Shirin Ebadi

Shirin Ebadi, born in Hamadan, Iran, has had a career so distinguished it makes most people’s résumés look like grocery lists. After becoming one of Iran’s first female judges, the 1979 revolution promptly demoted her to a clerk, proving that even progressive nations can take a few steps back in the name of... well, whatever they were doing then.

Undeterred by this rather significant career adjustment, Ebadi pivoted to law, tirelessly advocating for women, children, and political dissidents. Her work, which often involved challenging the Iranian government’s human rights record, culminated in a Nobel Peace Prize in 2003. One might say she has a knack for achieving things that make international committees take notice.

While her dedication to justice and human rights is undeniably kvell-worthy on a global scale, her Jewish bona fides are, shall we say, non-existent. She is a Muslim, and her activism, though universally admired, doesn't particularly involve matzo ball soup or deciphering ancient Hebrew texts. Nevertheless, her impact on the world is such that even a Jew could appreciate the good she has done.