PASSOVER AMBASSADORS TO BULGARIA

From March 29-April 5, 2001, Michigan Region participated
for the first time in BBYO's annual Passover Ambassadors to
Bulgaria program. This cultural exchange program sent 25
BBYOers and 5 adults from 13 cities in the US and Canada for
a cultural exchange and joint learning program with the
Bulgarian BBYO chapter in Sofia.

Debbie Stern
supervises the
BBYOers as they
reset a
tombstone in the
Varna Jewish
cemetery.

Michigan participants included Adam Horowitz, Aleph Godol
of Shapiro AZA, Perry Teicher, Aleph Godol of Greenberg
AZA, Debbie Stern, Past BBYO Board Chair, and Arnie
Weiner, Michigan BBYO Director.

Besides the warm friendships established and the
strengthening of relationships among the youth and staff, the
program satisfied other goals as well.

♦ The combined delegations participated in Shabbat
Services at the Sofia synagogue, were exposed to the
Sephardic cantillation of the Torah, and delighted in the
rendition of Ain Kelohenu in both Hebrew and Ladino.

♦ Jewish identity programs were held so that North
American youth could share their Jewish experience with
the emerging young Jews of Bulgaria.

Adam Horowitz
of Shapiro
AZA(second
from left) joins
fellow BBYOers
in celebrating
the chocolate
seder in Varna
on April 1.

♦ The story of the rescue of the Bulgarian Jewish Community
during the Holocaust was related by a survivor at the Beit
Am in Varna, a resort town on the Black Sea.

♦ A chocolate seder was held in which the Passover story
was told — and to many of the Bulgarian youth, for the
first time!

♦ The combined delegations participated in a clean-up and
restoration project in the Jewish Cemetery in Varna.

♦ Our Passover Ambassadors brought with them many Jewish
ritual objects and books that will result in Bulgaria BBYO
setting up a Jewish gift shop at the Beit Am in Sofia that will
allow them to raise money to support their program.

Songleader Dan
Nichols of
Nashville, TN,
leads BBYOers in
song at a rest
stop on the way
to Veliko
Turnovo.

♦ The combined delegations visited the new Jewish old-age
home in Sofia, visited with the 15 residents, and heard
stories of their Sephardic origin, life under Communist
rule, and the new meaning of a democratic Bulgaria.

♦ The North American youth held a BBYO Shuk at the Beit
Am in Sofia, selling t-shirts and other regional
paraphernalia, that resulted in $500 being raised for the
use of BBYO in Bulgaria.

A senior citizen makes his point
to a group of BBYOers at the
Jewish old age home in Sofia.
Seated on the right is Perry
Teicher of Greenberg AZA.

Michigan BBYO thanks the following for their donations
toward this program's success:

Adat Shalom Sisterhood Gift Shop
B'nai Moshe Sisterhood Gift Shop
Spitzers, Borenstein's, and Esther's Judaica
Laura & Joel Feldmesser
Judy & Alan Grenader
Noreen & Bert Leon
Ilene Lubin
Merle & Ron Schwartz
Eva & Ray Shapiro
Debbie & Mickey Stern
Louise & Steve Litt

Michigan Region
participants at
the Passover
Seminar in
Bulgaria, March
29-April 5, 2001:
L to R Adam
Horowitz, Arnie
Weiner, Debbie
Stern, and Perry
Teicher.

BBYO BAACHAD 0 TOGETHER o BBYO BAACHAD 0 TOGETHER

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