The Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago has announced the third annual “Double Chai in the Chi: 36 Under 36” list of young Jewish movers and shakers in Chicago.

(The letters of the Hebrew word “Chai,” which means “life,” also represent the number 18.)

Check out the list online at: http://www.oychicago.com/double-chai/default.aspx

Presented by the JUF/Federation’s Young Leadership Division (YLD) and Oy!Chicago (www.oychicago.com)—an outreach website for Chicago 20- and 30-somethings—the list shines a spotlight on the faces of Chicago’s Jewish future and recognizes the amazing contributions of this generation. The young professionals featured are noted for making a difference through their work, giving back in their free time, and earning notoriety in the Jewish community and beyond.

“We were overwhelmed by both the volume and exceptionally high quality of the nominations this year,” said Stefanie Pervos Bregman, Founding Editor and Blogger-in-Chief for Oy!Chicago. “If this list is any indication, the future of Chicago’s Jewish community is incredibly bright.”

This year’s list is replete with entrepreneurs, activists, researchers, and more, including a chemist researching a cure for Hepatitis C, a camp director bringing Judaism to life for the next generation, and a young woman with Cerebral Palsy who started a playgroup for kids with physical disabilities – just to name a few.

“This is not just a list honoring those who have had tremendous professional, monetary, or business success – nor is it a reflection of observance or participation in Judaism,” said Joe Seigle, former YLD president and one of last year’s winners. “This list reflects people who, through both their professional and philanthropic endeavors, make the Jewish community stronger and more vibrant.”

Full profiles of each honoree are available on the Oy!Chicago website.

The 36 winners will be honored at YLD’s “WYLD in Paris” party at 7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 7 at Studio Paris, 59 W. Hubbard St., Chicago. The party is open to the public. Tickets are available for $20 in advance or $30 at the door. To register, visit http://www.juf.org/yld/wyld_paris.aspx or e-mail [email protected]. Register early – last year’s party completely sold out!

The 36 named to this year’s list are:

Joel Bennett, 31, Director of Operations at B’nai Brith Beber Camp

Sara Block, 31, Advocate for victims of domestic violence

Adam Braun, 32, Member of the Illinois Holocaust and Genocide Commission

Daniel Caspi, 34, Chemist researching a cure for Hepatitis C

Claire Denton-Spalding, 26, Immigration Reform Advocate

Abe Friedman, 34, Rabbi reinvigorating Judaism for young adults

Aaron Galvin, 34, Real estate broker

Jonathan Glick, 35, Founder of the Chicago Real Estate Private Equity Network

Vicky Glikin, 35, Cantor at Congregation Solel

Asha Goldstein, 33, Jewish communal leader

Daniel Gorlin, 35, Chairman of the Board of MyJewishLearning

Aimee Halstuk, 26, Founder of ‘Just Give Me a Chance’ playgroup for children with physical disabilities

Julie Hochstadter, 35, Urban biking activist

Tristan Hummel, 27, Curator and Project Manager at Chicago Loop Alliance

Benjamin Lachman, 32, Deaf Education advocate

Alyssa Latala, 34, “Big Tent” Judaism concierge

Avraham Mor, 34, Top Chicago lighting designer

Bob Morgan, 34, General Counsel for the Illinois Department of Public Health

Diana Peters, 33, Advocate for women’s equality in manufacturing

Mandee Polonsky, 35, Education advocate

Abby Reiss-Carnow, 29, Mentor to adolescent refugee girls

Zvi Rhine, 34, Principal at Sabra Capital Partners

Shayla Rosen, 35, Founder of annual ‘Soiree for Success: A Fundraiser to Fight MS’

Benji Rubin, 29, Special needs attorney

Tiger Safarov, 29, Entrepreneur

Daliah Saper, 33, Media and entertainment lawyer

Yoni Sarason, 29, Senior Director, Midwest Region for NEXT: A Division of Birthright Israel Foundation

Jackie Shiff, 31, Working to reduce youth violence

Jeremy Smith, 27, Entrepreneur

Sarah Sobotka, 31, Advocate for children with disabilities

Brian Taylor, 35, Entrepreneur

Alex Turik, 35, Leader in Chicago’s Russian Jewish community

Katie Vogel, 28, Healthcare advocate and American Jewish World Service Global Justice Fellow

Eli Wald, 29, AIPAC Chicago Area Director

Annie Warshaw, 27, CEO and Founder, Smarty Pants Yoga Inc.

Rachel Zimmerman, 33, Coordinator of Project Shield at Jewish Child and Family Services