Which Jewish celeb will come out on top? Image by University of Missouri Hillel

By Irene Katz Connelly April 2, 2020

With March Madness cancelled by coronavirus, Jewish basketball aficionados lost the chance to cheer underdog qualifier Yeshiva University through the championships. But you can still engage in Jewish bracket betting.

On Thursday, homebound members of the University of Missouri Hillel took to Twitter to create a virtual tournament of famous Jews from all time periods and walks of life. Anyone with a Twitter account can participate via a series of polls on the social media platform.

Crotchety comedian Larry David faces down prankster Sacha Baron-Cohen. Justice Elena Kagan prepares a verdict on the Maccabeats. On-screen superwoman Gal Gadot is quails before feminist legend Betty Friedan.

And some of the theoretical combatants have already weighed in.

“This is amazing,” commented Lil Dicky, a Jewish rapper known for his 2013 music video “Ex-Boyfriend.”

News anchor Jake Tapper, scheduled to “compete” against him in the first round of the bracket, replied, “I’m coming for you.”

Meanwhile, others were discovering hitherto-unknown members of the tribe. “Harrison Ford is Jewish?” commented one user, who needs to listen to Adam Sandler’s “Eight Crazy Nights” Hanukkah song, lyrics here.

As of Thursday afternoon, thousands of Twitter users had cast their votes in the first four games. In one of them, Israeli baseball player Ian Kinsler edged ahead of his American counterpart Alex Bregman.

But whoever wins that match will face a nigh-invincible opponent in the next round: Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Irene Katz Connelly is an editorial fellow at the Forward. You can contact her at connelly@forward.com.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount