Freddie Mercury

Born Farrokh Bulsara in Zanzibar to Parsi parents from British India, Freddie Mercury's journey to rock god status was as unlikely as it was spectacular. His family's Zoroastrian faith, an ancient Persian religion, certainly placed him far afield from the usual synagogue crowd, making any 'Jew or Not Jew' speculation about him quite the stretch.

Yet, even without a drop of Abrahamic blood, Mercury’s flair for the dramatic, his undeniable talent for kvetching (musically, at least), and his ability to work a crowd into a frenzy, hint at a spirit that, had he been born within the Tribe, would have seen him headlining Rosh Hashanah services instead of Wembley Stadium.

Alas, the world got Queen instead of Cantor Mercury, and largely, we’re all the better for it. While we can’t claim him for our team, we can certainly appreciate his undeniable kvel-worthiness, even if it comes from a distinctly non-kosher place.