Hello and welcome to another spectacular year of teen news for teen Jews. This year has loads of potential because our team has real diversity. In the past, there have been writers ranging from Reform boys and girls to Conservative boys and girls to Orthodox girls. This year we add to the mix an Orthodox boy — and that would be me. How cool is that? But enough about me…it’s time for you to see what I can offer.

I would like to start my duties as an Ohr Chadash writer with something that has been bugging me about my Jewish heritage. I sometimes lie in my bed and stare at the crack in my ceiling pondering how big of a difference I make in the Jewish world around me. First off, let me give you some soothing numbers: There are 14.1 million Jews in the world, according to the Jewish Web Index. Jews make about .22 percent of the world’s population, so it may be slightly easier to make a difference as Jews as opposed to Christians, who represent nearly 2.1 billion people worldwide. So our making a difference is approximately 149 times easier than the Christians.

Back to all seriousness, what can you do as a Jew? How about represent us in the multicultural world by wearing your kippah (Jewish skull-cap or yarmulke)? By wearing a kippah, you are showing that you are proud to be a Jew, making you a role model for Jews around you.

You could inspire other Jews to become closer to their Jewish heritage. It’s very simple, really. All you have to do is wear a little satin circle on your head. So when you’re in the checkout line buying your Vitamin B83 and a cream-filled donut at Schnuck’s, don’t feel ashamed when someone looks at you funny for wearing that little kippah. That kippah is a sign of your commitment to helping Jews around you become invested in their religion… something not everyone has the courage to try. After reading this article, hopefully, you’re ready to put on a kippah and take on the world.

This article represents the opinion of the writer.