Last Friday and Saturday, I attended two chapter Global Shabbat programs in my region. Every time this event comes around, I remember how important Global Shabbat really is.

Every year, Jewish teens come together to participate in Global Shabbat. Global Shabbat spans countries, regions, councils, and chapters and is an event unique to BBYO. We should take advantage of the very few opportunities we get to experience it.

Global Shabbat emphasizes the connection Jewish people share. It serves as a reminder of the shared values we, as BBYO members and Jews, have. Every Global Shabbat around the world contains the same traditions and principles, and no matter the distance, we all celebrate together. We are given the chance to learn more about the traditions that certain communities take part in and to educate others on the traditions we carry. Experiencing meaningful services together is something that really makes me appreciate Global Shabbat. I find it beautiful that so many Jewish teens can come together for one night for a meaningful experience led by their fellow teens.

Global Shabbat gives members the chance to foster connections with each other that they might not have otherwise. Engaging in traditions and services with people you may not be particularly close with is a great way of establishing a bond. More recently, BBYO’s Global Shabbat has provided many teens with support after the tragedy of October 7th. It gave us a chance to mourn together and strengthen others within our community. It made many people, including me, feel much less alone in such a horrible situation. It also opened the way for chapters to trust each other more and solidified that BBYO is a safe community for its members.

This yearly tradition allows for creativity and initiative in programming. Many communities or chapters will include activities that support certain organizations, such as a Stand UP cause or the ISF. In programming, there is room for many different folds and themes. It is up to those who are planning the event to decide what they want it to look like, which makes program planning that much better. Being able to take charge of a program and be imaginative with it makes for more entertaining and creative events.

Overall, Global Shabbat is a wonderful BBYO tradition that many look forward to every year. It reminds us of our connections to one another, gives way for new bonds to form, and allows for more creativity and initiative in programming.

Personally, Global Shabbat is one of my favorite BBYO events to attend, and I’m always excited to see what different chapters, regions, and councils do with it!