After I performed “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” from “Fiddler On the Roof” too many times for my mother and grandmother as a child, the two matriarchs have now taken it upon themselves to find me a partner of my own. Every time I’m with them, they bring me a new potential Jewish friend – most of them are Jewish celebrities. But sadly, their dreams have been dashed time and time again over the years. The people who selected them, Jews like Ben Platt and Gregg Sulkin, were either too old, too young, uninterested in women, or – the most tragic option – taken. Every time they got their heart broken for me.
But, since the art of matchmaking is an integral part of our culture, I’ve learned from your mistakes and am willing to try it myself. So, just in time for Valentine’s Day, here’s a list of Jewish celebrities of all genders that your mom might want you to know about. After reading this I encourage you to be bold and take your shot! Who knows, maybe you’re the lucky Instagram DM who catches her eye.
Maude Apatow
Though we all shipped Maude Apatow and Angus Cloud following their performances on Season 2 of Euphoria, this Jewish actress is seemingly single and ready to meet. The daughter of two Hollywood icons, Jewish director and producer Judd Apatow and actress Leslie Mann, Maude has paved her own path as an actress in recent years. Known for her work in Other People (2016), The King of Staten Island (2020) and of course Euphoria (since 2019), she will appear as Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors” Off-Broadway in a limited commitment until April. She also has a cat named Dolly. Shoot with Maude by complimenting her cat, Dolly, and maybe she’ll get back to you!
John Kennedy (Jack) Schlossberg
John Kennedy Schlossberg is, you guessed it, JFK’s only grandchild, and yes, he’s Jewish! Schlossberg is the son of Caroline Kennedy, an author and lawyer, and Edwin Schlossberg, an artist and author, whose family is of Ukrainian descent. He has two older sisters, Rose and Tatiana, so you know he grew up right. Also, he’s a lawyer, so your mom should still be happy even though he’s not a doctor. Although he was raised Catholic according to his mother’s beliefs, he also celebrated Jewish holidays growing up. After receiving his bachelor’s degree from Yale, he worked at the Japanese Internet company Rakuten Inc. before receiving his MBA and JD from Harvard. (Yes, you read that right!) He is also well-travelled, having accompanied his mother on numerous work trips in the past (particularly when she was US Ambassador to Japan from 2013-2017). So if you want to be a part of the elite Kennedy family, take your picture with Jack and you could be the new Jackie.
Zac Efron
Our High School Musical king, Zac Efron, is of course Jewish (in case you couldn’t tell from his last name, which means “bird” in Hebrew). Confession: He was my first celebrity crush as a kid and I really thought I would marry Troy Bolton. To this day he holds a very special place in my heart. Despite growing up agnostic and not practicing any religion as a child, he says he identifies as Jewish and is very close to his Jewish paternal grandfather. Known for his work on HSM series Hairspray (2007), 17 Again (2009), The Lucky One (2012), The Greatest Showman (2017), Down to Earth With Zac ( 2020-present) and so much more, it’s safe to say that many of us in Gen Z loved him growing up. So who knows, take your shot with Zac and maybe you can be the Gabriella to his Troy.
Molly Gordon
Molly Gordon is an actress who grew up in LA and is close friends with actor and singer Ben Platt. After appearing in musicals growing up as a child, she pursued a film career and is known for her work in Life of the Party (2018), Booksmart (2019), Shiva Baby (2020) and most recently Her People” (2023). She also wrote, directed, produced and starred in the film Theater Camp (2023) alongside Platt, Noah Galvin and Nick Lieberman. Shoot with Gordon and you might become an honorary member of the Theater Children’s Summer Camp Crew!
Timothy Chalamet
Timothée Chalamet – or, as some of us know him, Lil Timmy Tim (if you know this reference, you’re awesome, and if you don’t, you’re welcome) – is one of the most talented actors of our generation. Born to Nicole Flender, a former Broadway dancer of Russian and Austrian Jewish descent, and Marc Chalamet, a French editor for UNICEF of Protestant descent, Chalamet grew up in Hell’s Kitchen in New York City. After graduating from LaGuardia High School, he attended Columbia University before transferring to NYU Gallatin to pursue acting. Known for his work in Call Me By Your Name (2017), Lady Bird (2017), Beautiful Boy (2018), Little Women (2019) and more, he is considered a heartthrob of this generation and is it has also been consistently praised for its fashion sense. As for future projects, he will star as Willy Wonka in the upcoming film ‘Wonka’ directed by Paul King which will serve as a prequel to ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’. To get your shot with Lil Timmy Tim, I suggest doing your own rap on a topic of your choosing, and maybe it will match his rap on stats.
Diana Agron
Who knew Ultra WASPy Quinn Fabray from “Glee” was Jewish? Well she is! Actress Dianna Agron was born in Georgia to Jewish parents Mary and Ron Agron. (Ron Agron is of Russian-Jewish descent, and Mary converted to Judaism after her marriage.) Raised in Texas and California, Dianna was a musical theater actress as a child. Known for her work in Glee (2009-2015), Hollow in the Land (2017) and Shiva Baby (2020), Agron is an innovative actress who continues to do really cool work. In addition to his work in the film, Agron also had a singing residency at Cafe Carlyle in New York in 2017 (and returned in 2019 and 2022), performing songs typically sung by men. Take your shot with Agron and maybe you can join the glee club.
Noah Schnaps
Oh snap! If you can move well enough, you could date one of the Stranger Things kids. Born and raised in New York, Noah Schnapp is known for his role as Will Byers on Netflix’s Stranger Things (2016-present), as well as for his work in Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies (2015), The Peanuts Movie ( 2015) and Hubie Halloween (2020). Schnapp currently attends the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and is expected to graduate in 2026. He recently came out as gay in a TikTok video comparing himself to his character Byers. Shoot your shot with snap and maybe you can make a cameo on his TikTok.
Andrew Garfield
Andrew Garfield was born in LA before moving to and growing up in Epsom, England. Garfield’s mother, Lynn Garfield, was from Essex and his father, Richard Garfield, is from California and of Jewish descent. Speaking about his dual US/UK citizenship in 2019, he told the Independent that he “identifies as more Jewish than anything.” Known for his work in The Social Network (2010), The Amazing Spider-Man (2012), Tick, Tick…Boom! (2021) and more, I believe that Garfield alongside Timothée Chalamet as one of the most talented actors up there today. In addition to film, Garfield has also had numerous roles in television and theatre, both on Broadway and in the West End. Garfield doesn’t have an Instagram, so you might just have to try your luck and take your shot with him in person.
Hailee Steinfeld
American actress and singer Hailee Steinfeld was born and raised in California to a Jewish father and a Christian mother. Known for her work in Romeo & Juliet (2013), The Edge of Seventeen (2016), Dickinson (2019-2021) and more, Steinfeld has also released music including the songs Love Myself, Starving” and “Coast”. Shoot your shot with Steinfeld and maybe you can post a duet together.
Jazz Jennings
Jazz Jennings is a Jewish YouTuber, TLC TV personality and LQBTQ+ rights activist who came out as transgender at the age of 5. Jazz has paved the way for other transgender youth in the United States, writing several books and starring in the TLC show “I Am Jazz” with her family (since 2015). In July 2014, she came out as pansexual while doing a Q&A for her fans on her YouTube channel. She now attends Harvard University. Snap your photo with Jazz and you can join her in the incredible work she has done for LGBTQ+ youth.
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