Prince

Let's get this out of the way: Prince was not Jewish. Not by birth, not by conversion, not by inclination. He was, by all accounts, a Seventh-day Adventist. So, if you came here hoping for a hidden menorah in Paisley Park, you're going to be disappointed. Very disappointed.

However, this does not mean Prince was not kvell-worthy. Oh, far from it. The man was a musical genius, a multi-instrumentalist who wrote, produced, and performed most of his own material. He gave us "Purple Rain," "Kiss," "When Doves Cry," and a catalog so deep it makes the Dead Sea look like a puddle.

His stage presence was legendary, his fashion sense iconic, and his influence on popular music immeasurable. He was a provocateur, a reclusive superstar, and a tireless advocate for artists' rights. So, while he might not have been one of ours, we can still appreciate the sheer, unadulterated talent of the man. After all, good music transcends all boundaries, even gefilte fish.

So, no, Prince was not a Jew. But he was Prince. And that, in itself, is a pretty high bar.