Wangari Maathai

Wangari Maathai, bless her non-Jewish heart, was too busy planting trees and saving the planet to worry about whether she was Jewish. She was, in fact, a devout Catholic, which, while admirable in its own right, doesn't exactly get her a seat at the Passover Seder.

Born in a small village in Kenya, Maathai defied expectations from an early age. She pursued higher education, becoming the first East African woman to earn a Ph.D. In the grand scheme of things, this is arguably more impressive than, say, mastering the Gefilte fish recipe. (Just kidding. Mostly.)

Her Green Belt Movement, which mobilized women to plant over 51 million trees, earned her the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004. So, while she never studied Torah or celebrated Hanukkah, she certainly brought a tremendous amount of nachas to the world. We're pretty sure even the most discerning bubbe would approve of her environmental activism.

Ultimately, Wangari Maathai proves that you don't need to be part of the tribe to be a mensch. She was a global citizen, a relentless advocate for the environment and human rights, and a testament to the power of one individual to make a profound difference.