Eighteen Jewish teens and their families packed an ice cream social at Temple Har Shalom on Sept. 25. The gathering tested whether Park City should get its own chapter of BBYO, the world's largest Jewish teen organization.

Turnout exceeded organizers' expectations, TownLift reported. A chartering decision is expected soon, according to TownLift.

BBYO, which stands for B'nai B'rith Youth Organization, is based in Washington, D.C., and operates more than 700 chapters worldwide. In Utah, it runs under the administrative umbrella of the United Jewish Federation of Utah.

Kayla Hertzberg, BBYO's International S'gani, or teen vice president of programming, traveled to Park City for the event. The recent high school graduate from Baltimore was elected to the role at BBYO's annual convention in Philadelphia in February. She has been involved with the organization since eighth grade. Her parents recently became homeowners in Park City.

"I think Park City would be a great place to build a new BBYO chapter because it's a growing Jewish community," Hertzberg told TownLift. "And there's lots of teens who are in this area where it might feel sometimes a little bit isolating to be a Jewish teen."

Rachel Riff, a Park City High School student who serves on the Utah BBYO teen board, represented the local effort at the gathering. Riff also sits on a Park City Library book club board and a Park City Municipal student-athlete advisory board.

Alex Shapiro, who has led the United Jewish Federation of Utah as CEO for 16 years, attended alongside the federation's assistant director, Liz Paige. Shapiro said the evening gave parents a chance to learn about the leadership, philanthropy and travel opportunities BBYO offers teens.

Ruthie Pearlman, BBYO's senior manager of new chapters and community expansion, flew in from Nashville. Two student members from Salt Lake City helped organize the gathering.

If chartered, the Park City chapter would split its time between social events, educational activities and community service projects, TownLift reported.

The interest comes as Park City's Jewish community gains visibility. Temple Har Shalom, which hosted the mixer, was described by TownLift as one of the fastest-growing Jewish congregations in the country. The synagogue drew attention earlier in September when its sign on S.R. 224 was vandalized over Labor Day weekend in what synagogue leaders called an antisemitic attack, days before Rosh Hashanah. Rabbi Jeff Dreifus told KPCW it was the first such incident at the synagogue.

No timeline has been announced for the chartering decision.