José Mujica

José "Pepe" Mujica served as the 40th President of Uruguay from 2010 to 2015, gaining international renown for his humble lifestyle. Living on a dilapidated farm and driving an old Volkswagen Beetle, he routinely donated about 90% of his presidential salary to social programs and small entrepreneurs, which is certainly a novel approach for a politician.

Before ascending to the presidency, Mujica was a member of the Tupamaros, a left-wing urban guerrilla group. His activism led to over a decade in prison under military dictatorship, during which he faced torture and spent long periods in solitary confinement. He certainly paid his dues, or rather, his political convictions extracted a heavy toll.

After democracy was restored, Mujica transitioned from revolutionary to statesman, championing social reforms suchibilities as legalizing cannabis, abortion, and same-sex marriage in Uruguay. While his policies and politics might not earn him a spot in the synagogue