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Behind the Aegis

(56,345 posts)
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 03:49 PM 3 hrs ago

(JEWISH GROUP) The 50 most interesting Jews in American history you've probably never heard of

The United States is turning 250 years old. You know the stories of many of the Jews who have helped to shape the country’s history and culture, including such luminaries as Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, Philip Roth and Barbra Streisand.

But behind the American Jewish names we know and revere are the stories of many other American Jews who influenced the nation — and whose lives reflected the country’s efforts to realize its founding promises — who have found less purchase in history’s spotlight. To celebrate the 250th anniversary of this country’s founding, we’ve collected 50 of those stories here.

Among their number are scientists, athletes, lawmakers, clergymen and a couple genuine American characters — the type of people who, no matter where they were born, ended up living lives that speak to the best of what the U.S. has to offer its citizens.

As one of our honorees, the author Edna Ferber, wrote: “America — rather, the United States — seems to me to be the Jew among the nations. It is resourceful, adaptable, maligned, envied, feared, imposed upon. It is warmhearted, overfriendly; quick-witted, lavish, colorful; given to extravagant speech and gestures. Its people are travelers and wanderers by nature, moving, shifting, restless; swarming in Fords, in ocean liners; craving entertainment; volatile. The schnuckle among the nations of the world.”

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There is a link there to play a history game. Try it out!

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(JEWISH GROUP) The 50 most interesting Jews in American history you've probably never heard of (Original Post) Behind the Aegis 3 hrs ago OP
I knew four. Nothing to brag about. Just saying . . . Journeyman 2 hrs ago #1
No room for Levine and his flying machine ? eppur_se_muova 46 min ago #2

Journeyman

(15,517 posts)
1. I knew four. Nothing to brag about. Just saying . . .
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 04:58 PM
2 hrs ago

And I only knew Jackie Wilson because Van Morrison wrote a song in which Wilson's persona played a big part.

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