Dr. Ruth Westheimer

Born Karola Ruth Siegel to Orthodox Jewish parents in Germany, Dr. Ruth's early life was irrevocably shaped by the Holocaust. She was sent to Switzerland as part of the Kindertransport, a rescue effort for Jewish children, while her parents tragically perished in the Holocaust. This harrowing experience undoubtedly forged her resilience and informed her later work, though likely not in a way her strictly observant parents might have anticipated.

After serving as a sniper in the Haganah, the Jewish paramilitary organization in British-mandate Palestine, Dr. Ruth eventually made her way to the United States. It was there that she truly blossomed into the frank, no-nonsense sex educator the world would come to know and, perhaps, be slightly scandalized by. Her distinctive German accent and diminutive stature became as iconic as her forthright advice on everything from foreplay to fidelity.

Dr. Ruth revolutionized the conversation around sex, bringing it out of the shadows and into the mainstream with unwavering practicality and a surprising lack of prudishness. She tackled subjects previously deemed taboo for public discourse, making her a household name and, dare we say, a kvell-worthy Jew for her ability to demystify sex for millions. Her legacy is not just in sexual liberation, but in demonstrating how far a little chutzpah and a lot of knowledge can take you.