According to the Oxford Dictionary, pluralism is “a condition or system in which two or more states, groups, principles, sources of authority, etc., coexist.” Pluralism is indisputably a core part of BBYO. Whether it’s religion, politics, or the GOAT conversation (it’s Brady), we, as a community, offer a unique space where every voice is heard. At least, we try to.

Nowadays, I often find myself using BBYO as just a place to hang out. And that’s okay–but I think that as a community, we should take advantage of the special opportunity given to us.

Pluralism isn’t just about tolerating difference. It’s about valuing it. In the outside world, most disagreements result in hostility and broken relationships. But in BBYO, we have the rare chance to lean into each other's differences and grow because of them. We often hear each other’s stories about faith, family, culture, and sports — and by doing this, we practice a skill lost in modern discourse. The ability to disagree without losing ourselves and damaging relationships.

Our generation is living in a time of striking polarization, where people are doxxed, taunted, or even killed for having different beliefs. It is woven into every aspect of our society–from mainstream media that thrives on making each side of the political spectrum hate one another, to politicians who use religion to justify discrimination. Even social media algorithms encourage hateful discourse. History tells us that societies without pluralism tend to fail. It isn’t even just about politics or religion - societies that embrace uniformity in science and engineering are destined to fail. They fracture under the weight of people crying for progress. Pluralism, I would say, is not a “nice-to-have.” It is a necessity — a safeguard against dictatorship, extremism, or fear.

That’s the issue: too many vulnerable adolescents are being wired by society to believe that ‘different’ means ‘wrong.’ But what if we changed that? What if ‘different’ meant ‘someone I can learn from?’ That’s the beauty of BBYO. Here, we can do that. Every Shabbat service, every program, every seemingly meaningless activity is an opportunity to explore a perspective that you might never have heard if you hadn’t talked to that person.

It’s really easy to underestimate the impact of these small moments in our lives. We have so much going on, and you might even forget what someone says by the time you wake up again. But when we choose to embrace pluralism in BBYO, we’re not just shaping our chapters - we are shaping the future advocates, leaders, coordinators, and changemakers of our movement. I have seen firsthand the effects of a uniform movement - one that claims to embrace pluralism but in reality enforces a stigma. Suffice to say, it didn’t end well. I can say confidently that the world doesn’t need echo chambers. It needs individuals and communities that believe in open dialogue and mutual respect (i.e., the fundamentals of democracy).

So yes, BBYO is for sure a good place to hang out. I encourage members to do so. But we must not forget what BBYO should be - a laboratory for pluralism and a beacon for the world. As it is written in the Book of Prophets: “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light unto the nations” (Isaiah 42:6). The more we practice pluralism here, in our communities, the more our members will spread these pillars. And that, to me, is where the true strength and bond of our special community lies.