Wolf Isaac Blitzer (72) is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable people in America. A journalist, television news anchor, and author, Blitzer has been a CNN reporter since 1990 and is currently Principal Anchor at the network. He is the host of The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, and until 2021 served as the network’s…
Rabbi Dr. Arthur Waskow (87 or 88) has been arrested more than 25 times while participating in nonviolent demonstrations on behalf of a range of social causes. He is the founder and director of The Shalom Center, which “equips activists and spiritual leaders with awareness and skills needed to lead in shaping a transformed and…
Natan Levy is a 29-year-old mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter from Israel, the only one from the Jewish state in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). In his relatively short professional career, his record so far is 6-0-0 (wins-losses-draws). Natan was born and raised in France before immigrating with his family to Israel. He honed his…
Dr. Rachel L. Levine is a 63-year-old pediatrician who was head of the Pennsylvania Department of Health from 2017 till early 2021. President Joe Biden has tapped her to be the Assistant Secretary of Health in his administration. Dr. Levine, who also is a professor of pediatrics and psychiatry at the Penn State College of…
Eliezer Ben Yehuda (Jan. 7, 1858 – Dec. 16, 1922) was the main force behind the revival of Hebrew as a modern, living, spoken language…
Many will be surprised to learn that actor Tony Randall was a Jew, but his birth name was Aryeh Leonard Rosenberg. Randall (Feb. 26, 1920 – May 17, 2004) was perhaps best known for playing the role of Felix Unger in the television adaptation of the 1965 play “The Odd Couple.” Unger was a world-class…
Mark Chagall (July 6, 1887 — March 28, 1985) is considered one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. His works most often were inspired by traditional Jewish folklore. An early art modernist, Chagall embraced a number of different artistic styles. In the medium of stained glass, he produced beautiful windows for the…
Halacha (transliterated from the Hebrew in a number of closely related variations) refers to Jewish religious laws derived from biblical commandments (mitzvot) and Talmudic and rabbinic law. On the other hand, minhag refers to an accepted tradition or group of traditions in Judaism. A related concept, nusach, refers to the traditional order and form of…
The multitalented William “Billy” Crystal (72) is mainly known as a VFG (Very Funny Guy). Beyond his gift for comedy, he’s an actor…
WOW! FACTS
Inventor of the mobile phone, “Father of the Internet,” inventor of the video game cosole, inventor fo the laser, inventor of the gramophone, creator of the Barbie Doll, creator of the cruise ship, “Father of Immunology,” inventor fo the modern condom (!), a prime minister of the U.K., a three-time prime minister of France, a president of Switzerland and the primary financier of the American Revolution?
We knew you could guess… all of them are (or were) Jews!
To learn about these and many more AmazingJews, watch a compilation put together by JewOfTheWeek.net in 2015 and posted on YouTube. >>
Nobel Prizes
Although Jews are less than two-tenths of one percent of the world’s population, more than 20% of Nobel Prize winners have been Jewish. Source: Google
Polio Vaccine
Millions and millions of people worldwide have been spared the ravages of poliomyelitis — including paralysis and even death — thanks to research conducted by Jewish scientist Dr. Jonas Salk and his team. The Salk vaccine entered widespread use in the U.S. in 1955. Source: Wikipedia
Miss Liberty
The words “…give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses…” on the Statue of Liberty were written by Emma Lazarus, a Jew. Source: BuzzFeed
Blue Jeans
Levi Strauss, an immigrant from Germany, invented his blue jeans in 1873. Source: BuzzFeed
Start-Up Nation
Israel has the third highest rate of entrepreneurship in the world. It has the highest rate of entrepreneurship among women and people over 55 in the world. Source: BuzzFeed
