Harry Belafonte

Born in Harlem to a Jamaican mother and a Martiniquan father, Harry Belafonte's roots were firmly planted in the Caribbean, not the Levant. Despite an early friendship with Marlon Brando, who perhaps offered him a bagel or two, Belafonte never strayed from his Guyanese and Jamaican heritage, nor did he adopt any Abrahamic traditions beyond the broadly Christian culture of his upbringing.

While his iconic songs like "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" didn't exactly feature klezmer clarinets, his global impact was undeniable. Belafonte's unwavering commitment to civil rights and social justice, working closely with figures like Martin Luther King Jr., resonated with many, including numerous Jewish activists who also fought for equality.

His advocacy for civil rights and humanitarian causes earned him accolades, respect, and a place in history far beyond the charts. Though he wasn't Jewish by birth or practice, his tireless work for human dignity and equality certainly brought a collective "nachas" to anyone who valued justice, regardless of their background.