she's a poser and this is a fad and simply a phase she is going through nothing more
Posted on 07/27/2011 4:49:39 PM PDT by SJackson
Gwyneth Paltrow has, at one time or another, announced that she does not believe in religion, is simply spiritual, and is raising her kids Jewish. Perhaps she is a little confused about what she wants to do, or practice, but at the end of the day, does it even matter? I say yes it does.
The Jewish population is getting smaller. With inter-faith marriage, people opting to not have children at all, or simply stepping away from religion entirely, there are less and less Jews every year, so I figure if a woman wants to raise her kids Jewish, who am I to judge?
We need more Jews! Our faith dictates that our religion is passed on from mother to child, so by that criteria, Gwyneth Paltrow is not Jewish, so neither are her kids, so she cannot possibly raise them to be Jews. That is simply a ridiculous argument in any scenario.
Lance Armstrong’s mother was not a champion cyclist, but she raised one. Neil Armstrong’s parents never went to space, but they raised a son to walk on the moon. I have never won an Oscar, but I am raising a child who will be an award-winning actor and director one day.
I am Jewish by birth. My family has been Jewish, on both sides, for as far back as we have been able to trace, so does that qualify me to raise my son Jewish more than Gwyneth is to raise her children Jewish? Are Jews so elitist that we would tell her she can’t do it?
My son spent ten years in a private Jewish Day School and I had to Google half of the holidays they closed for because not only did I not know what the holidays were, but had never heard of them. I eat lobster and make my son cheeseburgers, so am I qualified to raise a Jew?
Paltrow is a big star, people listen to what she says, so if she can make it cool to be Jewish, I say rock on sister. Jews are cool baby. On behalf of my Jewish self, and my Jewish son, I say welcome. Do whatever you want. It’s an important thing to give your children faith.
To clarify, Apple will need to convert if she wants to marry my son, but no worries, you will have done all the legwork so it will just be a formality. In a world where Jews continue to struggle to be accepted, I welcome those who wants to take it on and say to you all, keep the faith.
How is it elitist? Neither she nor her kids are Jewish. There’s nothing to accept.
There’s plenty of Jews who are not religious. Saul Alinsky, Noam Chomsky, Barbara Streisand, Rob Reiner, and etc. all come to mind.
If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
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Elitist, sure, like any group which has laws and follows them. This is an issue only because the author and her kind decide to raise it, in the context of elitism. To her, the Norway killer could be Jewish, if he said it was.
The fact is Gwyneth would have no problem converting, or overseeing the conversion of her children, irrespective of her faith. Orthodox might be problematical, but I've no doubt she could find a Reform Congregation which would be happy to educate and extend membership to her children. Which is a good thing. Even to Gwyneth, should she decide to convert.
So you're saying Judaism is purely racial? That there is no such thing as religious Jewish conversion?
Then why call it a religion?
Why not just designate it as a race?
Of course, Judaism is not monolithic either, is it? You can bet that Gwyneth isn't raising the kids as Orthodox Jews!
Her Dad, Bruce (gag), was Jewish. He was one of the meanest humans you could imagine. If he was the only example of a Jewish man I had ever known I wouldn’t want any part of it.
These people are as jewish as Ted Kennedy is Catholic.
This is just plain weird to me. Why can’t Gwyneth Paltrow simply dedicate herself to this faith until her children are grown? What’s so hard about that? My father was not a religious man but he dragged along to church with us every Sunday just to hold up his side.
What’s next? Practising Catholics raising their kids to be Muslims? I guarantee it: some crazy film star with too much time on her hands is gonna come up with some bizarre variation on this theme.
Actually, she has prominent Jewish ancestry, albeit on her father’s side, which boasts several prominent rabbis from Poland. Her story was featured on “Who do you think you are” (ancestry.com research show) - fascinating stuff.
Why do have to bring his Jewishness into it, huh? I believe you that he was a mean guy - most guys in Hollywood are mean guys. Someone in my family is a Hollywood player and he’s not such a nice guy, either. He’s an Irish Catholic. Sheesh.
Wasn’t Sammy Davis Jr. Jewish? Not via genetics but by conversion?
Of course there is. Hopefully Gwyneth will avail herself of that for her children, even herself. If she rejects conversion, that's her choice as well.
I believe her father was jewish.
Her “godfather” is Steven Spielberg, fwiw
she's a poser and this is a fad and simply a phase she is going through nothing more
“With inter-faith marriage, people opting to not have children at all, or simply stepping away from religion entirely, there are less and less Jews every year”
Hmmm....There’s something missing, which I think is one of the reasons the Jewish population is decreasing.
And I’m sure a good number of freepers know what that is.
Don't know, that's a personal choice. Which usually stems from something, hopefully something serious. This article doesn't mention it, but I believe Gwyneth is into Hollywood Kaballah. Red strings, magic water, not Judaism, but I suspect that's a factor.
This woman is clueless. “Making it cool”? Rock on sister? It is more than that. If Paltrow is a Jew, her kids are Jewish BUT that is NOT being a Jew. Being a Jew means keeping the mitzvot. If She or her kids are Jewish (if not they can convert) and keep the mitvot, they are being Jews and the “elites” (what type of elite) will say nothing. This author should put her money where her mouth is and stop eating sea-insects and stop feeding her kid milk and meat together etc etc.
Maybe she is, I don't know. But that would seem to be the sensible approach. How do you raise children in a religion you don't share? As a hypothetical, I'm not sure how much of this is our business.
Yes. She may very well be sincere.
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