Moses Mendelssohn

Born in Dessau, Germany, Moses Mendelssohn rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most influential thinkers of the Enlightenment. Despite a hunchback and living with rickets, his intellectual prowess was undeniable, allowing him to hobnob with the likes of Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, who apparently thought Mendelssohn was so charming, he didn't even notice the hunchback. Truly, a testament to his sparkling personality and formidable mind.

Mendelssohn’s most significant contribution was perhaps his tireless effort to bridge the chasm between Jewish tradition and the modern, secular world. He advocated for religious freedom and translated the Torah into German, complete with a Hebrew commentary, essentially telling his fellow Jews, "You know that German thing everyone's speaking? Time to catch up." This effort was groundbreaking, if not a little controversial among those who preferred their Judaism strictly in Hebrew.

His philosophy emphasized reason and universal ethics, arguing that Judaism was a revealed law, not a revealed religion, and thus compatible with rational inquiry. He managed to remain an observant Jew while deeply engaging with the intellectual currents of his time, effectively showing everyone how it was done. For this, and for simply being incredibly smart, he earns top marks across the board, proving that you don't need to be tall or perfectly straight-backed to be a giant among men.