Edmund Wilson, a prominent literary critic, delved into the study of Hebrew in the 1950s, merging his familial connections to Presbyterian and scholarly traditions with a newfound interest in Jewish intellectualism as reflected in his visits to Israel and writings on Jewish authors like S.Y. Agnon.

Harold Bloom, a renowned literary critic, had a profound impact on his students with his intense engagement with poetry and prose, urging them to be transported to the literary sublime.

Norman Podhoretz, a Jewish intellectual and influential figure of neoconservatism, rose from a poor background in Brooklyn to become a leading literary critic.