The B'nai B'rith Youth Organization (BBYO) is an independent Jewish youth group for teenagers from 9-12th
grade.
BBYO is the world's only independent, international, pluralistic Jewish youth group for teenagers in 9-12th grade. Formerly
associated with B'nai B'rith, the youth group split with its parent organization but its name still contains the words "B'nai
B'rith."
BBYO is unique amongst its peers in its organization into local fraternity- and sorority-like chapters. Male chapters are
known as AZA chapters, and female chapters as BBG chapters; AZA and BBG began independently before being united
as brother and sister organizations under B'nai B'rith. In smaller communities where there is not a sufficient Jewish population
to support both AZA and BBG chapters, there may exist just a single BBYO chapter which borrows traditions from both organizations.
Membership to BBYO is open to any teenager in 9-12th grade who identifies as a Jew. BBYO's mission is, "More Jewish teens,
more meaningful Jewish experiences." The organization's uniqueness stems from its youth leadership model, in which teen leaders
are elected by their peers on a local, regional and international level, and are given the opportunity to make their
own programmatic decisions.