12 Rules of Chutzpah
Senator Ron Wyden grew up in a home where he frequently heard about grit, self-confidence, and determination.
Both of his parents escaped Nazi Germany in the 1930s. His father, Peter, fled to the U.S. and fought in the U.S. Army, joining the “Ritchie Boys,” who were service members trained in psychological warfare and intelligence.
“They used their native knowledge of colloquial German to write effective propaganda,” Ron told Aish. “Their work is noted for its effects on Nazi soldiers and civilians. He taught me that Jewish values are American values and that an America that lives up to its founding promises will always be a home for the Jews.”
Chutzpah is the indispensable instrument for making change in your communities and improving the world.
Ron’s mother, Edith, fled Germany in 1936 and first went to Iraq before coming to the U.S. in 1939. She then graduated from Yale and worked at the United States Information Agency.
The senator’s parents inspired him to go after what he wanted out of life and make the world a better place while doing it. “As a product of the Jewish American experience, it was important to me to share the education and influences that allowed me to be effective in a long career of public service,” Ron said. “I wanted to talk about chutzpah as the indispensable instrument for making change in your communities and improving the world.”
A Journey Full of Chutzpah
As of 2025, the senator from Oregon has served over four decades in Congress and now, in his new book, “It Takes Chutzpah: How to Fight Fearlessly for Progressive Change,” he takes readers on his life’s journey and spells out his lessons for having chutzpah as well.
He started his career as a co-founder of Oregon’s Gray Panthers, which is an advocacy organization for the elderly. He also served in the House of Representatives, where he wrote the Medigap law that regulated the private market for Medicare’s supplemental insurance policies. His law and subsequent work protected seniors from immoral insurance practices and ensured they could use Medicare for the first home-based health program for seniors with chronic illnesses.
Ron sees his work as a senior advocate and politician as his way of improving society.
“I am always trying to perfect the world, ever since my days working with the elderly,” he said. “Chutzpah and tikkun olam [repairing the world] are two sides of the same coin.”
Ron’s 12 Rules of Chutzpah
In the book, Ron lays out his 12 rules of chutzpah to give guidance for readers. They include:
- If you want to make change, you’ve got to make noise.
- In a world where everyone thinks and acts for the short term, always play the long game.
- Leading is coaching: You’ve got to bring people and ideas together around a shared goal.
- Show up every day prepared to play.
- There are two equally important paths to progress: start good things and stop bad things.
- Embrace the unscripted moments.
- Ideas are the seeds of change; find them and plant them wherever and whenever you can.
- Pay attention to your friends, because they can be far more unpredictable than your enemies.
- Don’t push rocks up hills. Push boulders. They will fall back on you, but you’ll gain the strength to get to the top.
- Be a principled bipartisan: Work with anybody who is serious about moving forward.
- Compromise isn’t about horse-trading bad ideas for each other; it’s about blending good ideas together into a whole that’s better than the sum of its parts.
- Political capital doesn’t earn interest and is worth nothing if you don’t spend it.
According to Ron, bipartisanship is especially critical during this divided time.
“How do you do this in such a partisan environment, and how can others do the same?” he said. “The key is understanding that bipartisanship is not about bundling a bunch of bad ideas together and moving the package in a cooperative fit of individual self-interest.”
Instead, you take the best ideas, regardless of ideology, and agree to move a whole that’s better than the sum of its parts.
“The reason bipartisanship gets a bad name is when an individual gives in on ideological trophies for the other side so that they can get something that benefits them politically,” he said. “This is something I will never do.”
Jews have been irreplaceable contributors to every society they have shared over the millennia. It is not just part of our faith. It represents our faith to the world.
The senator also has advice for young people when it comes to achieving your goals with chutzpah.
“Young people are naturally curious,” he said. “When you add into it the desire to be bold, with grit and determination, they can change the world. Chutzpah is an instrument; it will unlock opportunities, friendships, knowledge, and experiences that will not otherwise be part of your life. At every turn tap into your own chutzpah to make your life, your family’s life, your community and your country stronger.”
Continuing to Give Back
Ron’s Jewish values guide his life; they are his reason for wanting to repair the world.
“Our command of tikkun olam means that if you can serve you must,” he said. “Jews have been irreplaceable contributors to every society they have shared over the millennia. It is not just part of our faith. It represents our faith to the world.”
As for Ron’s ultimate goal, well, it’s fitting for his book.
“I want to play in the NBA, and at 75 that takes some real chutzpah,” he said. “Barring that, I hope to make positive change in health care, technology, economic opportunity, and civil liberties for as long as I am privileged to serve.”
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Date: February 2, 2025
