Rahm Emanuel
official U.S. Congress photo of Rahm Emanuel c. 2000s
Birth Name: Rahm Israel Emanuel
Place of Birth: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Date of Birth: November 29, 1959
Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish
Rahm Emanuel is an American politician and diplomat. A member of the Democratic Party, he has been U.S. Ambassador to Japan, since March 25, 2022. He was previously Mayor of Chicago, Illinois, from May 16, 2011 to May 20, 2019. He has also been Senior Advisor to the President, from January 20, 1993 to November 7, 1998, a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois, from January 3, 2003 to January 2, 2009, Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, from January 3, 2007 to January 2, 2009, and White House Chief of Staff, from January 20, 2009 to October 1, 2010.
Rahm is the son of Marsha and Benjamin M. Emanuel, a pediatrician. His parents were/are both Jewish. His father was from Israel. His mother was born in Illinois, U.S., to parents from Russia. He is the brother of Ezekiel Emanuel, an oncologist and bioethicist, and Ari Emanuel, the co-CEO of talent agency William Morris Endeavor.
Rahm is married to Amy Merritt Rule, with whom he has three children. Amy is a convert to Judaism.
His first name, Rahm, means “high” or “lofty” in Hebrew. His surname, Emanuel, was taken by the family after his father’s brother, Emanuel Auerbach, who was killed in 1933 in Jerusalem. It means “God with us” in Hebrew.
Rahm’s paternal grandfather was named Ezekiel Emanuel (who was born with the surname Auerbach).
Rahm’s paternal grandmother was named Pnyna.
Rahm’s maternal grandfather was Chaim/Herman Smulevitz (the son of Morris Smulevitz and Goldie/Goldy Shrotzky). Chaim was born in Russia. Morris was the son of Nosson Smolovitz and Puah.
Rahm’s maternal grandmother was named Sophie Lampert (the daughter of Yankel Lampert and Haya/Chia). Sophie was born in Russia or Romania. Yankel was the son of Isadore Lampert and Hannah, who were from Bessarabia, now mostly in Moldova.
Sources: Genealogy of Rahm Emanuel – http://www.geni.com
Rahm’s maternal grandparents, Chaim/Herman Smulevitz and Sophie Lampert, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
*insert Ashkenazi Jew who looks Middle Eastern*
Anti-Semites: “Oh, this cannot be! There’s no way that person is 100% Ashkenazi! There’s just no way! They must be lying about their heritage! It must be some kind of mistake, or an alien conspiracy or something!”
For real, this is what happens EVERY SINGLE TIME there’s an Ashkenazi Jewish profile on here that looks even vaguely Middle Eastern. You get throngs of pathetic basement-dwelling anti-Semites insisting that they’re not “really” 100% Ashkenazi, even in cases where their family history is thoroughly documented going back at least 2-3 generations, and coming up with all kinds of wild and insane theories as to why they look the way they do. Or, if they can’t do that, they’ll say “meh, he doesn’t look Middle Eastern anyways!”. It’s BEYOND pathetic at this point.
Ashkenazi Jews often look Middle Eastern because we ARE Middle Eastern. We are Jews. We originate in the Levant. Our core culture is Middle Eastern. Our national language is Middle Eastern. Our national religion is Middle Eastern. And more than half of our DNA is Middle Eastern.
These are all FACTS. Not some grand Jewish conspiracy to manipulate the truth. Not some organized campaign of Israeli government “hasbarah”. They’re facts. And until you all grow up and accept these truths instead of childishly denying them (because that’s worked out SO well for you over the past 7 decades, hasn’t it?), you’ll never have a clear grasp of the situation and you’ll continue to look like the pathetic, deluded, basement-dwelling anti-Semitic MORONS you are.
I mean, it certainly explains why Ashkenazi Jews often look indistinguishable from Jews who remained in the Middle East, and other populations of the Levant, does it not? What do you think *diaspora* means? And why do you think all ethnic Jews living outside Israel are called *diaspora* Jews? Could it be…. that Israel is *where we come from*? That it is where we are *indigenous*? That our national narrative of exile from Judea ISN’T a lie, but proven and verifiable HISTORY?
You don’t have to like us. You don’t have to like our nation state. Your feelings mean absolutely nothing to us. I can promise you that.
But reality cannot be denied. And the reality is that Ashkenazi Jews are Middle Eastern, hence why so many of them look Middle Eastern.
lol you’re funny. “your feelings mean absolutely nothing to us.” while going on an emotional rant to strangers about his insecurities
I think any Jewish person who sees the same anti-Semitic garbage again and again on every profile has a right to be a little pissed off.
Nice gaslighting though.
You’re right I was gaslighting, sorry. I am not Jewish but I share your disdain of anti-semitism. My best friend is Jewish same with family members such as my favorite Cousin.
Big bulging eyes.
Definitely not a Jewish trait.
Try North African, Mediterranean or Gulf Arab.
Maybe he has Graves’ disease.
Yeah, it’s not like Ashkenazi Jews are from the Middle East or anything. It’s not like they originated in Israel and lived there until they were exiled to Europe. Naaaaah.
/obvious sarcasm
I knew he was Jewish and he looks like he could be from Israel.
he is the first and only guy I know with this name being used for non-religious circumstances. it’s a rare hebrew name… xD