John Cage

Born in Los Angeles to Protestant parents (his father an inventor, his mother a journalist), John Cage's upbringing was decidedly not Jewish. His father was of Scottish descent and his mother had English and Welsh ancestry, meaning the only "schlep" he ever experienced was probably carrying his own compositions.

Cage became a leading figure in the avant-garde movement, known for his experimental approaches, including aleatoric music (where some elements are left to chance) and prepared piano. His most famous, or infamous, piece, "4'33''," consists of a performer sitting silently for four minutes and thirty-three seconds, challenging the very definition of musical performance. Some might say it's the perfect soundtrack for waiting for the Messiah.

While his contributions undeniably shaped 20th-century music, leading many to scratch their heads and others to hail him as a genius, they had absolutely nothing to do with Jewish culture or identity. He was more concerned with the sound of a falling droplet than the sound of a shofar.

Ultimately, John Cage was a titan of experimental music, but his only connection to Judaism is that some of his audiences probably kvetch about his work.