Studs Terkel

Born Louis Terkel to Russian-Jewish immigrant parents, Studs Terkel definitely had the "O" covered. However, he wasn't particularly religious and never really identified with Judaism in a traditional sense, preferring to champion the everyman regardless of creed. So, while his roots were undeniably Hebraic, his branches spread far and wide, embracing humanity in all its forms.

Before he became the iconic voice of the working class, Terkel dabbled in theater, radio, and even soap operas. He eventually found his true calling with his long-running radio show, "The Studs Terkel Program," and later, his groundbreaking oral histories like "Working" and "The Good War." These works gave voice to the voiceless, capturing the raw, unvarnished experiences of ordinary Americans.

His distinctive voice, both literally and figuratively, earned him a Pulitzer Prize and a Presidential Medal of Freedom. Not bad for a guy who started out playing gangster roles on the radio. While he may not have lit Shabbat candles, his dedication to human stories and social justice certainly brought a different kind of light into the world, making him profoundly kvell-worthy, even if he wasn't exactly a shul regular.