LETTERS TO THE EDITOR                                              By Marjorie Harp

 

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Dear Marjorie: Is it true Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe and Sammy Davis Jr., were Jewish? Charles Houston, Washington, D.C., USA.

-True, Charles. They were Jewish. I researched the matter. This is what I got verbatim from the official records of the Jewish Hall of Fame.

Photos from L to R: #1.Elvis Presley, #2.Star of David on Gladys Love Presley’s tombstone.

According to rabbinic law, a Jew is defined as either a person born of a Jewish mother or one who has been converted to Judaism. Thus Elvis Presley was Jewish the old fashioned way – through maternal descent, while Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Sammy Davis Junior all converted. Historian and biographer Elaine Dundy writes about Elvis Aron Presley’s Jewish heritage in her book "Elvis and Gladys":"...Nancy Burdine was married to Abner Tackett (Elvis’ great great maternal grandmother). Nancy was of particular interest to Gladys for her Jewish heritage, often remembering Nancy's sons for their Jewish names Sidney and Jerome. Nancy and Abner had a daughter Martha who married White Mansell. The daughter which they named Octavia, nick-named Doll, who was Elvis' maternal grandmother." "...Doll and Robert had nine children. Gladys Love was the fifth daughter born followed by 3 more brothers and one sister. After his mother died, Elvis personally sought to design his beloved mother’s gravesite which included a Star of David on Gladys Love Presley's tombstone. The decision was made by him in honor of his Jewish heritage. Something his mother was proud of and acknowledged to Elvis at a very early age. Later in life, when Elvis discovered the teachings of Judaism, Zen Buddhism and the occult teachings through his hairdresser Larry Geller he became familiar with the Hebrew alphabet and its symbols. From then on part of his on-stage wardrobe throughout most of 1977 Elvis wore a "Chai" necklace. When Charlie Hodge asked Elvis why this particular piece of jewelry was so important, Elvis replied, "I don’t want to miss out on goin' to heaven on a technicality." Note that two letters form Chai, the Hebrew word for “life.” "Aron" was the spelling the Presley's chose, to resemble his twin brother's middle name "Garon". Toward the end of his life Elvis sought to change the spelling to the traditional and biblical "Aaron", in the process he learned that the official state records had listed it as "Aaron" anyway, and not "Aron" as on his original birth records. "Aaron" is the spelling his family chose for his tombstone.

When the prolific Jewish playwright Arthur Miller initially met Marilyn Monroe at a cocktail party in Hollywood. When they met some years some years later, after her divorce from Joe DiMaggio, love blossomed. But when a dinner discussion regarding marriage plans cropped up, Marilyn made an unusual request: "I think I'd like to have a rabbi." Thus, Marilyn converted in June of 1956, flanked by Rabbi Robert Goldberg, Miller, and his family. She even got a musical menorah that played Hatikvah as a gift. According to The Jewish Times of Brookline, Massachusetts: "Is it of your own free will that you seek admittance into the Jewish fold?" the rabbi asked. "Yes", Marilyn said. "Do you renounce your former faith?" She had had none so she renounced her lack of faith. "Yes". "Do you pledge you loyalty to Judaism? Do you promise to cast in your lot with the people of Israel amid all circumstances?" It is good, she remembered, to suffer — if you share with others … "Yes." "Do you promise to lead a Jewish life?" She thought of her new family, holding each other close in a bond of love. "Yes." "Should you be blessed with children do you agree to rear your children according to the Jewish faith?" Her children, who would forever know who they were, who would have an answer to their questions. "Oh, yes," she said. The Rabbi smiled at her. "Repeat after me," he said, and together they spoke the ancient words of the convert. "I do herewith declare in the presence of God and the witnesses here assembled that I … seek the fellowship of Israel. "I believe that God is one Almighty, Allwise, Most Holy … The Rabbi took her hand and gave her solemnly a name chosen from the Bible — a name which she keeps entirely to herself. "With this name as token you are now a member of the household of Israel and have assumed all its rights, privileges and responsibilities." His hand was on her head. On June 29th, 1956 she married Arthur Miller. On July 1st, 1956 they had another, Jewish, wedding ceremony.

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