Think about the friends you make in BBYO. And no, I’m not only talking about the friends in your chapter, the ones you see every week at meetings or events. I’m talking about the friends you make during a convention, a camp or Passport. The people you spend a few days with, share unforgettable memories with and then have to say goodbye to, knowing that you might live hours away from each other. Somehow, even after going back to your own countries and returning to your everyday lives, those friendships don’t have to end. And there is one thing that makes this possible: global connection.

Keeping in touch with long-distance friends has never been easier, but it can still be difficult. Between school, activities and our everyday responsibilities, finding time to talk is not always easy. Now, imagine how different these friendships would have been in the past, when sending a message could take days or even weeks. Some friendships might never have had the chance to grow beyond the time spent together. Today, with just a phone and an internet connection, we can share pictures, call each other and talk about our days, even when we are thousands of kilometers apart. Technology cannot replace being together in person, but it helps us keep the connection alive until the next time we meet.

One of the things that makes BBYO so special is its internationality. We are part of a movement that goes beyond our chapters, cities and countries, bringing Jewish teens together from all over the world. But this global community would look very different without the connections we can create through technology. Whether it is being able to contact the International Board during office hours, participating in pen pal programs with international communities or joining the ILN to bring BBYO teens together, technology helps us feel like we are part of something bigger than ourselves. It allows us to learn from other communities, share ideas, work together and build friendships with people whose lives might be completely different from ours. We might live far away from each other, but we still share the same movement, values and sense of belonging.

However, having the opportunity to connect with people around the world also comes with a responsibility. We should appreciate these connections and take care of them instead of treating them as something we can always take for granted. A message asking someone how they are doing, a video call to catch up or simply remembering to check in can make a bigger difference than we think. We should also use technology as a tool to create opportunities, learn from one another and make our movement even stronger. Global connection is not just about having access to the internet or being able to send a message whenever we want. It is about what we choose to do with that opportunity and how we use it to bring people closer together.

That is why we say, BLESS THE GLOBAL CONNECTION. Because behind every message, every video call and every international program, there is an opportunity to create something meaningful. It is what allows a friendship that started at a convention to continue across continents, what helps communities work together and what makes BBYO feel like one global family. We cannot always be in the same room, sing the same songs together or celebrate Shabbat side by side, but we can still be there for one another. And the next time your phone lights up with a message from a friend who lives on the other side of the world, remember that you are not just receiving a notification. You are seeing one of the many ways our movement stays connected. So let’s appreciate it, take care of it and keep using it to bring our global BBYO family closer together. Because distance might separate us physically, but it does not have to separate us as a community.