Paula Abdul
Abdul in 2011, joe seer/bigstock.com
Birth Name: Paula Julie Abdul
Place of Birth: San Fernando, Los Angeles, California, United States
Date of Birth: June 19, 1962
Ethnicity:
*father – Syrian Jewish
*mother – Ukrainian Jewish, Russian Jewish
Paula Abdul is an American dancer, choreographer, singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. She is known for being a judge on the show American Idol.
Paula’s father, Harry Abdul, was a Syrian Jew from Aleppo, who emigrated to Brazil, and then to the U.S. Paula’s mother, Lorraine (Rykiss), is Ashkenazi Jewish, and is originally from Saint Boniface, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. All four of Paula’s maternal great-grandparents were born in Eastern Europe, Russia and Ukraine.
Some have associated her with the black community, because of her style of music.
Paula’s maternal grandfather was William Alexander Rykiss (the son of Avram/Avraham Rykiss and Bessie Peshe “Passy” Malamed). William was born in Katerburg, Ukraine. Bessie was the daughter of Moishe Malamed and Dvora/Dovrah Berg.
Paula’s maternal grandmother was Sally/Sarah Naomi Riceberg (the daughter of Moishe Leib “Maurice” Riceberg and Mariam Goldbreski/Golubitsky). Sally was born in Manitoba, Canada, to parents who were born in Russia and Ovruch, Ukraine.
Sources: Genealogy of Paula Abdul – https://www.geni.com
Genealogy of Paula Abdul (focusing on her mother’s side) – http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com
Paula talks about being Jewish – http://www.ynetnews.com
I can’t believe some of the idiotic comments from people so obsessed with being black and wanting everyone else to join them! lol :)
I don’t get this obsession, but if someone says they’re not black, maybe you should just believe them and then leave them the hell alone! ….No one else would know a person detailed racial makeup, but them, so stop trying to act like you’re some ‘super detective’ with the race BS! lol :)
…LOL …It’s no wonder that the rest of the world thinks we’re a bunch of dumbasses….just reading these stupid comments says it all! lol :)
so happy shes not racist.
for 1 sure thing paula is beautiful inside/out. she looks more like her dad.
why should her race matter, get with it folks she’s not black how stupid are u. if she was a black woman i believe she would ‘ve said it. but 1 thing is for sure paula abdul can shake & dance her butt off like a black person, no one in this world could dance like but only black people. i love her still and that’s 4-ever in my heart.
what,okay that was ridiculous,black people are not the only ones that can dance,every culture has their own beautiful or traditional dance that represents them,your comment was just pride,stereo type and ignorant and ridiculous.
Jewish doesn’t mean you’re not black. The Moors were Jewish, and they ruled in Portugal, but thanks for the info!! ;)