changed in response to recent issues to discuss with congressmen. In complaints that the Cultural and Religious folds response to the call by some members of overlapped. Congress for voluntary prayer in school, BBYO "The new (folds) are much easier and there representatives expressed the long-standing is less of a fine line between them. Our hope is BBYO opposition to all forms of government- that younger kids in the chapter can understand sponsored prayer in public schools. what they mean by just looking at the name." BBYOers urged their representatives to Stern said. continue to support Israel's peace initiatives At the Feb Execs meetings this year, debate and keep foreign aid, which is targeted for over the issue, especially on the "Judaic" fold budget cuts, as large as possible. The youths (alternatives auggested: Jewish Life, Jewish also encouraged anti-terrorism and crime- reduction efforts. Awareness and Jewish Heritage) raged into the "The main thing we wanted to talk about night. The closest vote came on the Community was foreign aid, and most of the senators Service/ Social Action ammendment. AZAA TOURNAMENT: In the Record Books! Undefeated Barakim AZA of Cooper City, Florida Takes Home Top Honors M emorial Day weekend 1995 will game. After three very close quarters, the the final tournament. The games took go down in record books as the Florida team pulled away in the final place at Northern Virginia Jewish revival of the great tradition of eight minutes to claim the championship. Community Center in Fairfax. the International AZAA tournament. Jared Tacher of Barakim AZA was Competition was excellent, according The practice of holding annual nation- named the Most Valuable Player in the to Al Freedman, international staff coor- al basketball tournaments fizzled in the tournament, and medals were given to dinator of AZAA basketball, and many late 1930s, and BBYO sports programs in each player at a banquet following the games were decided in the final moments general saw a decline in prominence in games. of play. The tournament was run on a the past 20 years. But a year and a half Sectionals hosting four to seven double-elimination basis, ago, AZA decided to revive the athletic teams were held in eight cities: meaning that teams were fold and reincarnate a continent-wide Baltimore, Connecticut, Dallas, eliminated only after basketball competition. Jacksonville, Milwaukee, losing two games. More than 2,000 alephs from all over Philadelphia, San Francisco Players travel- the United States and Canada participat- and St. Louis. ing to the final ed in regional and sectional basketball Barakim AZA, Genesis round in Washing- competitions. Team efforts culminated in AZA of Milwaukee, Masada ton D.C. had to raise the finals, held in Fairfax, Virginia, a sub- AZA of Long Island, Pi Tau Pi just $215 to cover air- urb of Washington D.C. AZA of Louisville, Sam Beber fare and lodging at the Undefeated Barakim AZA of Cooper AZA of San Francisco, Simon Rockwood Manor City, Florida, paired against Weizmann- Atlas AZA of Washington D.C. and Convention Center. Bogen of Austin, Texas, for the final Weizmann-Bogen BBYO competed in continued on page 3 AZAA Tourney Champs