Jewish People

Arnold Rothstein was a powerful New York businessman, gambler and mobster during the early to mid 1900s. His character plays a major role in HBO's "Boardwalk Empire" series.

Benjamin 'Bugsy' Siegel was a Jewish American mobster during the early to mid-1900's.

In the Bible Miriam is the older sister of Moses. She is also a prophetess who plays an important role in the Israelite exodus from Egypt.

Rabbi Jeffrey Goldwasser is a Reform Rabbi who answers questions from About.com readers.

Rabbi Marc Disick is a Reform Rabbi who is available to answer questions from About.com readers.

Rabbi Ari Enkin is an Orthodox Rabbi who is available to answer questions from About.com readers.

Abraham (Avraham) was the first Jew, the founder of Judaism, the physical and spiritual ancestor of the Jewish people, and one of the three Patriarchs (Avot) of Judaism.

Sarah was the wife of Abraham (Avraham) and the first Matriarch (Imahot) of the Jewish People.

Moses (Moshe) liberated the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. He is remembered as a liberator, a leader, a law-giver, a prophet, and the intermediary in the covenant between God and the Jewish people.

In the biblical Book of Esther, Vashti is the wife of King Ahasuerus, the ruler of Persia.

Miriam, a prophetess, was the older sister of Moses (Moshe) and Aaron (Aharon).

Golda Meir became Israel's third prime minister and the world's second woman prime minister on February 26, 1969.

Women have played an important role in the bible and in Jewish history. Learn more about them by reading the articles collected on this page.

According to the biblical Book of Ruth, Ruth was a Moabite woman who married into an Israelite family and eventually converted to Judaism. She is the great-grandmother of King David and hence an ancestor of the Messiah.