Chicago philanthropist Ruth Perlman elected Chair of BBYO International Board of Directors. June 2, 2026 Chicago, Illinois. BBYO, the largest pluralistic Jewish teen Movement in the world is pleased to announce the election of Ruth Perlman of Glencoe, Illinois, as Chair of its International Board of Directors, effective July 1, 2026. A longtime volunteer leader and advocate for Jewish youth, Perlman brings a lifelong commitment to leadership development, philanthropy, and Jewish communal engagement to the role. She succeeds Craig L. Weiss following his completion of service as Board Chair. Perlman, who currently serves on BBYO's Board of Directors, has been a member of the Board for six years, including serving as Vice Chair and Chair of BBYO's Centennial Campaign. In her role as Chair, she will work closely with BBYO's professional and volunteer leadership to advance the organization's strategic vision as it builds on a century of impact and looks ahead to its next 100 years. "BBYO has shaped generations of Jewish leaders by giving teens the confidence to find their voice, build meaningful connections, and make a difference in their communities," said Perlman. "It is an extraordinary honor to serve as Board Chair at this pivotal moment in the Movement's history. I look forward to working alongside our volunteers, professionals, alumni, and supporters to ensure even more Jewish teens have access to the leadership opportunities, friendships, and sense of belonging that BBYO provides." Perlman's appointment carries special significance in BBYO's history. She is the granddaughter of Anita M. Perlman, founder of the B'nai B'rith Girls (BBG), whose vision and advocacy helped create a place at the table for generations of Jewish young women and shaped the future of the BBYO Movement. During a time of growing antisemitism and global uncertainty in the early 1940s, Anita Perlman championed leadership opportunities for Jewish girls, believing that empowering young people was essential to building a stronger future. Her efforts helped transform a collection of local groups into a nationally recognized movement that would ultimately become an integral part of BBYO's global network. In 2019, the Perlman family made a transformational $25 million gift to BBYO to establish the Anita M. Perlman Women's Leadership Initiative and endow the Anita M. Perlman International N'siah (teen president), honoring her legacy of empowering generations of young women leaders. "Ruth's leadership, vision, and unwavering commitment to Jewish teens make her exceptionally well-suited to lead BBYO's Board," said Matt Grossman, CEO of BBYO. "She understands both the rich history that has shaped our Movement and the opportunities ahead as we continue expanding access to meaningful Jewish experiences for teens around the world. Following her extraordinary stewardship of our Centennial Campaign, we are thrilled to welcome Ruth into this role." A graduate of Northwestern University, Perlman is an accomplished actress, singer, writer, and community volunteer. She serves as Executive Vice President of the Perlman Family Foundation, founded by Anita and Louis Perlman and holds leadership roles across numerous civic, educational, and Jewish organizations. Her philanthropic service has included positions with Am Shalom Synagogue, the North Suburban Medical Research Junior Board of Chicago Children's Memorial Hospital, Glencoe School District 35, JUF Encompass, Beber Camp, and the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science. About BBYO BBYO is the leading pluralistic Jewish teen movement aspiring to involve more Jewish teens in meaningful Jewish experiences. For more than 100 years, BBYO's purpose has been to unleash the power of youth. BBYO's leadership programs, the Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA, high school fraternity) and the B'nai B'rith Girls (BBG, high school sorority), provide exceptional leadership programs and identity enrichment experiences, shaping the confidence and character of hundreds of thousands of alumni who are prominent figures in business, politics, academia, the arts, and Jewish communal life. Together, AZA and BBG form a global Jewish teen movement in over 60 countries. With year-round activities in hundreds of local communities, many summer leadership programs, and inspiring worldwide travel experiences, BBYO's programs enable teens to explore all facets of leadership, service, civic engagement, Israeli education, and Jewish values. Please note that BBYO should not be referred to as the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization but rather as "BBYO."

BBYO, JewishColumbus launch Genesis Fellowship to grow teen engagement through new partnership. * Shannon Mortland * Posted May 28, 2026 at 8: 30 AM When the last local B'nai B'rith Youth Organization director announced his departure, JewishColumbus saw more than a leadership transition - it saw an opportunity to reimagine Jewish teen engagement. A new partnership between BBYO and JewishColumbus aims to expand opportunities for Jewish teens through increased investment in leadership development, community programming and long-term growth. This will be accomplished with a new full-time professional role through BBYO's Genesis Fellowship program. The new position will focus on building relationships with teens, expanding programming and supporting the growth of local BBYO chapters, an effort that has been in the development stage for about a year. "Over the past several months, we have had ongoing conversations with BBYO International, local community leaders, parents and teen engagement professionals about how to strengthen Jewish teen life in Columbus," Ginna Rinkov, JewishColumbus' chief impact and community officer, told the Columbus Jewish News. "Those conversations made it clear that this was an opportunity not just to maintain programming, but to invest more deeply in building meaningful Jewish experiences, leadership development and community connection for teens across Columbus." In a May 15 news release announcing the partnership, Becca Waller, senior regional director of the Kentucky Indiana Ohio Region of BBYO, said, "Columbus is an incredibly vibrant Jewish community with growing interest from teens. By investing in local staffing and aligning with our national model, we are creating the conditions for long-term success, deeper engagement, and stronger leadership development for Jewish teens." The investment is designed to expand the organization's footprint in Columbus over time, growing from two local chapters to four while introducing larger community events and specialized programs, including sports-based initiatives. The effort comes as BBYO transitions to a more direct operational model in Columbus, which had been one of the last cities still operating on the autonomous model, Naomi Looper, Midwest community director at BBYO, told the CJN. "We're going to elevate the program quality and give the teens more programming that they can't necessarily do on their own," she said. "We will expand leadership development of the teens and make sure the teens have all the tools they need to provide great experiences for their peers." Rinkov said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to strengthening Jewish life for teens and families across the region. They aim to increase the number of teens involved in Jewish life and deepen the engagement of those already participating, which is more important than ever, Looper added. "In today's world, where Jewish teens feel really alone with rising antisemitism, BBYO provides a place for teens to come together in a safe space with amazing adult mentors, and they can practice leading, knowing it's OK sometimes if it doesn't go exactly as planned," Looper said. Existing programs such as service projects, social events and Jewish cultural experiences, will continue, while also expanding into broader community-wide programming designed to attract more teens into the organization. The Jewish Community Center of Greater Columbus, which hosts many activities and gatherings, will also maintain its involvement. For local families, the expansion signals a growing emphasis on teen engagement at a time when many organizations are looking for new ways to connect young people with community and identity-building opportunities. "This increased investment ensures that more teens have access to meaningful Jewish experiences for years to come," Rinkov said. "We're building a more connected and impactful ecosystem for teens and families." Applications are currently being accepted for the new Columbus-based Genesis Fellowship position at bbyo.org/genesis. The person chosen will receive a full-time salary on a two-year contract, helping teens "feel that they have a vibrant, welcoming Jewish community that invests in them, values their voices and empowers them to shape the future of Jewish life in Columbus," Rinkov said. Shannon Mortland is a freelance journalist. How do you feel about this article? Choose from the options below. (0 Ratings) Subscribe or opt-in to home delivery today! 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BBYO: Who You Gonna Call? Updated: 2 days ago When its co-founders were teenagers, the answer to the question was always "Ghostbusters." The BBYO Alumni Association launched its inaugural LEADS Day track at its International Convention 2026 in Philadelphia. To support young adults on their journey from high school to career, they had to answer the question: Who You Gonna Call? GapWell. Designed for high school juniors and seniors, this experience was created to connect teens with alumni who have navigated their professional journeys with both passion and purpose. The talks and conversations focused on honest advice that would serve the teens well as they explore what's next personally and professionally after high school. GapWell's added value Its co-founder Seth Kessler spoke about "How to Lead, Engage, and Stand Out in College" at the largest international gathering of Jewish teen leaders and the second largest Jewish communal event in North America. BBYO's International Convention attracted 5,000+ attendees from 60+ countries at its annual event in Philadelphia in February 2026. The focus was on both college readiness for those starting their college careers in the very near future and career readiness throughout and after college graduation. "Who here is both excited and nervous about their life after high school? That feeling is totally normal and you are not alone." Seth Kessler, GapWell What did the teens learn from their conversation with GapWell? * Your path forward is not linear. Gapwell talked about the importance of avoiding toxic comparison and focusing on what is right for everyone instead of what you think everyone else is doing based on lives curated on social media. * College is hard. Normalizing the idea that while college can be a transformative growth experience for many, it can also be challenging at times where you will question whether the path you have chosen is even the right one for you. The vast majority feel that way even if they put on a confident façade when they're out in public. * You have 7 seconds to make a first impression. Gapwell practiced making the right first impression as navigating those precious seconds in person, on a screen or via digital message cannot be taken for granted. It's hard for everyone, but it's a reality Gapwell all face. * Not to let the process overwhelm you. Gapwell talked about quality over quantity. Regardless of whether you're making new friends, looking for an internship or choosing how to spend your time. Struggling is part of the journey and feeling outside your comfort zone periodically is how you grow. Want to learn what older college students wish they knew when they were in their first year of college? Looking for a high school graduation gift that will add a lot more value to your teen than another college sweatshirt? The perfect graduation gift for 2026 graduates with an extra $50 off for BBYO families (for a limited time only). The "You've Got This" Bundle includes the College Crash Course and the GapWell Guide for a deeply discounted rate available HERE. A SPECIAL BBYO GIVEAWAY FOR HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS AND SENIORS "I really appreciated the chance to learn about GapWell at BBYO's International Convention. After learning about the course, I believe it has a lot to offer and will be an amazing tool for me to use as I navigate my college journey." Inspired by Samantha and other impressive teens like her, Gapwell is excited to announce Gapwell is giving away FREE access to GapWell's "College Crash Course" to the first 100 BBYO teens / families who register using the link below. Please fill out the form here!