We The Future of world Jewry, in order to forge a more complete world, to build true siblinghood, for the strength of Jewish heritage, and to uphold the values of good citizenship, do commit ourselves to securing our place in the time that will inherit us and our history. With this purpose, we ordain and establish the coming years for the enduring posterity of the Jewish people.
Section 1
The future rests in your hands, just as it has for the generations of Jews that came before you. For 3,000 years, the Jewish people have endured savagery, ferocity, and hostile acts with no justification or provocation, but with endless resilience. Today, BBYO stands at the forefront of Jewish continuity, serving as a unifying vessel for teens around the world to engage with shared purpose. As global leaders, you inherit not only the Movement but the responsibility to guide and nurture the next generation with courage and conviction. The mission you carry forward determines the legacy this generation leaves behind.
Section 2
Our values and morals must serve as the guiding light and foundation of every choice made and community built, for these are not abstract ideals but a daily commitment made by our ancestors, entrusted to us. By dedicating ourselves relentlessly to these principles, we strengthen the movement and therefore perpetuate the soul of the Jewish people. When we live our values openly, we inspire the righteous to do the same.
Section 3
As we mark 250 years since America’s founding and 77 years since the birth of the modern State of Israel, we stand at a junction shaped by both liberty and freedom. These defining years remind us of the ability of Jewish life to flourish when strengthened by both democratic promise and religious protection. Our task today is to honor these anniversaries not with memory and celebration alone, but with renewed commitment and action to shape the next century of Jewish history.
Section 4
May this moment be the beginning of a bold and imaginative vision for the future. The choices you make today will carve the path for generations of Jewish teens to follow. Your leadership has the power to shape not only a movement, but a global legacy of pride and purpose.
Section 1
From the cobblestone streets of Philadelphia to the ancient stones of Jerusalem, two cities create the foundation of our story. One birthed a nation dedicated to freedom, still working on fulfilling its legacy centuries later, while the other harbors the eternal heart of billions around the world. In tandem, they remind us of the compound nature of identity: the places we come from and the places we return to.
Section 2
May the lessons of liberty and holiness, Philadelphia’s promise and Jerusalem’s spirit, guide our advocacy, our service, and our global Jewish identity. When we carry both cities within us, we stand rooted in justice and elevated by purpose. Their shared wisdom calls us to lead with astounding courage and conviction.
Section 1
The story of the Jewish people is one of interconnected souls bound by memory, heritage, and hope. Our strength has always emerged from unity, even across continents and generations. As leaders, you stand at the heart of that perpetual composition.
Section 2
Community is not inherited but rather built through actions backed by consistent intention. What we receive is never enough, and was or will never be enough unless we consciously work to add to, protect, and make space for it. Your role as a BBG or Aleph today is to nurture a community that empowers every Jewish person to belong fully in their community.
Section 3
Implored unto you is the responsibility to strengthen the worldwide network of regions and chapters that comprise the foundational being of the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization, for you are the stepping stone to the most powerful expression of contemporary Jewish strength. Build our community actively and boldly, with the understanding that what we inherit must be expanded in order to endure the test of time. Empower every Jewish teen to believe that the story of our people belongs to them and that they have a role in writing its next chapter.
Section 1
Jewish memory is not simply a record of the past but a map for the future. Through remembrance, we honor those who came before us and protect those who will follow after. Our promise is as enduring as the people who carried it for millennia.
Section 2
Responsibility is the heart of leadership, calling us to speak truth even when the world demands silence. Honor and courage must shape every word we share and every action we take. In choosing tactful bravery, we consciously uphold the moral clarity our ancestors fought to preserve.
Section 3
History must guide our steps forward, for forgetting the past disrupts the path ahead. Let the triumphs and trials of our people inform your decisions, your advocacy, and your voice. You carry a legacy built from sacrifice, resilience, and unbroken faith: be proud.
Section 4
Honor the tenacity of our ancestors by embodying their strength in all you do. Your leadership must reflect the perseverance that allowed our people to survive and thrive across every generation. When you act with purpose, you fulfill a promise thousands of years in the making.
Section 1
Action is where an idea turns into reality, where vision transforms into impact. As leaders, you must have the ideas, but more than that, you must be willing to step forward and persevere in the name of building the world you want your children to inherit. Every choice you make contributes to the future we collectively create.
Section 2
To be an advocate is to hold within you a sacred duty to defend our people, our homeland, and most importantly: our core principles. Israel remains the eternal center of Am Yisrael and the place from which our story continues. Where each of us lives today is temporary, only because those before us had the drive to establish the contemporary Medinat Yisrael.
Section 3
Thou shall serve and uplift the communities that shaped thee, for the shoulders stood on now are none other than those who supported the growth of your youth. Secure the future of world Jewry through responsible leadership and intentional connection. The responsibility of the future now bestowed upon you is the foundation upon which your children and their children’s children will rise.
Gaby is a BBG from Chicago and has a dog named Dr. Pepper.
All views expressed on content written for The Shofar represent the opinions and thoughts of the individual authors. The author biography represents the author at the time in which they were in BBYO.
