Clarence Darrow

Clarence Darrow, a legal legend and self-proclaimed agnostic, made a career out of defending the indefensible and questioning pretty much everything else. He was a champion of the underdog, much like many historical Jewish figures, but alas, his ancestry traces back to decidedly non-kvell-worthy Puritan stock, not exactly the kind of heritage that gets bubbes kvelling.

Darrow's most famous courtroom battles, like the Scopes Monkey Trial, saw him arguing against fundamentalist religious views. While he wasn't arguing for Judaism, he was certainly arguing for intellectual freedom, a concept many of our most brilliant minds have championed throughout history. One could almost imagine him having a spirited debate at a Seder, if only he'd been invited.

His lack of Jewish credentials doesn't diminish his impact on American law and civil liberties. He fought for labor rights, against capital punishment, and generally stood up for the little guy. So, while he wasn't a Jew, he certainly had a moxie that would make a Yiddishe Mama proud, even if it was in the service of universal human rights rather than, say, perfecting gefilte fish.