celebrity jews arts&life 40 August 1 • 2019 jn RUNDOWN ON THE JEWISH DEMS SEEKING NOMINATION Two candidates are “just plain Jewish:” Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, 77, and author/lecturer Marianne Williamson, 67. Her father changed the family name “Vishnevetsky” to Williamson. Marianne was raised a Conservative Jew and does mention being Jewish in public speeches. Her Detroit ties include living in Birmingham and Grosse Pointe and, for many years, serving as spiritual leader of the Church of Today in Warren (now Renaissance Unity Church in Ferndale). Colorado Sen. Michael Bennett, 54, is the son of a Protestant father (with Mayflower pas- senger ancestry) and a Jewish mother. His moth- er, Susanne, was only a baby when she and her parents were imprisoned in the Warsaw Ghetto. Susanne was smuggled out of Poland. Susanne’ s mother found refuge in a Catholic convent and her father managed to survive the labor camps. Bennett’ s mother’ s family, who came to the States in 1950, were never observant Jews. The senator’ s father identified as a Christian but was not churchgoing. Bennett was raised with exposure to both his heritages, but not really in any faith. He says he believes in God, but he is not a practicing “anything.” New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has a Jewish great-grandfather (her pater- nal grandmother’ s father) who was raised Catholic, as was Sen. Gillibrand. JEWISH TIES California Sen. Kamala Harris is married to Jewish businessman Douglas Emhoff, 54. The senator’ s mother was from India and a Hindu. Her father was from Jamaica and a Baptist. She was exposed to both faiths. Harris and Emhoff wed in a civil ceremony in 2014. In her recent memoir, Harris notes that at the close of her wedding ceremo- ny, “… in keeping with our respective Indian and Jewish heritage, I put a flower garland around Doug’ s neck, and he stomped on a glass.” It was the first marriage for Harris and the second for Emhoff. He has two children by his previous marriage. Former Vice President Joe Biden, a Catholic, has three Jewish ties by marriage: (1) His late son, Beau Biden, married Hallie Olivere, now 44, in 2002, and they remained married until his death in 2015. The couple had two children, now teenagers. Olivere’ s mother is Jewish, her father isn’ t. There is no reporting on whether Hallie was raised Jewish or the religious nature (if any) of her wed- ding to Beau, or what faith, if any, Hallie and Beau’ s children are being raised in; (2) Biden’ s daughter, Ashley, is married to Dr. Howard Krein, 52, a Jewish ear, nose and throat doctor. They wed in 2012. A Catholic priest presided, with a rabbi “assisting.” They don’ t have children; and (3) Hunter Biden, the son of the former veep, wed Melissa Cohen, 32, in May. The couple only knew each other a month before the wedding. Born and raised in South Africa, Cohen reportedly comes from an observant Jewish family. She was formerly married to a Los Angeles Jewish businessman. She’ s also posted a video of a desecrated Parisian Jewish cemetery with comments showing her anguish. No word if the wedding was secular or religious. The groom, however, got a “sha- lom” tattoo, which matches one his wife has. SURPRISE The father of Attorney General William Barr was born Jewish but converted to Catholicism. Barr’ s mother was Catholic, and he was raised a Catholic. ■ NATE BLOOM COLUMNIST Bernie Sanders Marianne Williamson Michael Bennet Joe Biden VIA SANDERS FACEBOOK VIA WILLIAMSON FACEBOOK VIA BENNET FACEBOOK VIA BIDEN FACEBOOK Our philosophy is simple... Mangia Bene” (Eat well). JOIN OUR MAILING LIST I NEVER MISS AN UPDATE Hours: Monday - Thursday 11am - 10pm I Friday 11am - 11pm Saturday 12pm - 11pm I Sunday 12pm - 9pm Please Inquire About Banquets and Private Parties. CIAO Italian Bistro & Wine Bar 6199 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48324 T / 248-862-6374 F / 248-862-6389 www.ciaoitalianbistro.com 20% OFF Food only. Not valid with any other offer. Max discount $20. Expires 8-31-19 uptownshangri-la.com UPTOWN 6407 Orchard Lake Road (15 Mile & Orchard Lake) 248.626.8585 DAILY DIM SUM MIDTOWN 4710 Cass Avenue Detroit, Michigan 48201 313.974.7669 DAILY DIM SUM & SUSHI CHINESE PEOPLE EAT HERE