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18

November 16 • 2017

jn

with BBYO at the middle school
s twins, Rachel and Noah
level. After becoming a bar mitzvah,
Meyerson of Farmington
Noah said he “stepped back from
Hills keep no secrets and
Judaism a bit” to focus on travel
look to one another to finish sen-
hockey, but by eighth grade his
tences. It is this synchronicity and
focus has been on BBYO and “rees-
their commitment to keeping BBYO
tablishing” his Jewish identity.
Michigan going strong
ABOVE: BBYO
He proudly wears a large chai
for their Jewish peers
Michigan
around his neck and says he
that inspired them to
co-presidents
enjoys attending BBYO Shabbat
run and get elected as
Rachel and Noah
dinners and programming by
co-presidents in May.
Meyerson.
Rabbi Yarden Blumstein, teen
Noah and Rachel,
director at the Friendship Circle
both 17, are already
in West Bloomfield.
reaching out to their classmates at
The twins honed their leadership
North Farmington High School and
skills over the years at the chapter
also Jewish kids in Petoskey and
level, serving in fundraising, sec-
Windsor desiring to start chapters.
retarial and other positions. When
Outside their BBYO responsibili-
ties, the duo also works — Rachel at it came time to run for regional
president at Regional Conference at
a dental office in Livonia and Noah
Tamarack in May, they did not run
as a youth inline hockey coach at
unopposed.
the JCC in West Bloomfield — in
“The election process was long
addition to a senior workload and
and got pretty intense,” Noah said.
extra-curricular activities. So, when
“We really didn’t know what was
pressure mounts or when problems
going to happen, but as soon as we
need solving, it’s good to know your
found out, we called home to our
co-president lives in the bedroom
mom to tell her we won!”
right across the hallway.
The twins take their co-presidency
“We have opposite skill sets that
very seriously. They plan programs
keep each other in balance,” said
Rachel, who belongs to Ahavah BBG. and learn to work with the chapter
presidents. They must also prepare
“It’s true,” Noah said, a member of
Fisher AZA. “While she is the creative speeches and presentations to
report as teen reps to BBYO com-
side, I am more the organizational
missioners at the national level.
and logistical side. We look to each
There are weekly meetings to review
other for great programing ideas and
and plan programming with Katie
how to best manage our time.”
Fried, regional director. The daily
The Meyersons’ love for BBYO
car ride to school builds in time to
started when they were living in
resolve problems and bounce ideas
California and their older sister
off one another.
Marisa — now a senior at Michigan
“Rachel and Noah have this
State University — held chapter
unique and mature ability to work
meetings at their house.
together in a way that is both honest
“I remember BBYO teens in our
and constructive, and that is incred-
house all the time because she was
ible and rare,” Fried said. “The other
chapter president,” Rachel said.
kids in BBYO respond to them so
“She’d come into my bedroom at
well because of that honesty. They
night and teach me all these songs
really know how to see issues from
and cheers. I was hooked and
a big picture and not get stuck on
couldn’t wait until I was old enough
minor setbacks. Working with them
to join.”
so far this year has been an incred-
The twins moved to Michigan in
the sixth grade and became involved ible experience.” •

