Jessye Norman

Jessye Norman was a force of nature, a soprano whose voice could fill any opera house and melt any heart, provided that heart was adequately prepared for sheer, unadulterated vocal power. She was known for her commanding interpretations of roles from Wagner to Strauss, making audiences forget whatever paltry concerns they had before being swept away by her artistry.

While her performances were often described as transcendent, reaching celestial heights, her earthly lineage did not, it seems, include any stops in the Promised Land. Norman hailed from Augusta, Georgia, a place more famous for golf tournaments than for ancient Hebrew lineages.

Despite a career that saw her achieve worldwide acclaim, perform for presidents, and generally knock everyone's socks off with her sheer talent, there’s no indication she ever traded gospel hymns for Kol Nidre. Her legacy is one of unparalleled musical achievement, but alas, not one that adds another notch to the tribe's belt.

So, while we can kvell over her incredible voice and her significant contributions to classical music, we’ll have to do so without claiming her as one of our own. Sometimes, a diva is just a diva, and not a Jew. And that's okay, we guess. mostly.