This week, Federation is thrilled to introduce the community to two young leaders who are independently working to create engaging, fun BBYO activities for Jewish teens across Western New York. Tamar Langberg, an incoming high school senior, and Oz Abramovich, an incoming junior, launched their first event – a pickleball tournament – this past spring, and together, they are hopeful in planning a late summer event.

Tamar Langberg

Tamar attends Clarence High School, but long before her approaching senior year, she moved to Western New York from Israel as a child.

“As I got older, I realized how hard it was for me to find community outside of my own family,” she said.

Being a part of BBYO was Tamar’s opportunity to build her own community and help others who felt like her.

“I enjoy being a BBYO leader because I get to inspire new friendships and give people a safe space to be themselves and find others like them,” Tamar said. “Also, growing up in Clarence with a very low percentage of Jews at my school, Jewish community and relationships were extremely important to me because it felt as though I had someone who understood my background and my culture.”

Tamar feels strongly that it’s important to give teens and young adults opportunities to meet others like them and offer safe spaces to embrace pride in their culture and develop a sense of belonging.

Oz Abramovich

Oz attends Williamsville North High School, where this fall, he enters 11th grade.

“The Jewish community and the friendships I have formed within it are important to me because they give me a sense of belonging wherever I go,” he said.

Oz leans into the Jewish value of all Jews worldwide being one extended family rooted in mutual responsibility and collective identity. Because of that, he feels there will always be people who welcome, support, and connect with him, wherever he goes.

“I want to participate [in BBYO] so that others can experience the same sense of friendship, community, and safety,” he said.

Oz enjoys being a BBYO leader because it is fulfilling to him to bring Jewish teens together and help them form friendships through our shared Judaism.

“It brings us closer as a group while also connecting us to thousands of other Jewish teens around the world,” he said.