Leonard Cohen. Photo: Wikipedia.

Leonard Cohen

Musician

On the occasion of musician Leonard Cohen’s 80th birthday in September, a reporter opined, “Mr. Cohen has never forgotten what it means to be Jewish.” Cohen, descended from a long line of rabbis and raised religious in Montreal, is probably best known for his song, Hallelujah, which has been covered by some 200 artists in various languages and incorporates Hebrew and Jewish imagery. Performing for Israeli troops during times of war and balking at recent BDS efforts, Cohen still has strong ties to the Jewish state. The octogenarian just released a new album, Popular Problems. When asked about his feelings about his Jewish roots, he responded, “It is essential to my own survival.”