Joan Baez

Joan Baez, born in Staten Island, New York, is a folk music icon whose career spans over six decades. With a voice that could both soothe and rouse, she became a prominent figure in the 1960s counterculture movement, using her music to champion civil rights, nonviolence, and environmental causes. Her rendition of "Diamonds & Rust" remains a classic, proving that even a protest singer can dabble in romantic introspection.

While some might have mistaken her passionate delivery or her commitment to various "causes" for something inherently Jewish, Baez's background is decidedly not. Her father, Albert Baez, was born in Mexico and had Mexican and Spanish ancestry. Her mother, Joan Bridge, was born in Scotland to Scottish and English parents. So, if you were hoping for a hidden menorah, prepare for disappointment.

Despite her lack of Jewish lineage or identity, Baez's activism certainly brought a certain *kvell*-worthiness to those who appreciate a good fight for justice. She performed at Woodstock, marched with Martin Luther King Jr., and steadfastly opposed the Vietnam War, often putting her career on the line for her beliefs. Her contributions to music and her unwavering moral compass have earned her a place among the greats, even if she won't be leading any seders soon.