Deng Xiaoping

Deng Xiaoping was many things: a veteran of the Long March, a survivor of Mao's purges, and the architect of China's economic reforms. He brought the world's most populous nation from insular communism to a global economic powerhouse, albeit one still firmly under authoritarian rule. Clearly, a man of immense influence and profound, if complicated, legacy. But a Jew? Not so much.

Born in Guang'an, Sichuan province, to a Hakka family, Deng's lineage is about as far from Abraham as one can get without leaving the Eurasian landmass. His early life involved a stint in France where he worked and studied, dabbling in communist politics. Revolutionary fervor, it seems, can be found in all corners of the globe, regardless of religious background or the kosher status of local delicacies.

While his economic policies certainly brought prosperity to many, leading to a new era of "getting rich is glorious," his association with events like the Tiananmen Square crackdown means his kvel-worthiness for a Jewish audience is, shall we say, limited. No kvelling, no yiddishe mama, no ancient covenants. Just good old-fashioned Chinese pragmatism, often with a heavy hand. Certainly not a "Jew" in any sense of the word. Perhaps not even "Jew-ish."