Despite the darkness of this moment, I am not without hope. I see hope in young people, in their questions, their willingness to listen and their capacity to care. Hope is not passive. It requires effort, courage and persistence. It demands that we teach honestly, speak clearly and refuse indifference. I stand today as I choose to stand: visible, proud and committed to Jewish life. In times of rising hatred, memory is an act of resistance, education is an act of courage and choosing to live openly as a Jew is, in itself, an act of hope.