Top 50 Hottest Jewish Women of 2013 (30-21)

(clockwise) Rashida Jones, Elizabeth Banks, HAIM, Evan Rachel Wood

Welcome to Shalom Life’s 2^nd annual JILF list. Over the next 5 days, we will take the time to embrace (not literally, unfortunately) the 50 most beautiful Jewish women in the world.

We understand that beauty is oft times indescribable, inexpressible, and ineffable, and always in the eye of the beholder. Some people focus entirely on physical attractiveness, while others delve a little deeper, finding attraction in intellect, talent, personality, and a certain “je ne sais quoi”. Therefore, selecting 50 women that perfectly encapsulate all that is considered beautiful might seem like a daunting challenge. Fortunately, there are countless Jewish women that fit the description, making it nearly impossible to narrow it down, but after a lot of consideration, we think we nailed it.

#30- RASHIDA JONES

Age: 37

Hometown: Los Angeles, California

Known for: I Love You Man, The Puppets, Parks and Recreation

Why she's a JILF: Rashida is the daughter of the famed Quincy Jones and Peggy Lipton. Although daddy was Christian, her mother was Jewish, so Rashida attended Hebrew school as a child. Rashida was considered a child prodigy of sorts. From a very young age, she was an avid reader, played classical piano, and orchestrated music. Immediately after graduating from Harvard, she landed an acting role in a mini-series called The Last Don. Rashida has been acting consistently since, with roles in many popular TV shows and films including The Office, Parks and Recreation, I Love You Man, The Muppets, and The Social Network. If you missed Celeste and Jesse Forever (in which Rashida co-wrote the script) with Andy Samberg last summer, we suggest you promptly correct that mistake.

#29- ELIZABETH BANKS

Age: 39

Hometown: Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Known for: Wet Hot American Summer, The Hunger Games, Role Models

Why she's a JILF: Elizabeth was raised in a Christian household, but converted to Judaism for her sportswriter husband, Max Handelman. As a child, she was very athletic; horseback riding and baseball were her favs. After breaking a leg sliding into third base, she decided to audition for the school play for a change of pace. A passion for acting was sparked and she never looked back. Elizabeth’s breakthrough role was in 2005’s 40-Year-Old Virgin. Since then, she’s appeared in countless popular comedy films including Wet Hot American Summer, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Role Models, and Our Idiot Brother. Earlier this year, Elizabeth admitted that she hasn’t officially converted to Judaism, but “I’m already doing everything [practicing religious rituals’, I feel like I’m Jewish as I’m ever going to be.” Look out for her later this year when she reprises the role of Hunger Games character Effie Trinket in sequel Catching Fire.

#28- SELMA BLAIR

Age: 41

Hometown: Southfield, Michigan

Known for: Cruel Intentions, Hellboy, Anger Management

Why she's a JILF: This Hebrew School hottie attended a Hillel day school in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Selma moved to New York originally to pursue a career in photography, barely surviving and living at the Salvation Army. Although she landed an agent really quickly, she didn’t get any roles beyond commercials and the odd indie flick until 1999’s Cruel Intentions. That role (and more memorably her award-winning kiss with Sarah Michelle Gellar) put her in the spotlight and the parts starting rolling in. Selma appeared in dozens of mainstream movies in the 2000’s including Legally Blonde, The Sweetest Thing, Hellboy, The Fog, and Hellboy II: The Golden Army. She was recently fired (very publicly) from Charlie Sheen’s FX comedy, Anger Management, for speaking ill of the actor’s work ethic to friends, but rumor has it that she’s intending to reprise her role in the upcoming Hellboy now… so perhaps everything happens for a reason?

#27- MIA KIRSHNER

Age: 38

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario

Known for: Exotica, The L Word, 24, Defiance

Why she's a JILF: Mia is the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors and the daughter of Canadian Jewish News journalist, Sheldon Kirshner. Mia began acting professionally at the age of 15, landing a role in Love and Human Remains. Immediately afterwards, she starred in the critically acclaimed Atom Egoyan film, Exotica, as a young stripper. Mia gained international popularity as Jenny Schechter on Showtime’s The L Word and Isobel on The Vampire Diaries. In 2005, Mia founded the I Live Here Foundation dedicated to telling the stories of silences and unheard people around the world. A supporting book entitled I Live Here, which provided a platform for refugees and displaced women and children of Burma, Juarez, Chechnya, and Malawi to share their stories was critically acclaimed, leading M.I.T to invite Mia to lead a 4-week course and Los Angeles Hebrew High to include it in their regular curriculum. Mia currently stars on SyFy’s Defiance.

#26- THE GIRLS OF HAIM (ESTE, DANIELLE & ALANA)

Age: 27, 24, 21

Hometown: San Fernando Valley, California

Known for: Their band’s unique blend of folk and 90’s R&B styling’s, garnering international success without having released a full-length album

Why she's a JILF: Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana Haim have been playing music together as long as they can remember. Raised in “the Valley”, the girls were in a family band that played local charity events called Rockinhaim with their Israeli-born father Mordechai on drums and mother Donna on guitar. Danielle and Este went on to play together in the Valli Girls, an all-girl group inspired by female greats. Although the band was signed to a major label, it didn’t feel right without their baby sister. All 3 girls formed Haim, released the EP ‘Forever’ and are now adored the world-over. Their debut full-length album is planned to drop in September, but the girls have already wowed audiences and critics with their multi-instrumental prowess, unique combo of folk rock and 90’s inspired R&B, and raw energy at performances at SXSW, opening for Mumford & Sons, and their headlining tour.

Check out our interview with the girls of HAIM here.

Out check #25-21 on our Hottest Jewish Women of 2013 list on page 2!

Top 50 Hottest Jewish Women (30-21)

Top 50 Hottest Jewish Women (20-11)

Top 50 Hottest Jewish Men (20-11)

Top 50 Hottest Jewish Men of 2013 (40-31)