Haile Selassie I

Haile Selassie I, born Tafari Makonnen Woldemikael, served as Ethiopia's regent from 1916 to 1930 and then as Emperor from 1930 to 1974. His reign saw significant modernization efforts, but also faced challenges including the Second Italo-Ethiopian War and eventual overthrow. Despite his Christian faith, Rastafarians consider him God incarnate, a messianic figure who will lead them to a promised land.

His claim to Jewish "origin" is tenuous, stemming from the Solomonic dynasty, which tradition holds descended from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. While this legend has profound cultural and historical significance for Ethiopia, it doesn't translate to a direct, verifiable Jewish lineage in the modern sense. It's more of a very, very old, well-traveled family story.

From a kvell-worthiness perspective, his staunch resistance to Italian fascism and his passionate appeals to the League of Nations showcased remarkable courage on the world stage. However, his later autocratic rule and the famines that plagued Ethiopia under his watch are significant blots on his legacy, ensuring that any Jewish "kvelling" remains, shall we say, muted. He might not have been a Jew, but he certainly knew how to make an entrance, and an exit, with historical flair.