BBYO Passport

BBYO Passport is a platform that brings together Jewish teens from all over the world to connect, to learn and to grow as a community. I am so incredibly blessed and grateful to have staffed a BBYO Passport travel experience this summer in Israel. It was such an eye-opening, meaningful, fun and positive experience for me. What I loved most about being a staff on this trip was that I was able to connect and build relationships with the teens that I know will last a lifetime. I loved that I was able to guide, educate, and mentor some of these teens and share my love for Israel with them. Staffing a BBYO Passport experience has also enabled me to learn a lot about myself. I have certainly grown as an individual and as a leader in my Jewish community. Thank for BBYO Passport for a summer I will definitely not forget!! Katie Goldstein

Amazing experience!!! Absolutely loved staffing for BBYO!

Being a madricha (counselor) for BBYO Passport is truly the dream job. I love working for them so much that I came back 5 summers in a row! It gives you the opportunity to see the world while helping to make the most memorable experiences for Jewish teens (and yourself!). The other staff members go from being strangers to your best friends. Working for BBYO Passport is one of the best decisions I have made.

I can not write about the trips from this summer, as I didn't have the opportunity to work with BBYO in during the 2018 summer season. But what I can write is that the trip I staffed in the 2016 summer will forever stay a positive memory and a 'safe space' in my memory. I had an amazing time discovering Italy, Slovenia, and Western Europe with my participants and co-staff. I learned an incredible amount from the tour guides who guided us throughout the four weeks. I have become good friends with several of the co-staff I worked with on both of the trips. And it would be an honor to work as a tour guide with BBYO here in Israel. Two facts, or stories, can best demonstrate what I mean by all of this. One is that I am still very good friends with one of co-staff, and we keep in touch on a very regular basis. I even made sure to see him on my honeymoon in the U.S. And the second is a story from this summer. I was guiding a group totally unrelated to BBYO at the City of David when all of a sudden I heard someone call my name. It was one of my participants from two summers ago, coming over to say hi. I would have never noticed she was there had she not come over. I was very honored that she still felt comfortable enough to come say hi to me, and talk for a bit. The next week I saw another participant while working at Independence Hall in Tel Aviv (where I've seen many other of my participants who have come to Israel). Seeing them in Israel, and having them come say hi is an amazing way to not only keep in touch with them (which is very important), but also to stay connected to BBYO and that positive experience I had in Europe. Again, it would be nothing short of an honor to work with BBYO again.

I love BBYO Passport. I have worked with the organization for three summers. The opportunities BBYO Passport has given me as a Jewish communal professional, traveler, and Jewish young adult are incredible. The staff are all so professional, kind, and welcoming. Working with BBYO Passport each summer is like being part of an amazing family. it’s an unbelievable organization for teens and staff to be a part of.