Crooner Josh Groban’s ancestry is a popular search on Google these days with the main question being: “Is Josh Groban Jewish?”
Groban may not be Jewish but he does have Jewish ancestry in his family tree on both sides. His father is a descendant of Jewish immigrants from Poland and Ukraine, and converted from Judaism to Christianity after marrying his mother. His mother’s ancestry includes English, German, and Norwegian; but one of her grandfathers was Jewish.
Growing up he was very interested in acting and played Tevye in his high school’s production of Fiddler on the Roof.
In 2020 actor Jason Alexander invited Groban, along with Darren Criss and Rachel Brosnahan, to join his virtual Seder on YouTube.
After a round of “Dayenu” Alexander praised Groban as “the greatest Jewish voice since Zero Mostel,” to which Groban explained that no, alas, he is not Jewish.
“Tonight it doesn’t matter if you are or aren’t a Jew,” Alexander replied.
