America at 250: A Jewish Reckoning
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From grief to resilience, from panic to purpose, from privilege to responsibility—discover how three remarkable Jewish leaders turned challenges into legacies of hope and strength.
Changing even one habit can feel overwhelming, but transformation is possible. The most powerful changes sometimes begin with a simple question: Given who I am right now, how can I use my life to uplift others? When challenges are met with purpose, they become fuel for growth.
The following three people transformed their personal struggles into missions that impacted countless lives, showing how hardship can turn into lasting change.
Dan Harris, a former ABC News journalist and anchor of Nightline as well as the weekend edition of Good Morning America, seemed to have a thriving career on the surface. But after years of reporting from war zones, he returned home battling anxiety and depression—and turned to cocaine and other drugs in an attempt to cope. The pressure finally caught up with him in 2004, when he suffered a panic attack live on Good Morning America.
The moment Dan lost it on live television.
Reflecting on that moment in his book Ten Percent Happier, Harris wrote, “According to the Nielsen ratings data, 5.019 million people saw me lose my mind.”
Following his very public panic attack, Harris turned to therapy and discovered mindfulness as a way to manage his anxiety. What began as a personal lifeline soon grew into a mission. He wrote bestselling books, launched the Ten Percent Happier podcast, and began speaking across the country, despite his fear of flying, to share the practices that were transforming his own life.
On the subject of change, Harris explained: “Many of us labor under the delusion that we’re permanently stuck with all of the difficult parts of our personalities—that we are ‘hot-tempered,’ or ‘shy,’ or ‘sad’—and that these are fixed, immutable traits. We now know that many of the attributes we value most are, in fact, skills, which can be trained the same way you build your body in the gym.”
By turning his humiliation and pain into purpose, Harris has become a leading advocate for mental health and mindfulness. Today, he has left national television behind to focus entirely on destigmatizing anxiety and raising awareness of mental health challenges.
In 2015, Sheryl Sandberg’s life was shattered when her husband died suddenly while they were on vacation. Left to raise two young children while serving as COO of Facebook, she was plunged into overwhelming grief and anxiety. Instead of being consumed by tragedy, she asked herself: How can I take this pain and use it to help others?
That question led her to co-author Option B with Adam Grant, a book offering practical guidance on resilience for families and communities facing loss. She also launched the Sheryl Sandberg and Dave Goldberg Family Foundation, dedicated to supporting women navigating single motherhood and the pressures of work and family.
After October 7th, Sheryl spent months in Israel, sitting with survivors of Hamas’s sexual violence, listening to their stories, and sharing their grief. Determined to ensure their voices were heard, she created the documentary Screams Before Silence, which she described as the most important work of her life. “Everything I have done,” she reflected, “led me to this moment—to bear witness to my people’s suffering.” Standing amid the ruins of kibbutzim and hearing survivors’ testimonies, she urged: “It is important for people of all backgrounds to speak out in this moment... to prevent such atrocities from ever occurring again.”
Today, Sheryl devotes most of her time to philanthropy, using her platform to uplift women in crisis and give voice to those who have endured unimaginable pain.
Ron Lauder, youngest son of cosmetics icon Estée Lauder and chairman of Clinique Laboratories, chose a path that set him apart from many billionaires. Rather than focusing solely on business, he used his influence and resources to strengthen Jewish life around the world. Despite criticism for dedicating his philanthropy to Jewish causes, Lauder remained unwavering.
Since 2007, he has served as president of the World Jewish Congress, but his impact extends far beyond leadership titles. His passion for Jewish continuity was ignited during his tenure as U.S. ambassador to Austria in 1987, when he witnessed rising antisemitism firsthand. That experience drove him to reconnect with his own Hungarian roots and to launch a foundation dedicated to revitalizing Jewish education in Europe. Defying the belief that Jewish communities there were fading remnants of history, Lauder established and funded schools that continue to reconnect thousands of children to their heritage.
In 2019, he founded the Antisemitism Accountability Project, confronting politicians who promote hate. And after October 7th, on the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation, he stood at its gates and declared: “The hatred of Jews had its willing supporters then and it has them now. You can’t be Jewish or non-Jewish and not be concerned with what we see around us today.”
Today, Ron devotes his life to ensuring Jewish education, survival, and dignity—fighting tirelessly against antisemitism and for the future of the Jewish people.
These stories remind us that true transformation begins with a simple but profound question: How can I use my own struggles to make life better for others? The path to lasting change is not about erasing challenges, but about turning them into fuel for growth, resilience, and purpose. When we look beyond ourselves and channel who we are into uplifting those around us, we not only transform our own lives—we help transform the world.
