Sheinbaum’s family background is one of culturally Jewish but atheist progressive activists. A similar background has defined the past century of Jewish communities in Mexico, many of which were built by European Jews who, fleeing pogroms and the Nazis, brought with them socialist values that they would seek to foster in their lives in Mexico.But such connections between Jewish values and political action in countries of refuge are often downplayed or even contested. Sheinbaum herself has not made much of her Jewish identity in her political life. She has often described the family in which she was raised as not particularly observant. Yet Sheinbaum is also only the second Jewish head of state throughout all of Latin America. So, no matter what kind of Jewish political leader she is, the fact that she identifies as Jewish is material to her public profile.
It’ll keep happening if people don’t care they’re Jewish and the Jewish don’t care they’re Jewish and people just elect—shock, horror—a person.
But it doesn’t work that way. I’ve seen someone vote for a person simply because of their gender, not at all knowing their political views and plans. Yuuuuup.
