Those concerned about current threats to democracy and religious freedom in America need to express more joy and less oy, Rachel Laser told the 2026 Summit for Religious Freedom.
Laser leads Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which hosts the annual gathering for advocates in Washington, D.C.
The times are perilous, and the Trump administration is seeking to dismantle the wall of separation between church and state, she acknowledged. But those who seek to uphold traditional values of church-state separation will succeed more fully by making a positive case rather than a reactionary one, she said.
“I speak to you all every day and I hear your disbelief and your dismay and your disgust and I share that.”
“Over these past five terms, since Trump solidified this ultra conservative majority, the Roberts (Supreme) Court has ruled in support of cases involving religion 98% of the time. And to be clear, these cases are not about true religious freedom. And if they were, that would be great,” she said. “They are about people demanding special permission to harm others. And very often it’s LGBTQ people or to take public money for religious ends and to use government power to impose their beliefs.
“These are wins for religious privilege, not for religious freedom. And it’s really not surprising that a recent study shows this is the first court to contract rather than to expand civil rights since the 1950s. I know I’m dragging you down. It’s awful. And I speak to you all every day and I hear your disbelief and your dismay and your disgust and I share that.”
She quoted a new mantra she’s been hearing: “Less oy, more joy.”
“Oy” (or “oy vey”) is a Yiddish interjection of dismay, frustration, pain or astonishment, acting as an all-purpose exclamation similar to “oh no,” “oh dear,” or “woe.”
“I have witnessed this theme not surprisingly given the words in the Jewish community and in their effort to respond to today’s surge in antisemitism,” Laser said. “And to be clear, this is not about denial. It’s not about forced cheerfulness or pretending the danger isn’t real. It’s important to face the reality. It’s important to ring the alarm bells. That sense of threat motivates us to take action. It’s important to clarify the record and state the real facts. The oy part is important. … But the point here is that oy alone isn’t good for a people or a movement.”
More joy “means refusing to let antisemitism define the entirety of Jewish life,” she explained. “Yes, Jews must fight antisemitism, but they must also strengthen and celebrate Jewish life, Jewish community, Jewish traditions, Jewish identity.”
For all who want to find a better way forward, she advised: “Don’t ignore the oy, but add joy.”
“Don’t ignore the oy, but add joy.”
Her rationale: “If you insist on joy, even in the face of mislabeling, and if you value yourself and your identity, what you have, and you let others see that, if you refuse to let your opponents get you down or at least keep you down, if you seek out community, then you’re more likely to live fully, and you’re more likely to fight back against your oppressors and to do so more effectively.”
Joy about church-state separation might have three expressions, she said:
- “Having visible pride in the promise of church-state separation we’re defending.”
- “Creating and building diverse community across differences.”
- “Taking courageous action.”
“Church-state separation joy means that even as these attacks on church-state separation keep coming fast and furious, we must spend time celebrating our country’s promise of church-state separation,” what she called “an American original.”
She urged advocates to “retell our country’s story” and not let Christian nationalists rewrite history.
“Talk, write and teach about church-state separation. Preach about church-state separation and not just with pain, even though some pain is understandable. Preach also with joy about the promise itself. People deserve to know the truth about our country’s founding ideals, and also they’ll fight harder to protect something they understand is promised to them.”