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a n 11:1 e n t

McCartney's Kosher
Connection

Late wife Linda's family changed Epstein to Eastman.

Joel F. Glazier
Special to the Jewish News

F

ormer Beatle Paul
McCartney will entertain
what are sure to be sellout
crowds at the Palace of Auburn
Hills Oct. 14 and 15 during his
ongoing 2005 U.S. tour. If any of
his children from his first mar-
riage are in the audience, you can
count them as part of an egali-
tarian minyan.
Halachic credit goes to
McCartney's late wife, Linda
Eastman, whose paternal grand-
parents met at Ellis Island.
Those grandparents, Louis and
Stella Epstein, were Russian
Jewish immigrants who arrived
early in the 20th century. They
married in New York, and son
Leopold (Lee) grew up in the
Bronx. In the opinion of his fami-
ly, Lee Epstein "married up" in
1937 when he wed Louise
Lindner, whose parents owned
department stores in Ohio.
By the time Linda was born in
1941, the Epsteins had become
the Eastmans, a name the couple
thought would give them a boost
in the rarefied social circles of
Scarsdale, N.Y.
After a stint at Sarah Lawrence
College and an unsuccessful first
marriage, Linda Eastman gained
a reputation as a celebrity pho-
tographer, and it probably didn't
hurt her career that some people
believed she was one of the heirs
to the Eastman Kodak fortune.
Her portraiture led to an invi-
tation from the Beatles' young
Jewish manager, Brian Epstein, to
meet the group, and she caught
the eye of Paul McCartney.
Eastman's marriage to
McCartney in 1969 was a civil
ceremony. Their first child, Stella,
was named for both of her
grandmothers, Stella Lindner
and Stella Epstein. Linda
McCartney usually kept quiet
about her Jewish heritage but
later told a biographer, Danny

714

4

Paul McCartney

will perform at

the Palace of
Auburn Hills

Oct. 14-15.

Field, "I'm all Jewish — but I'm
McCartney published several
very not into religion."
books of her photos but became
The Eastman and Eastman law known for her vegetarian cook-
firm — run by Linda's brother,
books. She and Paul swore off
John, and father, Lee — later
meat and became animal-rights
managed McCartney's invest-
activists.
ments and helped him amass a
In essence, her cookbooks con-
fortune, mainly in music pub-
tain only kosher dishes — a
lishing, by acquiring many of
Jewish mother's legacy after all.
Broadway's most famous tunes.
In recent years, Paul has
The McCartney's second child,
referred to his three grandsons
Mary, was named for Paul's dead
as "my Jewish grandchildren:'
mother. Their third child, James,
perhaps as a tribute to Linda,
was named for father
who died of breast can-
Paul, whose real first
cer in 1998.
name is James.
If you catch his con-
Meanwhile, Stella, a
cert (he didn't perform
successful fashion
on the first day of Rosh
designer, has been
Hashanah and will not
critical of the
perform on Yom
Hollywood celebri-
Kippur), you might
ties, including her
kvell a little at the 63-
friend Madonna, who
year-old zayde of
boast of their knowl- Stella McC artney
Arthur, Elliot and
edge of Kabbalah.
Miller. ❑
"I'm Jewish, and I
don't understand Kabbalah,"
Paul McCartney takes the
McCartney once told reporters,
stage
8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14,
adding, "It's one of the better reli-
and 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15,
gions and ... I'm always so excited
at the Palace of Auburn
to say that I am."
Hills. $52.50-$252.50.
There's another kosher connec-
(248) 645-6666.
tion in the family. Linda

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October 13 2005