Is Ivanka Trump really Jewish?
Last year, Israel’s religious authorities issued a ruling that raised doubts about her conversion to Judaism.
But after her father was elected president, they have changed their tune, raising eyebrows among activists who have long lobbied the rabbinical establishment to be more tolerant toward converts. Donald Trump’s daughter converted to Judaism under an Orthodox rabbi in Manhattan before her 2009 marriage to Jared Kushner, an observant Jew.
In its ruling last July, an Israeli government religious court rejected the legitimacy of another conversion by the same rabbi. Although it didn’t directly affect Ms Trump, it raised questions as to whether Israel’s powerful religious establishment would recognise her as being Jewish. But early last month, just weeks after Mr Trump’s election victory, Israel’s chief rabbis said they would work to change the rules for recognising conversions performed abroad — and they singled out Ms Trump.
“According to the new proposed plan … her conversion will be certified without the need for additional checks,” they said.
Israeli activists say the sudden policy change appears to be an attempt to curry favour with the new president. Mr Kushner has been appointed a senior adviser to Mr Trump and is expected to focus on Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts.
Read the full article by Daniel Estrin of AP at The Australian.