Top 10 Jewish T.V. Characters

1. Fran Fine: The Nanny 
2. Grace Adler: Will & Grace 
3. Rachel Berry: Glee 
4. Charlotte York-Goldenblatt: Sex and the City 
5. Herschel Kurstofsky (Krusty the Clown): The Simpsons 
6. Ross and Monica Geller: Friends 
7. Kyle Broflovsky: South Park 
8. David Silver and Andrea Zuckerman: Beverly Hills 90210 
9. Ari Gold: Entourage 
10. Lilith Sternin: Cheers, Frasier

* Honorable Mention: Mr. Hooper (Sesame Street), Cyrus Rose (Gossip Girl), Dr. Yang (Grey’s Anatomy), Dr. Cuddy and Dr. Taub (House). Since Jerry Seinfeld was actually playing himself, he’s not really a Jewish character in this sense of the word “character.”

Top 10 Jewish Name Changers

1. Allen Konigsberg = Woody Allen 
2. Nathan Birnbaum = George Burns 
3. Natalie Hershlag = Natalie Portman 
4. Melvin Kaminsky = Mel Brooks 
5. Bernie Schwartz = Tony Curtis 
6. Isadore Demsky = Kirk Douglas 
7. Robert Zimmerman = Bob Dylan 
8. Larry Zeiger = Larry King 
9. Joseph Levitch = Jerry Lewis
10. Jon Leibowitz = Jon Stewart

* Honorable Mention: Ralph Lauren (Ralph Lifschitz), Joan Rivers (Joan Molinsky), Rodney Dangerfield (Jacob Cohen), Gene Wilder (Jerome Silberman)

Top 10 Jewish Magicians and Illusionists

1. Harry Houdini: Undeniably the greatest magician of all time. How he performed some of his acts is still a mystery today.
2. David Copperfield: Vegas magician who has more total earnings than any other magician.
3. David Blaine: Street magician and endurance artist. Some call him the modern day Houdini.
4. Uri Geller: Illusionist in the 1980s known for his spoon bending “psychic powers.”
5. Max Maven: Innovator of mentalism and hosted a 12 part series called “Something Strange with Max Maven.”
6. David Berglas: Mentalist and psychological illusionist.
7. Abraham Hurwitz: Named New York City’s “Official Magician” by former mayor La Guardia.
8. Fred Kaps: Only person to win the Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques three times.
9. Max Malini: Magician who performed for several presidents and at Buckingham Palace.
10. Herb Zarrow: Invented the Zarrow Shuffle, a way to do fake card shuffles.

* Honorable Mention: Al Flosso, Howie Schwarzman, Ricky Jay, Steve Cohen, Chan Canasta

Top 10 Jewish Films of All Time

1. Schindler’s List: This 1993 film is about the true story of a gentile who saved more than one thousand Jews during the Holocaust. Academy Award for Best Picture.
2. Fiddler on the Roof: Story of family life and changing tradition in a shtetl.
3. The Ten Commandments: This 1956 movie starred Charlton Heston as Moses and Yul Brynner as Pharoah. Adjusted for inflation it is the fifth-highest grossing film of all time.
4. The Chosen: Story of two Jewish boys who become friends despite their different views of Judaism.
5. Yentl: Story of a woman who wants to learn Judaism in a yeshiva meant only for boys.
6. Life is Beautiful: 1997 film about a father who tries to bring fun and humor to his family during the Holocaust.
7. Exodus: This 1960 film tells the story of the ship Exodus, and the founding of the state of Israel.
8. Cabaret: Subplot is about a German Jew passing as a Christian to avoid persecution.
9. Chariots of Fire: A British Jew runs to overcome prejudice.
10. Europa Europa: Story of a Jewish boy who disguises his identity and becomes part of the Hitler Youth. 

* Honorable Mention: Funny Girl, Kissing Jessica Stein, Marjorie Morningstar, The Quarrel, Live and Become, Au Revoir Les Enfants

Click on the book cover above to read this critic's version of her top 50 Jewish movies.

Top 10 Jewish Jazz Musicians and Bandleaders

1. Benny Goodman: Known as the “King of Swing.” Clarinetist and big band leader.
2. Buddy Rich: Big band leader. Regarded as one of the greatest drummers of all time.
3. Artie Shaw: Jazz clarinetist, composer and big band leader.
4. Stan Getz: West coast jazz musician and one of the greatest tenor saxophonists of all time.
5. Paul Whiteman: Leader of one of the most successful jazz bands in the 1920s.
6. Herb Alpert: Latin jazz band leader. Known for Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass.
7. Harry James: Big band leader and master of the trumpet.
8. Ziggy Elman: Jazz trumpeter in Benny Goodman’s band.
9. Zoot Sims: Jazz tenor and soprano saxophonist.
10. Kenny G.: Soprano saxophonist.

* Honorable Mention: Herbie Mann, Woody Herman.

Benny Goodman is considered by many the greatest clarinetist of all time. 
Click to hear some of this music.