Mies van der Rohe

Born in Aachen, Germany, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (he added "van der Rohe" later, because it sounded fancier) came from a stone mason's family, which, disappoints us to report, means he hailed from good old Catholic stock. There are no credible sources suggesting any Jewish ancestry, identity, or practice, meaning his "less is more" philosophy extended even to his Jewish score.

Despite a complete lack of Jewish credentials, Mies van der Rohe undeniably shaped the urban landscape, from the Seagram Building to the Barcelona Pavilion. His sleek, unadorned structures helped define the International Style, making him a titan of 20th-century architecture. So, while he wasn't Jewish, he certainly built like a mensch.

His departure from Germany in 1937, though spurred by the rise of Nazism and the closure of the Bauhaus, was more about preserving his architectural vision than any ethnic or religious persecution. He thrived in America, becoming the director of the Illinois Institute of Technology, where he continued to influence generations of architects with his austere, yet elegant, designs. A K of 5 is easily earned for his pervasive influence, even if his I and O remain stubbornly at zero.