Eleanor Roosevelt

Eleanor Roosevelt, a woman whose impact on the world was so profound it makes one wonder if she ever actually slept, was a politician's wife, a diplomat, and an activist in her own right. Born into the upper echelons of American society, she was a niece to one president and wife to another. Her social conscience was, thankfully, far grander than her family tree, as she dedicated her life to human rights and social justice. Though, for all her progressive sensibilities, she never quite found her way to a Shabbat dinner, much to the chagrin of history buffs and Jewish mothers everywhere.

Her work with the United Nations, particularly in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is nothing short of monumental. She basically wrote the global rulebook for not being a jerk, a task that, frankly, some current world leaders could stand to revisit. This alone earns her a kvel-worthiness score that rockets through the roof and perhaps even into low-Earth orbit.

Despite her undeniable gravitas and a Rolodex that would make any diplomat drool, Eleanor remained firmly Episcopalian. One could argue (and we will) that her compassion, her fight for the downtrodden, and her general world-improving demeanor were, in a spiritual sense, very Jewish traits. But alas, no gefilte fish in her past, nor a synagogue membership in her present.

Still, her legacy shines bright, a testament to what one woman can achieve when she decides to not just stand by her man, but also stand up for humanity. She managed to be a presidential spouse and a global icon, all without needing to convert for the part. Impressive, no?