THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Friday, December 20, 1985
GOT
A
QUESTION?
Call the
Jewish nformation Service
the chapter, regional and interna-
tional levels. In her chapter, M.Z.
Yoshanah BBG, she was president,
vice president, recording secretary,
editor-historian. Regionally, she was
the president and shlichah (emis-
sary). She also was an international
emissary, counselor and coordinated
chapter leadership conferences.
She recently received the
Omaha Jewish Federation Teen
Leadership Award and was selected
as a finalist for the United Way
Volunteer Teen of the Year.
A fairly typical teen, she enjoys
reading, music, movies and MTV.
On the serious side, she worries that
her peers are sorely lacking in
knowledge about world affairs, speci-
fically citing hunger and terrorism.
This year, BBG is focusing on teen
suicide and child abuse in its educa-
tion -social action programs. "We're
not learning enough about things
that affect our lives," she concludes.
Gordman is frightened by the
possibility of atomic war. But there
is something that frightens her more
— that Jewish teens may break the
chain of Jewish continuity. The
bright and ebullient Gordman urges
her peers to affiliate with Jewish
organizations.
"I advise them to affiliate with
some form of Jewish youth group,
religious school or summer camp —
to remain Jewish and help Jewish
people continue the way we have."
She said she fears teens are los-
ing touch with their Jewishness
and we may lose them for the fu-
ture."
Gordman said that her BBG ex-
periences have been positive, espe-
cially in feelings about her Jewish-
ness. "I learned more about Judaism
from BBYO than the temple." She
said she attended intensive Jewish
programs — kallahs — sponsored by
the BBG and was enlightened. "I
feel more in touch with Judaism
after that program."
Gordman says teens today are
under a lot of pressure to do well in
school and be successful. "It's as-
sured you graduate from high school
and get a job, but we're not sensitive
to each others needs."
Gordman's job is like that of a
Dale Carnegie course instructor —
teaching people to feel positive about
themselves. "What I tell girls is that
they have some ability and all have
something they can give to B'nai
B'rith." She also advises them to be
in touch with their feelings of sis-
terhood."
Arnie
Michigan
Weiner,
regional director of the B'nai B'rith
Youth Organization of which BBG is
a component, sees Gordman as a pos-
itive role model. Detroit BBG
President Emily Burns called the in-
ternational BBG president's visit
"incredible."
"She makes the chapters feel
like they're part of a larger organ-
ization," Burns said. She gives us a
chance to hear what's going on at
the international level." Burns
added that Gordman is an inspira-
tion to her counterparts. "Anyone of
us can become what Andi's become.
She's an inspiration."'
During her whirlwind tours,
Gordman is housed in the homes of
BBG board members and is
chaperoned by regional directors.
Prior to coming to Detroit, she was
in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio. She left
Detroit for Washington, D.C., before
returning home.
In Israel and Europe next
spring, she will tell BBG affiliates
that they are part of a world-wide
organization, that they are not iso-
lated from other Jewish com-
munities. Are the overseas teens any
different from their American coun-
terparts? "They're not that different
than meeting with chapters in
Michigan Region," she replied.
Following her one-year stint as
the international BBG president, she
plans to go to Boston University and
major in liberal arts.
What career path does she plan
to take?
"I haven't decided on the fu-
ture," she said. But wherever her
studies take her, the Jewish com-
munity can feel proud that the
commitment to Jewish continuity is
not totally lost on today's youth. 111
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