Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a Modern Hero in the Digital Era

President Zelensky is becoming a respected leader, war hero and a cultural icon worldwide.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy grabbed the attention of Ukrainians by playing out what has traditionally been the part of the Jew: the outsider.

He had no political experience, no military preparation, but he had nerves of steel and the courage to lead in a time of terrifying violence.

The 44-year-old former actor turned president has exhibited great patriotism and bravery, joining his fate with that of his countrymen on the streets of Kyiv.

Zelenskyy has used his own history to demonstrate that Ukraine is a country of possibility, not the hate-filled polity of Putin’s imagination.

He grew up in the Russian-speaking city of Kryvyi Rih, in the eastern part of Ukraine.

In spite of Ukraine’s dark history of antisemitism, reaching back centuries to Cossack pogroms and the collaboration of some anti-Soviet nationalists with Nazi genocide during World War II, Ukraine after Zelenskyy’s election in 2019 became the only country outside of Israel with both a president and prime minister who were Jewish. 

As the Ukrainian president captivates the world with his bravery, he offers a reminder of the inroads Eastern and Central European Jews have made in overcoming their status as perpetual outsiders.

Zelensky was a familiar face on Ukrainian television long before that. He earned a law degree, but pivoted to pursue a career in acting and comedy, instead. He created the Kvartal 95 production company, which made many of the shows and films that he starred in — including “Servant of the People,” on which he played a history teacher who goes viral for a rant condemning corrupt politicians. The character ends up becoming the president of the country, himself. 

He voiced Paddington Bear in the Ukrainian version of the 2014 hit movie based on the beloved children’s books about a raincoat-wearing, anthropomorphic bear who carries an old suitcase and loves marmalade. 

Zelenskyy first came to the attention of many Americans during the administration of President Donald Trump, who in a phone call with Zelenskyy in 2019 leaned on him to dig up dirt on then presidential candidate Biden and his son Hunter that could aid Trump’s re-election campaign. That “perfect” phone call, as Trump later called it, resulted in Trump’s impeachment by the House of Representatives on charges of using his office, and the threat of withholding $400 million in authorized military support for Ukraine, for personal political gain.

Putin has isolated himself by invading Ukraine.

The crisis in Ukraine has made Zelensky a household name.