[net.religion.jewish] DiFi

segs@mhuxv.UUCP (slusky) (07/20/84)

With respect to Dianne Feinstein's parentage, the story as I understand it
is that her mother is a Christian and her father's last name is Feinstein
and her father considered himself to be Jewish. I have no inkling of
whether his mother was Jewish or not.

In any case, Di Fi was given a sketchy education in both her mother's
and father's religions, and told that she would be allowed to choose 
her religion when she attained adulthood.
At twenty-one she "decided" to be Jewish. As far as I can
discern, no conversion ever took place.

					Susan Slusky
					mhuxv!segs

P.S. To her credit, she has said that she doesn't think that this "choosing
when you're an adult" bit is such a great idea.
-- 
mhuxv!segs

martillo@ihuxt.UUCP (Yehoyaqim Martillo) (07/21/84)

This is the story I heard which was partially confirmed in a recent Chicago
Tribune article:

Diane Feinstein's mother was a Russian  not a Jewess.  She attended a Roman
Catholic high school and considered  converting to Roman Catholicism (she
was baptized Russian Orthodox).  Her  father (Gold) was hostile to Judaism
and apparently made sure she knew less than he which was rather little.

I was vague in my definition because even if one uses lenient  standards,
she seems hardly Jewish.  Even though he meets the halakic standards, I am
somewhat offended when Lustiger (Archbishop of Paris) actively identifies
himself as Jewish.

In an area where Jewishness does not harm vote-gathering ability,
(incorrect) identification or self-identification as a Jewess may help
gather funds from wealthy liberal Jews.


-- 

Who wouldn't break for whales?

Yehoyaqim Shemtob Martillo