PART 1 / Ambassador to Bulgaria
Be a part of a close-knit group of Jewish teens from North America, Bulgaria and Serbia instilling hope in a Jewish community with a remarkable past. Join the 10-day Ambassador to Bulgaria experience, and take part in community service projects, build lasting friendships with local Jewish teens from Eastern Europe, and tour a beautiful land that is one of Europe's best kept secrets.
Why Bulgaria?
For over a decade, BBYO has a tradition of organizing groups of North American teens on missions to Bulgaria. BBYO is proud to have a thriving local chapter in Bulgaria and regularly invites Jewish teens from Bulgaria to international events in North American and Israel. The Ambassador to Bulgaria experience is a wonderful opportunity to be a part of this tradition, view what it means to be Jewish from a different perspective, and form lasting friendships with Jewish teens abroad.
PART 2 / The International Leadership Seminar in Israel (ILSI)
The International Leadership Seminar in Israel (ILSI) is BBYO's premier leadership and enrichment program in Israel designed for BBYO members who have completed grades 10, 11, or 12. Here's what makes ILSI an exceptional Israel program:
- Experiencing Israel on a Deeper Level
ILSI covers all of the highlights of a first time experience in Israel that you would expect — Jerusalem, Masada, the Dead Sea, the Negev Desert, the Galilee, the Golan, the Carmel Mountains, Haifa, and Tel Aviv. However, unlike traditional Israel tours, ILSI is also about connecting to Israel on a deeper level. Our travels tell the story of the Jewish People in Israel, using the sites as our classroom and stage. For additional context, ILSI participants interact with a variety of artists, religious figures, innovators, and leaders.
- A Focus on Jewish Leadership Models
As a BBYO leadership experience, ILSI emphasizes the stories of Jewish leaders who have had key impacts on Jewish history through the ages — figures like King David, Bar Kochba, Rabbi Yehuda NaNasi, Theodore Herzl, David Ben Gurion, and Yitzhak Rabin. Their stories shed greater light on our understanding of the past and can provide us with real models for leadership to inform our present.
- Defining Contemporary Zionism
Although the ILSI curriculum covers the entire canvas of Jewish history in the Land of Israel, there is a special emphasis on exploring the richness and complexity of modern Israel. Our educators challenge participants with the big questions. What is the future direction of the Jewish State? How is Zionism relevant in the 21st century? How can we play a part in shaping it?
- Learning with Jewish Teens Worldwide
One of the most special aspects of the ILSI experience is that it attracts Jewish teens from North America and from around the world. Past sessions have convened participants from Bulgaria, Turkey, France, and Israel. All together we form a single community — learning, traveling, and bonding together in Israel. Each teen brings their own perspective, their own unique background, and their own way of relating to Israel. Together this diversity contributes to a truly enriching dynamic and an opportunity to live the Jewish value that we are all responsible for one another.
- Small Group Learning
As an enrichment experience, ILSI is centered on small group learning. Although everyone travels together, one senior educator is attached to each cluster of 20-25 teens. This intimacy allows for a much richer educational experience. Moreover, as a BBYO members' experience, ILSI is staffed exclusively by full time BBYO professionals, top BBYO advisers, as well as native Israeli counselors. Learn more about ILSI staff by contact the ILSI Program Director, Ira Dounn.
- The Summer of a Lifetime in Israel
In addition to the enrichment, ILSI is also about the adventure and joy of spending a summer in Israel. Along the way, we raft down the Jordan River, spend the night in a Bedouin tent, hike down lush canyons on the Golan, relax on the Tel Aviv beachfront, explore colorful open-air markets, and experience contemporary Israeli theater. In other words, teens on ILSI return home with both a rich educational experience as well lifelong memories from a summer in Israel.
Is ILSI Right For Me?
ILSI is designed with BBYO members in mind as a unique enrichment, touring, and leadership experience. Although most ILSI participants are BBYO members, ILSI is open to non-members who are seeking this type of experience as well as Jewish teens from around the world. ILSI is appropriate for teens who have never been to Israel as well as for those who are returning for a different perspective.
