The results of these dialogues essentially fell into one of two camps. The first, was the accessibility to the agency. If the agency could be reached geographically from all over a certain community, then this camp felt comfortable defining the agency as a "community agency". However, the second camp was much more philosophical in its definition. Although geographic acces was nice, this group was much more interested in a "communal approach" to what "type" of Jew would feel comfortable attending, joining, or "accessing" this agency. To this group "community" had much more to do with klal Yisrael than it did to zip codes and toll roads.
I have spent the better part of my career in the "community day school" world...the community day school world who defines itself according to the second description above. But the reason I share this thought is because when I went on the BBYO trip this summer, it was clearly obvious that BBYO also defines itself in this second way.
From even before day one of the trip, during our training, through the very last day of the experience, participation in Jewish life, support of Jewish knowledge, and reinforcement of the teens Jewish identity, was all about accepting them wherever they were along their journey of Jewish self-discovery and practice. Once we accepted them for who they were Jewishly "community" took over from there. Our job was to build a community of differing opinions, shared thoughts, and multiple perspectives into one Jewish community.
For me, it was like being "home"...thanks BBYO!
And of course, here's a few more photos...
Havdallah in Rome...
...enough said!
We even tried some Tikkun Olan (repairing the wold).
Straightening this building out didn't quiet work as planned???
Straightening this building out didn't quiet work as planned???
Building community!
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