List of Black Celebrities Who Have Jewish Roots

Happy Hanukkah: Did You Know These Black Celebs Have Jewish Roots?

- By Bossip Staff
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It’s beginning to look a lot like Hanukkah! The Jewish Festival Of Lights commenced on Saturday so we thought we’d shout out a few of our favorite celebs who have roots in the faith. Hit the flip to find out which celebs might just let you light their menorah when you continue.

Kat Graham

The “Vampire Diaries” actress now claims Christianity but she was raised Jewish and even went to Hebrew school as a youngster.

Drake

The poster child for Jewish rappers. And he even had a bar mitzvah! Drake’s mom is of the Jewish faith as is his beloved Bubby.

Goapele

The singer has Bay area roots but her mom Noa is an Israeli-Jew.

Amar’e Stoudemire

Some reports say Amar’e’s mom is Jewish, but others say the Knicks baller was following the faith of other family members. Either way he went to Israel and got real religious.


Lauren London

In case you didn’t know, her pops is all about that gefilte fish life.

Boris Kodjoe

Half-German, half-Ghanaian, his great-grandmother died in the Holocaust and his grandmother had to hide to out for most of World War II to survive.

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Lisa Bonet

In case you didn’t know, Denise Huxtable’s real mom Arlene is Jewish. Sorry Claire.

Sean Paul

The reggae star’s dad is part Jewish and, like Amar’e he’s made that trip to Israel to pay homage to his roots by praying at Jerusalem’s Western Wall.

Maya Rudolph

Her mom was famous R&B singer Minnie Ripperton, but her dad, composer Richard Rudolph is Jewish.

Shyne

It’s no secret that Moses Michael Levi found his faith behind bars and has since become an Orthodox Jew.

Rashida Jones

Rashida was actually raised Jewish and went to Hebrew school until she was 10.

Lenny Kravitz
Lenny’s TV and film producing pops Sy Kravitz comes from a Russian Jewish family.

Tracee Ellis Ross

Meet Tracee Ellis Silberstein. Yeah, don’t act like the schnoz wasn’t a dead giveaway. Tracee has pops Robert Ellis Silberstein to thank for her Hebrew heritage. That nose might be Jewish but that azz is all black!

Zoe Kravitz

We saved the obvious one for last. Half-Jewish mom Lisa and Half-Jewish dad Lenny make Zoe also half-Jewish. Yeah, our math is pretty nice right?

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