History's Most Badass Jews

The beginning of Hanukkah gave Sam Greenspan the excuse to give us his list of history’s most-badass Jews. Some highlights:

• The Maccabees: “Led Jewish fighters into battles against the armies of Seleucia, Syria, and Rome … and won,” leading to the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem that the holiday celebrates. The top badasses.
• Bugsy Siegel: The gangster behind Las Vegas is a lock, and “you know Bugsy's hardcore because, when he got the biopic treatment, the role of Bugsy Siegel was played by Warren Beatty. No Jason Alexander or Paul Reiser casting here.”

• Bill Goldberg: Pro wrestler also played in the NFL “and even played a murderin’ Santa Claus in the 2005 movie Santa’s Slay.”
• Kerri Strug: Gymnast famously nailed the landing on a seriously injured ankle at the 1996 Olympics. “Name one other Jewish woman who's that tough.”
• David Berkowitz: Before the Son of Sam serial killer “became a Satanic murderer, he was born a Jew … and, yeah, he’s one scary son-of-a-bitch.”
• Jesus: “Brutally tortured in a way that would even shock Mad Max … and STILL was badass enough to just take it in stride and die for your sins.”

For the rest of the list, click the link at right. (More Hanukkah stories.)