Pete Seeger

Pete Seeger, the gravelly-voiced bard of American folk music, spent his life singing about peace, justice, and the common person. He was a prominent figure in the folk revival, a tireless activist, and a living legend whose influence on popular music and social movements is immeasurable. Naturally, many assumed he must have been one of "ours."

However, Pete Seeger was, in fact, not Jewish by any stretch of the imagination. His lineage traces back to staunch New England Protestants, including early colonists. His father, Charles Seeger, was an eminent musicologist, and his mother, Constance de Clyver Edson, was a concert violinist; neither had Jewish roots. So, while his values often aligned with tikkun olam, his bloodline did not.

Despite this genetic oversight, Seeger's contributions to American culture and his unwavering commitment to social causes earned him universal admiration. From battling McCarthyism to advocating for environmentalism, his entire career was a masterclass in using music as a force for good. He may not have been a "Jew," but he certainly knew how to bring the nachas.