TORONTO — BBYO’s Lake Ontario Region members  held an Up All Night for Israel event in support of Canadian Magen David Adom (CMDA) at Beth Radom Synagogue recently.

Emma Alimi, left, and Bailey Bernknopf, right, of BBYO’s Beth Radom chapter, are shown defence techniques by Rob Ferreira of Krav Maga Toronto.

At the April 25 event, national executive director of CDMA, Arnold Rosner, spoke to the teens about Magen David’s operations and recognized their efforts in raising more than $1,200 through the Up All Night initiative.

Rosner told the teens that the funds would be used toward the purchase an emergency airway passage pack by Magen David, Israel’s sole national emergency, medical, ambulance, and blood services society.

The teens also participated in a training session of Krav Maga, the official self-defence system of the Israel Defence Forces, led by Rob Ferreira of Krav Maga Toronto.

“The IDF training was definitely one of the highlights for me,” said Grade 9 student Jesse Freedman, who recently joined BBYO. “But the midnight falafel buffet and the Israeli folk dancing were also incredible.”

 The event was one of BBYO’s first under the movement’s new Stand Up campaign.

 “Stand Up is BBYO’s service, social justice, advocacy and philanthropy campaign that promotes teens getting involved in causes important to them,” said Kevin Goodman, program director for BBYO’s Lake Ontario Region.

 For more information about BBYO in the GTA, contact Kevin Goodman at 416-398-2004, ext. 222, or [email protected].

— Compiled by CJN Staff