Isaac Asimov

Asimov's parents, Anna Rachel and Judah Asimov, were Orthodox Jews from Petrovichi, Russia, who brought young Isaac to the United States when he was three. While his origins couldn't be more Jewish, Asimov himself was a staunch humanist and atheist, often expressing skepticism about organized religion. He did, however, occasionally draw upon Jewish themes and lore in his vast body of work, suggesting a cultural connection if not a spiritual one.

Yet, his Jewish parents couldn't have kvelling harder. With over 500 books to his name, including the foundational Foundation series, I, Robot, and countless popular science works, Asimov shaped the minds of generations of readers. He was, to put it mildly, rather good at the whole writing thing.

His groundbreaking contributions to science fiction, particularly his Three Laws of Robotics, are cornerstones of the genre, influencing everything from philosophy to pop culture. Not too shabby for a kid from a shtetl.