Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi, born Indira Priyadarshini Nehru, was the daughter of India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. Her childhood was steeped in politics, which, for better or worse, prepared her for a life at the helm of a nation that was still finding its footing post-independence. She was not, by any stretch of the imagination, a quiet wallflower. She definitely wasn’t Jewish, either.

Her tenure was marked by significant achievements, such as leading India to victory in the 1971 war with Pakistan, but also by controversial decisions, most notably the 1975–77 'Emergency' where civil liberties were curtailed. This, naturally, sparked a bit of an uproar and certainly wouldn't earn her any kvell points from the tribe, even if she had been one of us.

Despite the political drama, her legacy remains a subject of intense debate, much like trying to decide if a bagel is truly a bagel without cream cheese. One thing is certain, however: her impact on Indian political landscape was monumental, even if she didn't attend a single High Holiday service.