This summer junior Leia Gertz met teenagers from all over the world at an international convention for three consecutive days. She participated in activities that not only enabled her to explore her relationship with Judaism but also meet a lot of new people. Her Jewish youth group, BBYO, held the convention as it does every year to help Jewish high school students ask and answer their questions about Judaism while meeting new people from different parts of the world.

Junior Gertz decided to apply to act as coordinator for the regional Kallah convention this year. BBYO committee selected Gertz one of two coordinators of the event and serves as such with Aaron Friedman, a junior at Solon High School. As program director of BBYO Ohio Northern Region, Leora Hoenig oversees the selection process. Hoenig voiced what she thinks makes Gertz a good coordinator.

“[Gertz] demonstrated a sincere commitment and passion for the goals of the convention and the organization. She is an active participant of BBYO and a charismatic and capable leader for her peers,” Hoenig said.

Friedman explained the responsibilities of coordinators of the convention.

“Basically, we are in charge of making sure everything goes well and planning a lot of the activities, and those include services on Friday night and rotations on Saturday and Sunday afternoon,” Friedman said.

Gertz shared her vision for the convention and what made her want to apply.

“I thought it would be really fun to have people come to this and then go ‘Oh, I want to go to this, this and this!’ That way they can become more active in my youth group,” Gertz said.

The regional Kallah meeting will occur on January 23 to 26.Gertz elaborated on the purpose of the regional Kallah convention.

“It is a Jewish youth group, so we have a convention each year about Judaism…It is supposed to be answering your questions
about Judaism and having more questions, so you can figure out what you believe,” Gertz said.

Gertz has attended all the regional Kallah conventions since she started high school. Gertz expressed a desire to change the conventions from last year in that she wants to utilize all the space she can to maximize the fun attendees can have. Gertz also wanted to give them more free time to reflect on the things they have discussed in the various activities. Gertz described some of the early plans for the convention.

“The theme is ‘What can you create to make the world awesome,’ so we are thinking of having a Jewish slam poet come in,” Gertz said.

Over 100 teenagers from Northeast Ohio will attend the regional Kallah Convention. The convention will begin on Friday with prayer services. Participants will examine their Jewish identity through activities ranging from community service to athletic competitions.