Featured image: from "Screams Before Silence," Sheryl Sandberg visits Kfar Aza, an Israeli kibbutz. Photo: Ran Mendelson for Kastina Communications
It looks like Jews have the DNA make up to go from struggle to strength, that is how the Jews survive successfully as the chosen people, starting with the exodus of leaving Egypt from slavery to freedom
Judy - it's not JUST having the successful DNA. IF that was the case - it would be just like the Nazi's - who tried to build the perfect German's DNA - & conquer the world - then failed. Though there is a remnant - that's still trying to succeed. For us - It's the help we get from G-D - when He has mercy on us - as He did when He brought us out of Egypt & helped us when we failed to keep His Torah Commandments.
Shame on you for bringing in Nazis( may their name be erased) my mom ( obm) was a Holocaust Survivor from Auschwitz-Birneau, and she( obm) survived the war with G_ d's miracles so don't lecture me, Jews never want to conquer the world, Jews brought the Jewish bible and a conscience to the world, and that is why Adolf Hitler ( may his name be erased) wanted to murder all Jews G _ d forbid and make a museum, now besides the Nazis ( may their name be erased) that spoke German the new Nazis( may their name be erased) speak Arabic, who are you are not a child of a Holocaust Survivor ( obm) from Auschwitz-Birneau like I am, and Jews have a Torah and anyone can convert to Judaism and the Nazis( may their name be erased) and Arab Muslim terrorists stem from Amelak,
Judy - Don't over dramatize the point about Nazi's. Their atrocities are recorded in history - & may they become like AMALEK! Take note that - slowly the left leaning progressives world wide - are eroding their heinous history. And - there is a resurgence & admiration of what they did. Again - my point was referring to your use of "DNA" - as the SOLE FACTOR in our survival success. BUT - It steals THE HONOR & GLORY - that belongs to G-D - for our successful existence. If it wasn't for G-D's help - not just our DNA - who knows what our existence today - would look like. WE need to THANK G-D - that HE - HELPED US!
What, was any of your family in the worst concentration camp called Auschwitz-Birneau, and was your whole mom's side of your family murdered in Chlemno killing place, also was any in your family had the displeasure to meet Dr. Joseph Mengele ( may his name be erased) better known as " The angel of death " so please don't tell me about over dramatizing about Nazai( may their name be erased), I know about Hashem rules the world any no one else, when my mom( obm) went to Israel and saw a holy rabbi( obm) that was a Kabblst he( obm) told my mom( obm) to bless people because of what she( obm) went through, I wouldn't of been here opinion not for miracles from Hashem my mom( obm) survived Auschwitz-Birneau, a lot of Jews unfortunately lost their faith in Hashem what they went through,
Judy - I take it you've never been through those horrors yourself - but are defending your statement of - having left out G-D as our source of DNA Success. Your recounting what you've been told - & carrying it forward - . so it's not forgotten. And - your right in doing so. As a counselor - consider that - you've no idea what I - or others - have been through - & had to deal with - in our lives. Many of us have excruciating memories we deal with. Because of our Jewish Teaching(s) - we also have great empathy for the horrors & travails - others have been - & may be going through now. For which we pray for G-D's help.
My mother( obm) and other Holocaust Survivors( obm) had miracles done by Hashem to save them, others ended up going for Kiddush Hashem, when someone in your family went through the Holocaust then the children and grandchildren stay with the trauma and stories from their families, a lot of Holocaust Survivors ( obm) had nightmares what they went through and didn't get therapy after it happened and told their families instead of going to therapist, I am not overly dramatic about the Holocaust I guess you didn't learn to be a Jew on one foot, the people that survived the massacre on October 7, 2023 would feel the same like a Holocaust Survivor( obm) in the trauma and the other feelings like Survivors had
Also when your family went through the Holocaust it affected/ effected all descendants like they were there, because of families telling the stories they endured and my mom( obm) told me it was much worse than I told you, most Holocaust Survivors ( obm) had nightmares and needed therapy they didn't get and did not handle the trauma they endured, and told their descendants instead of going to therapists, alsovwould a therapist understand them so Holocaust Survivors( obm) stayed with other Holocaust Survivors( obm) like them, the only ones who would understand what they endured
My mom( obm) went through the Holocaust and still had a strong faith in Hashem, and she( obm) was a very righteous woman, and I am upset and disgusted the left and liberals trivialize the Holocaust, and insult and define my family that were murdered for Kaddish Hashem
The irony was the perfect Aryan as their example was a Jewish person, which had Jewish DNA and could of been a religious person too
Wonderful!
Throughout my life - & my experience in counseling. I am always amazed that - there are those who pray for G-D's help - whom G-D chooses to help - with the sometimes sordid events that are happening in their lives. They are given the spiritual - & emotional tools & wisdom - how to turn their afflicted lives - into overcoming - & are able to help others. Yet - there are others - who continue to suffer from - the sordid events in their lives - & fall into despair - even though - they also pray & seek G-D's help. We thank G-D for those He helps - & pray that - His MERCY & HELP - will extend to those still suffering - so they can regain their belief - and trust in Him - & use the gifts from G-D - to excel in serving Him & helping others.
In the worst places she( obm) was my mom( obm) helped others