The Ohio Northern Region of the B’nai Birth Youth Organization (BBYO) will send 46 Jewish teens and five staff members to BBYO’s 102nd annual International Convention, set to take place Feb. 12-16 in Philadelphia.

The BBYO convention, held annually during President’s Day weekend, brings together Jewish youth and staff from 63 countries. The convention agenda includes programming, learning, praying, sightseeing, performers, guest speakers and several other highlighted events. 

Teens from ONR are looking forward to the convention, especially regional president Justin Bilsky. 

“I’m happy that the number has grown over the years.” Bilsky said, ”The future is definitely bright for ONR and BBYO as a whole” 

This year’s convention will host over 5,000 Jewish teens and staff in Philadelphia.

The Ohio Northern Region (ONR) spans across all of the major cities within the northern region of Ohio including, Cleveland, Toledo, Youngtown, Akron and Canton. Of the 46 ONR teens attending the convention, 12 are BHS students.

Other BHS students have leadership roles including Regional Co-President Ilu Thal and Regional Co-Mazkir (Secretary) Elle Beck.

Aside from Beachwood, other ONR attendees are students from Orange, Solon, Shaker Heights, Hawken and University School.

While the ONR spans across all five of those cities, Cleveland is by far the largest, sending 40 teens to the convention in February this year, while Toledo will send four and Youngtown two. 

While many Jewish teens are excited for the convention, so are BBYO staff, including ONR Engagement Manager Jake Shulman, who will be attending for the first time this year. 

“I’m looking forward to seeing the energy and pride at the international convention, whether it’s pride in your region or pride as a Jew or even just as a BBYO member,” Shulman said.

Another key factor is the excitement of being in a space with so many other Jewish people, and the feeling of security. 

Teens from the Keystone Mountain Region (KMR), which spans across portions of western Pennsylvania and West Virginia, are also anticipating the event. 

KMR President Samuel Stavchansky is happy that his region is sending 42 teens, which is the most it has sent in the past 10 years.

“I’m just excited to have a reunion with all of my friends, and be in a place where everyone’s happy to be there and proud to be Jewish,” Stavchansky said. 

Stavchansky also highlighted the growth that BBYO has seen in the past few years. 

“I think the coolest thing at IC is that Jewish teens can do anything,” Stavchansky said. “[The KMR region] started from so small, and now it’s huge, which makes me really proud to represent the Jewish youth, and how we can do anything.”  

Stavchansky plans to arrive at the convention a day earlier than attendees to meet with other regional presidents.

Teens attending the convention will leave on Thursday, Feb. 12 with the convention’s opening ceremony scheduled for that evening. The convention will conclude Sunday evening with the convention’s closing ceremony, and then return on Monday, Feb. 16. 

Bilsky highlights how everyone at the convention takes pride in representing themselves, their region, BBYO and Jews as a whole. 

“It’s great to be there,” Bilsky said. “It’s great to represent ONR and shed a positive light on the region by representing our region well.”

BHS Junior Ari Synenberg, ONR’s Regional Mazkir (Co-Secretary), says the convention allows him to make new friends while also seeing old ones, which helps him keep coming back year after year. 

“I’m very excited to go to IC, with it being my third year going,” Synenberg said. “I’m super excited to meet new people, especially other Jewish teens from around the world.” 

Synenberg also mentioned he has made many lifelong friendships at previous international conventions.

The International Convention is held in a different city each year. Prior to this year’s convention in Philadelphia, the most recent conventions were held in Denver, Orlando, Dallas and Baltimore. 

“Philadelphia is a great location, with a great lively Jewish community,” Synenberg said. “The city has great culture and an overall positive environment.” 

The organization has also planned opportunities for sightseeing across the city, so that convention attendees can truly see what Philadelphia has to offer. On Friday and Sunday, teens will divide into big groups and head out into the city of Philadelphia to participate in a previously selected activity.

BBYO also plans on bringing in several speakers and performers including The Bread Basket Podcast, Yoel Levy, Chris Cambell, Omer Wenkert, Zach King, Rebel WIlson, The Skylar Brothers, Micheal Solomonov, Natasha Bedingfield, Loud Luxury, Ian Asher and highlighted by Quavo.  

Next year’s host city will not be announced until the convention’s closing ceremony on Sunday. The announcement is set to be made by the two current International presidents, Logan Reich of Asheville, North Carolina and Mercedes Benzaquen of Barcelona, Spain. IC will also feature the elections of next year’s grand international board.

It is clear that IC is a big deal for these Jewish teens, as so many are looking forward to it. For so many, the convention is a place where Jewish teenagers feel safe, comfortable and have the chance to have fun.  

For more information on how to get involved with BBYO you can go to their website, https://bbyo.org/.