Toussaint Louverture

Toussaint Louverture, born François-Dominique Toussaint Bréda, was not merely a runaway slave, but a strategically brilliant general and diplomat who transformed a chaotic rebellion into an independent nation. He proved that freedom, when properly motivated and organized, is an unstoppable force, especially when facing empires more concerned with sugar profits than human decency. No wonder the French eventually lured him to a chilly mountain prison.

His leadership not only freed the enslaved people of Saint-Domingue (now Haiti) but also inspired countless others worldwide to challenge colonial rule and racial oppression. One could say he really stuck it to the man, then became the man, then got stuck in a French dungeon.

While his origin story is decidedly not Jewish, his sheer chutzpah and unparalleled success in achieving liberation for his people score high on the Kvell-o-meter. He might not have observed Shabbat, but he certainly created a new day of rest for an entire population.