Beth Kieffer Leonard

Minneapolis

When I first became a Lion over 30 years ago, it represented a commitment to our Jewish Community in both time and resources.  It was a commitment that also was part of a family legacy as my mom was a lion too.  Little did I know how much the Lion pin would be a universal symbol of “all of Israel is responsible for one another”.  Whenever I see women wearing their pin, in the United States, in Europe or in Israel I know that there is a fundamental commitment to the continuity and continued support of the Jewish people.  It represents how important supporting the Jewish community, locally and globally is to each woman wearing the pin.  The story of my pin also has another side, when the CEO of MJF and I were going to visit with church leadership that actively supported our overseas work, we realized the one of the pastors should receive a lion pin.  We of course could not get a pin that day, however I realized that I had my pin in my purse as I always carried it in my wallet to ensure that I didn’t attend an event without it.  At that moment we decided that i would give her my pin, which had the year I became a lion inscribed on the back.  We presented her with my pin, told her the story of why it is important to wear the pin and how she was now included in this circle of woman who support the Jewish people in a unique and meaningful way.  She was overwhelmed by this gesture and every time she attends an event with our community, she wears her Lion pin with pride.