Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman, a woman whose life story reads like an action-adventure novel, was born into slavery in Maryland. She escaped to freedom in 1849, but unlike many, she didn't stop there. Instead, she embarked on an astonishing career as a "conductor" on the Underground Railroad, making numerous perilous journeys back into the South to guide others to liberty.

Her dedication was such that she was known to carry a pistol and threaten to shoot any enslaved person who considered turning back, famously stating, "You go on or die." While her methods might seem a tad extreme by today's standards, one must admit, they were effective. Her success rate was, to put it mildly, rather impressive.

After the Civil War, Tubman continued her activism, advocating for women's suffrage and caring for the elderly and infirm. So, while she never quite got the memo about joining a synagogue or celebrating Hanukkah, her commitment to liberation and justice certainly resonates with some deeply Jewish values. One might even say her kvell-worthiness ratings are off the charts, regardless of her lack of overt Jewish identity or origin.