Inspiring stories to warm you up this winter

Heart-warming stories to brighten your days

cindy 2024 heroes image

In these darkest and coldest days of the year, here are some inspiring Jewish-themed stories from 2024 to brighten and warm you up. 

Breaking the 'techo de cristal' 

Mexico's new president, Claudia Sheinbaum, broke the glass ceiling in more ways than one last spring when she won Mexico's election, becoming the country's first woman leader and its first Jewish leader. Sheinbaum won more than 60% of the votes, more than twice as much as the first runner-up. Her election makes Mexico-a country of more than 120 million people, most of whom identify as Catholic--the largest country with a Jewish head of state. In fact, the only other countries currently with Jewish leaders are Israel and Ukraine. 

#MyZuzahYourZuzah  

MyZuzah--a Jewish nonprofit that aims to put up a mezuzah in every Jewish home in the world=was inundated with thousands of requests after Catholic sitcom star Patricia Heaton launched a campaign to encourage people to put up the ritual objects in solidarity with the Jewish community. Heaton, of Everybody Loves Raymond fame, launched the #MyZuzahYourZuzah campaign in the fall, just before the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks. Most of the requests fielded by MyZuzah, the nonprofit reported, were for the case only--not for the scroll, or "klaf," which goes inside. Proceeds from mezuzah sales subsidizes free mezuzahs and scrolls for families in need. 

High five 

As usual, Israel ranks high on the survey of happiest countries, this year coming in as the fifth happiest country in the world, knocked down only one peg from 2023. The Israeli sense of resiliency is remarkable, especially considering what the Israeli people have been through in the last couple years. 

Landmark agreement 

After years of negotiations, JUF, Illini Hillel, and Hillel International reached a landmark agreement last fall with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for Jewish students on campus. The agreement includes a declaration from the university that the protection for students offered by the nondiscrimination policy extends to harassment or discrimination of Jewish students--including those identifying as Zionists. The decision comes in tandem with the announcement of a Resolution Agreement issued by the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights in response to a complaint filed in 2020 that alleged a hostile environment for Jews on the campus. 

You did something about it! 

Every year, our community faces significant challenges, and every year, you--our readers-do something about it. Once again, in 2024, you inspired us through your boundless generosity, lifting up our community in Chicago, in Israel, and around the world. For all you did--and for all you continue to do--we thank you.  


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