The Ohio Northern Region of B’nai Brith Youth Organization (BBYO) held a tailgate event on Sunday, Nov. 2 at the Mandel Jewish Community Center where Jewish teens from all over Northeast Ohio came together to socialize and enjoy food and games.

More than 200 teens and parents attended.

BHS Senior Ilu Thal has been a member of BBYO since 2022 and is now regional president of ONR.

“This event was [designed] to open more teens up to the BBYO community without cost being an issue,” she said. “[We wanted to] make sure parents [could attend] so they [could be] better informed of what BBYO is.” 

BBYO is a global Jewish youth organization for teens from eighth grade to graduation from high school.

This community-based Jewish organization aims to help build the identity of Jewish teens with opportunities for community service, cultural programs and social events. 

Lilah Bass, an eighth grader at Orange Middle School, is a newer member of BBYO, and she is excited to get involved. 

“[We can] learn about Judaism [in a more] engaging and fun way,” she said.

Teens have the opportunity to go on a variety of international and local trips to meet other people and gain long-lasting friendships.

Ohio Northern Region (ONR) consists of nine chapters, each of which are teen led groups that participate in a variety of events throughout the year.

Inside the JCC gym, tables were set up allowing the chapters to promote themselves.

Each table was decorated with colors representing their chapter as well as gifts such as candy, bracelets and slime containers to try to bring in new members. 

“[At the booths] I was able to [learn] more about each chapter and when events will be,” Bass said.

To kickoff a new year, the regional board for ONR planned an event in September to watch the sun set on a yacht on Lake Erie.

“We had an initial kickoff [event] that was $60 entry on a yacht,” Thal said. “It was super successful, we sold out in minutes.” 

Thal explained that the event caught the attention of BBYO’s national leaders.

“The Washington headquarters of BBYO looked at our region and saw how successful [our event] was, so they told us that now we have to do [another big event, and] they’re going to help fund a tailgate kickoff.” 

With assistance from the Washington headquarters, ONR spared no effort in planning this tailgate.

Guests at the tailgate enjoyed a variety of food trucks offering treats such as ice cream, cookie-dough and Squash The Beef, which sells vegan comfort food, as well as activities including a video game truck, bounce houses, a henna artist, games and a DJ.

 “We just wanted to get a lot of creative liberty, so that’s what kind of made it really unique.” Thal said.

Having a variety of activities at this tailgate provided everyone to engage in some form of entertainment.

Throughout the afternoon there were active games played like Coke and Pepsi – a fast-paced partner game where players have to sprint to their partner when their side is called — and knockout.

“I really liked playing Coke and Pepsi, which is one of my favorite Bat Mitzvah games, and I got to kind of felicitate it,” Thal said.

These kickoff events helped BBYO’s ONR membership grow, as both older and newer members showed up to represent their chapters.

This event felt unique because teens from Toledo and Youngstown BBYO traveled for more than an hour to attend and participate.

Among the 200 people who attended this event, a few were teens who are new to BBYO and are deciding whether they want to join a chapter and get more involved in the future.

For many of these teens, the tailgate was their first chance to become familiar with BBYO and to explore what each chapter has to offer.

“Every chapter seems very welcoming, [but also fun to be a part of],” Bass said.

Members from every chapter in the Ohio Northern Region—Exodus, Samson, Mac Miller, Golda, Lev Kesef, Youngstown and Toledo–hoped for a strong turnout as they planned new events for this year.

Solon High School sophomore Sami DuCovna is an active member of the girls chapter, Golda. 

 “We had more people interested [who] attended,” DuCovna said.

Attending this event gave teens who are interested in a certain chapter an idea of what their monthly schedule looks like. 

Many Jewish teens feel BBYO is an important part of their Jewish identity as they transition from a private Jewish middle school to a public high school where it can be hard to keep a strong connection to their Jewish identity.

“I needed that Jewish identity coming out of a Jewish day school into a public school. I needed that sense of Judaism,” Thal said.

BBYO provides a community for Jewish teens where they can feel at home.

“I love [having] friends from other schools who relate to being Jewish and have similar experiences,” DuCovna said.