In our latest #0dot2 video, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel answers “What does it mean to be Jewish?”

Listen to the mayor discuss the elements of his upbringing that defined his Jewish identity—specifically his family’s tradition of observing Shabbat, their history of becoming American Jews, their connection to the Holocaust and their visits to The State of Israel in the late 1960s and early 1970s—and how those experiences led him to a career in public service.

B’nai B’rith International has launched the Zero.Dot.Two Initiative (#0dot2) ahead of its 175th anniversary to discuss ideas around Jewish identity, to educate social media users about Judaism as a proactive way to combat anti-Semitism and to promote the Jewish connection to the State of Israel through the voices of many online influencers. With approximately 14.4 million Jewish individuals alive today, we represent approximately 0.2% of global citizens.