Black And Jewish: 10 Celebrities You Didn't Know Were Jewish

What do Drake, Sammy Davis Jr. and Adam Sandler have in common? These three men share more than just fame and good looks, they're also part of God's chosen people.

In honor of Passover, The Huffington Post Black Voices has compiled a list of 10 black celebrities you may not have known had Jewish lineage or practiced Judaism. From musicians, to actors to NBA ballers, check out these stars who are all people of the Book.

Comments

[thrillerusa]

04:06 AM on 12/18/2012

I think it would be more interesting to see an article on who isn't Jewish in the entertainment industry. I mean, come on, we know.. we know. It's become very transparent, both in front and behind the cameras and microphones.

[ChrisThomas1]

02:46 PM on 02/16/2013

the list of gentiles would be short, it would be nice to have that list

[IsaacBrakha]

07:01 PM on 11/13/2012

Drake is not black...

[umish]

01:06 PM on 08/01/2012

So whats the point....? Who cares what they are in their private lives...Jews, Catholics, Libertines, Athiests dtc.....the question you should ask are they "good" people?

[David Brown1949]

07:17 AM on 08/01/2012

Al Jolson? Well sometimes he was.

[Susanna Speier]

11:09 PM on 04/26/2012

Love the premise of this article and really enjoyed the slideshow. Am nevertheless surprised by The Huffington Post's chose to predicate their snappy, "These three men share more than just fame and good looks," hook with "they're also part of God's chosen people." The bios and the photos depict a wide range of American Jews. Only one of the photos depicts a Jew who is ultra Orthodox. Look, I'm not saying that the "God's chosen people" thing --ie, the covenant Moses allegedly made when he went up Mt Sinai and brought down the ten commandments and told everyone this was their covenant with God-- that story central part of Jewish tradition. Just don't like the insinuation that Jews wake up in the morning, look in the mirror and cluck, "good morning chosen person," before grabbing their iPhone and heading towards the subway. Image if Huffpo prefaced a slideshow of Asian American celebrities saying they were snails ten lifetimes ago and the fact that they' re human now means they've all been racking up killer karma. All I'm saying is that some jews identify with the more traditional religious tenants of Judaism and others do not. The person who wrote that ought to have known better.

[mommydirector]

10:39 PM on 04/22/2012

I miss Sammy Davis Jr. What a guy. So funny! Not a racist bone in his body. I wish all celebrities were like that!

[Rolf618]

10:54 AM on 04/17/2012

What about SNL alum and "Bridesmaids" star Maya Rudolph?

[SethBLiNK]

10:14 AM on 04/17/2012

Interesting that Lenny Kravitz had a Jewish father and Lisa Bonet a Jewish mother. I assumed the part about Kravitz, given his name, but it's actually the mother's lineage that usually determines whether the child is considered Jewish.

Also interesting about Stoudemire's tatooing a star of David on his hand since most Jews consider tatoos to be against Jewish teachings.

[gp341]

09:05 AM on 04/17/2012

Not only I didn't know they were Jewish, I didn't know who they were.

[awwtfp]

09:36 AM on 04/17/2012

You don't know who Lenny Kravitz is? Either you are 16 or you didn't listen to the radio during the late 1990's.

[EL Abogado]

05:21 AM on 04/17/2012

Sulafineart and I have to believe him, he fills is out, what about me that my Great Grand Father was a Rabbi and according to the promise the jew has to take care of the family after his death.

Instead to take care of the members of the family they did it contrary and killed his 1st. daughter at the age of 37 which is my Grand Mother, also killed the 1st. born out of 7 remaining behind 6 children all babies without mother, my father was the 3th. one on birth order. judaic dam god? who need him?

What do you think it happen on my mother side? to your surprise just the same, they killed my Grand Mother at the age of 36 (it is a miracle or a coincidence?) my mother was the eldest one she was just 6 years old and other two babies, jews gods?

[sulafineart]

11:22 AM on 04/16/2012

How about 10 celebrities you didn't know were Italian? Irish? German? I feel left out!!! :(

[awwtfp]

09:37 AM on 04/17/2012

This was done in reflection of Passover.

[Anneanneanne]

04:30 AM on 04/16/2012

If these people are doing something productive in an humanitarian way then it's all good. If they are wasting their financial blessings on luxury cars, homes, etc., then give me a list of entertainment personnel who are doing something for the homeless and less fortunate.

[Anneanneanne]

04:26 AM on 04/16/2012

That's all good, but most people would be more interested in at least 20 Celebrities Who We Didn't Know Were: Christian, Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu, and Atheists? Now that is a story.

[houseofvespucci]

03:37 AM on 04/16/2012

If Jewish lineage is matriarchal then this article is misleading regarding some of the celebrities selected to be depicted as Jewish.

[awwtfp]

09:38 AM on 04/17/2012

I was thinking the same thing..And Sammy Davis Jr.? he converted...

[Christina Coad]

03:22 PM on 04/22/2012

Just because he converted doesn't mean he wasn't Jewish. I understand that by birth he wasn't but he did convert to the jewish religion.

[Sophia Harrison]

09:40 AM on 02/20/2013

Under jewish law a convert to Judaism is in fact a Jew, no questions asked. Even under orthodox law.

[hearthammer]

03:36 AM on 04/16/2012

Jeez, who cares what religion some people are? And who ARE half these people?

What a waste of bandwidth!