Susan Sontag (Jan. 16, 1933 – Dec. 28, 2004) was a writer, philosopher, and political activist. She mostly wrote essays, but also published novels; she published her first major work — the essay “Notes on ‘Camp’ ” — in 1964. Her best-known works include the critical works Against Interpretation (1966), On Photography (1977), Illness as Metaphor…
The first novel by Joshua Braff was “The Unthinkable Thoughts of Jacob Green,” described as…
Leibovich’s latest book asks why establishment Republicans failed to prevent a hostile takeover…
Rabbi Dr. David G. Dalinis a noted historian and the author, co-author, or editor of 12 books on American Jewish…
Ozick’s fiction and essays are often about Jewish-American life, but she also writes about…
Sir Simon Michael Schama (77) is a British historian specializing in art history, Dutch history, Jewish history, and French history. He is a University Professor of History and Art History at Columbia University. In the United Kingdom, he is perhaps best known for writing and hosting the 15-part BBC documentary series A History of Britain.…
Wendy Wasserstein (Oct. 18, 1950 – Jan. 30, 2006) was an acclaimed playwright who received the Tony Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1989 for The Heidi Chronicles. Her other plays include the following: The Sisters Rosensweig, Isn’t It Romantic, An American Daughter, Old Money, and Third. Wasserstein died from…
Julius Lester (Jan. 27, 1939 – Jan. 18, 2018) was an author of books for both children and adults. In addition to teaching at the University of Massachusetts Amherst for 32 years, he was a civil rights activist, photographer, and musician who recorded two albums of folk music and original songs. In 1982, Lester —…
Lev Raphael is a prolific author who has penned more than 20 books, including Stick up for Yourself, Coming Out of Shame, The Death of a Constant Lover, Dancing on Tisha B’av, My Germany, Little Miss Evil, Burning Down the House, Tropic of Murder, Assault with a Deadly Lie, and Criminal Kabbalah. A number of…
Walter Ellis Mosley (68) is a Jewish African-American writer (Jewish mother, non-Jewish father) who recently was awarded the prestigious National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He is the first Black man to receive the honor (although not the first Jew). Mainly known for writing best-selling crime novels, Mosley is the author…
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