When I started off as a young Aleph in BBYO, I was constantly filled with doubt. Whole regions I had never experienced looked spectacular, and other chapters seemed grand and mighty. Compared to them, my chapter, Hazakah AZA #2458, appeared dismal. We had barely survived folding, and while our membership was larger than it had been previously, it was still small. We were disorganized, struggled with infighting, and were especially lazy at times. The future of Hazakah looked bleak. During those times, I found it hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, especially when looking at the successful chapters all around us that seemed to be doing so much better and having more fun. And then one day, it hit me. A realization so powerful that I never again doubted the people around me.

The realization was not sudden. It was a culmination of several different experiences that all came together in a single moment. The first of these experiences was a night at Greater Atlanta Region’s Spirit Regional Convention 2025. It was there, gathered at Separates with the rest of the Alephs in my region, that one thing became clear: we are all Alephs. It does not matter our age, race, or position. We are all Alephs. Knowing that, the grandeur of the other chapters in my region faded. Once that was gone, I could see issues I had never noticed before. The illusion was shattered. But that was not the only moment that led to my realization.

Another memory I called to mind was a chapter event midway through the semester at a frozen yogurt shop. We were initially concerned about taking up a lot of space in what seemed like a small store. Luckily, we found a conference room in the back and set up there. As Jewish people in this world, spaces are often closed to us, so we have to take our wins whenever we can. We have to make space. We have to push forward, even when the odds are against us. And most of all, we have to demand to be heard. Knowing this, I began to feel more pride in who I was, and more importantly, in my chapter and the people I had chosen to stand behind. Still, this was not the final piece I needed to fully understand.

The last component came together at our Chapter Convention, more specifically during Spirit Circle. Midway through No Man Is an Island, I began to think. We all came from different backgrounds, went to different schools, and had different home lives. But there, with our chapter, in our space, and with our traditions, we were all truly brothers. It did not matter who had what, who lacked what, who won or lost, who reaped or sowed. We all sang the same words we knew by heart. And in that moment, it finally hit me. Other chapters never mattered.

That is not to say other chapters are not great, or that they do not do amazing things while succeeding and pushing the Order forward in meaningful ways. But that is not what matters most. To commit to your chapter is to commit to the people, and no matter what, you should never give up on your brothers. What matters more than anything else is perseverance through hardship. Then, and only then, will your chapter grow stronger than you ever believed possible. So keep your traditions alive. Those are your traditions. Keep your friends close. Those are your friends. And most importantly, keep your spirit alive and your head raised. No two chapters are the same, and that is the greatest thing about our Order.