It’s easy to feel small right now. In a world of non-stop headlines and online debates, it can feel like being Jewish means constantly being on defense. We have to look out for rising antisemitism and protect ourselves from the negativity we see in the news and on social media. But choosing fear, anger, or sadness isn’t the way to create change. The most powerful form of activism is joy.

For us Jewish teens, choosing joy is not an act of distraction or ignorance of the pain in the world. It’s an act of defiance. When we choose to laugh, to dance, and to gather, we are actively rejecting the narrative that our identity should be defined by fear, persecution, or our haters. We are asserting that we aren’t victims. We are a vibrant, eternal people.

Think about the atmosphere at a convention or at a regional event. It’s loud. It’s energizing. It’s overwhelmingly Jewish. That’s not an accident. This communal joy is our resistance. When you’re screaming along to your favorite cheer in a spirit circle, you are showing up as your most authentic self alongside hundreds of peers. That collective, unbridled happiness is a powerful statement: We’re here, and we’re proud.

Choosing joy isn’t a modern concept; it’s a legacy passed down through centuries. Our ancestors were masters of joyful resistance. In the darkest times, they preserved their humanity not just through fighting, but through culture. They held secret classes, celebrated holidays together, and wrote things down to ensure their stories survived. Every time we gather for a fun program, every time we sing a song in Hebrew, and every time we simply enjoy being Jewish, we honor that history. We affirm that our identity is not about the tragedies of the past, but the vibrancy of the present and the hope for the future.

In BBYO, we are given the space to be unapologetically happy. Let’s use that gift, and let our joy be the loudest message we send to the world.