Is Rahm Emanuel Jewish? Everything On His Parents Ethnicity & Religion

Posted by Noelle Montes on Sunday, July 21, 2024

Rahm Emanuel is a former mayor of Chicago. His parents immigrated to the Chicago area from Israel, and he was raised in an Orthodox Jewish household.   

Rahm Emanuel was born on November 29, 1959. He served as the 23rd White House Staff to US President Barack Obama from 2009 and 2010.  Emanuel was elected Mayor of Chicago on February 22, 2011.

He is Chicago’s first Jewish mayor, succeeding Richard Daley. He served two terms before leaving office in May 2019. He also worked as an advisor for President Bill Clinton. 

Moreover, the former Chicago governor Rahm Emanuel is a possible pick by Biden for the ambassadorship to China. 

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Quick Facts:

NameRahm Emanuel

While we often found ourselves on different sides of the debate, I grew to have enormous respect for Karen and our regular conversations were a benefit to me and to the City of Chicago. May her memory be a blessing.

— Rahm Emanuel (@RahmEmanuel) February 8, 2021

Who are the Parents of Rahm Emanuel?

Rahm Emanuel was born to Father Benjamin M. Emanuel and Mother Martha Smulevitz.

His father was a participant at the Michael Resse Hospital and his mother was the daughter of a Chicago union organize.

Mr. Benjamin was a doctor who immigrated to the Chicago area from Israel, and Emanuel was raised in an Orthodox Jewish household. He grew up along with his elder brother Ezekiel Emanuel who was an oncologist and bioethicist. 

Regarding his ethnicity, Rahm Emanuel’s grandparents immigrated to the USA from Bessarabia. But his ethnic group is not confirmed.

Emanuel attended a Conservative Jewish day school early in his childhood.

Rahm Emanuel Religion: Is He Jewish?

Yes, Rahm Emanuel is Jewish by religion. The American politician was born in Chicago to Jewish parents.

His first, middle and last names are all Hebrew.

He was raised in an involved Jewish family, with an Israeli father, and has remained active in Jewish circles as an adult. His father, Benjamin M. Emanuel, was born in Jerusalem and a member of the Zionist organization Irgun.  

Emanuel’s religion would express itself in the priorities he advanced, like trying to make the city more prosperous and improve its education system.

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