BBYO leaders recommit to gender inclusivity

On Friday, Aug. 14, the nearly 100 executive leaders of the Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA) and the B’nai B’rith Girls (BBG), the high school leadership fraternity and sorority of BBYO, gathered for their annual International August Executives Conference, where they work together to set the priorities for the Movement for the coming year. One of the motions that passed ensures BBYO continues to be fully gender inclusive and pluralistic. The motion from teens across the BBYO International Order asserts: Young people who genuinely identify as Jewish—male, female or gender neutral—are given full eligibility to join and afforded full status as members of the Grand Order of the AZA and the International Order of BBG in any matter, business or forum.

When AZA and BBG were founded in 1924 and 1944 respectively, it was to provide Jewish young men and women, previously excluded from Greek Life and other societies based on their religion, their own social groups through which they could serve their community and observe Judaism freely. To embrace the ever-changing Jewish community and continue to be a safe space for all Jewish young people, the leaders of the BBYO Movement recommit to BBYO’s long-standing tradition of inclusivity.

“BBYO members have stood up for each other and the entire Jewish community for more than 90 years,” said Matthew Grossman, BBYO’s chief executive officer. “This motion is a testament to BBYO’s commitment to inclusivity and just one example of how BBYO is a welcoming place for every Jewish teen.”