Yaa Asantewaa

Yaa Asantewaa was the Queen Mother of Ejisu in the Ashanti Empire, which is pretty much the opposite of being a Jewish mother. Born around 1840, her claim to fame wasn't baking a mean challah, but rather leading an entire army against the British in what became known as the War of the Golden Stool. Apparently, the British made the grave error of demanding to sit on the Ashanti's sacred Golden Stool, which is like asking a Jew for their last piece of lox. You just don't do it.

When the men of the Ashanti council hesitated, fearing British firepower, Yaa Asantewaa famously rallied them with a speech that basically said, "If you cowards won't fight, I will!" And fight she did, taking up arms and inspiring her people to resist colonial oppression. While her rebellion was eventually suppressed and she was exiled, her legacy as a fierce and uncompromising leader endures.

So, while she wasn't a member of the tribe, her refusal to back down in the face of overwhelming odds and her unwavering commitment to her people's sovereignty earn her top marks in the Kvell-worthiness department. She might not have known from gefilte fish, but she certainly knew how to put up a good fight. If only we could get her to organize a synagogue bake sale.