Got a Tip?
tips at gothamist
About Gothamist

Gothamist is a website about New York. More

Editor: Jen Chung Publisher: Jake Dobkin

About Us & Advertising | Archives | Contact | Mobile | RSS | Staff

Favorites
Newsmap
Contribute

Latest tip:

<a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hRVtdfaLJf-MBMVdTXp9IxmvNhtw [more]

 

Latest link:

 

Latest Photo:

 

Subscribe
Use an RSS reader to stay up to date with the latest news and posts from Gothamist.

All Our RSS

August 3, 2008

Paterson Reaches Out to Hamptons Jews, May Be One

2008_08_patersoneruv.jpgIn his first visit to a synagogue since taking control of the state, Governor Paterson told a crowd of around 1,000 in Westhampton that he supported the Orthodox community's struggle to erect an eruv, a symbolic fence around the synagogue. He then revealed that he felt a special connection with Jewish community not only because of his longtime friendship with Rabbi Marc Schneier, but also because he shares some lineage with them. Paterson told the congregation that a DNA test six months ago revealed that he had "two hits of Jewish origin."

Email This Entry







Advertisement: Gothamist Continues Below!

Comments (15) [rss]

Don't get too close to us or you'll have 5,000 years of suffering, retroactive, and if that isn't enough, you'll have to eat at home Friday nights.

 

Stealth Jew and Freemason??? He must be part of the conspiracy to take over the Vatican...

 

If he could only see how ridiculous he looks with that bra cap on.

Since when did DNA testing include religion in its makeup?

 

As a half-sighted Jewish black man, this is Sammy Davis Jr.'s proudest posthumous moment.

 

stay back shvartze. their hands will be in your pockets soon...

 

He's got to get rid of the beard. It makes him look weird.

 

Um, how do you have Jewish DNA? Jewishness is a matter of religion, as far as I know. It was theNazis who tried to prove there was something biological about Jewishness, as I recall.

I don't think it's possible to pinpoint a Jewish genome! There are too many different kinds (colors, cultures) of Jews in the world. So that DNA stuff sounds really wrong somehow.

 

"I don't think it's possible to pinpoint a Jewish genome! There are too many different kinds (colors, cultures) of Jews in the world. So that DNA stuff sounds really wrong somehow."

There are genetic markers that point to Jewish lineage. Oddly enough many if not most Palestinian, Lebanese, & Syrian people have these markers but aren't Jews in practice.

 

The religious group vs. ethnic group issue of Jewishness can be confusing, but the basic take is that they've maintained a somewhat distinct dna profile because converting to Judaism is fairly uncommon, and Jews have historically either been kept apart, or kept themselves apart from the communities where they were allowed to live, so there was little interfaith marriage and breeding.

It might make more sense, in fact, to think of them as a genetic group first, since the genetic markers can be there without any belief in the religion.

Okay, learning time's over. Now, back to the exciting conclusion of Wide World Of Trolls..

 

Did he learn this before or after Maury told him "You are.... NOT the father." :)

 

So politicians only care about someone if they find out they are related to them? Is the mob back in power? What a shmuck.

 

His dna markesr would see if he was semitic - not jewish.

 

Wow I can't type today. Or spell...I hate Mondys.

;D

 

Heh. He looks funny with a yarmulke.

 

Some Chachim he turned out to be.

 
Post a comment (Comment Policy)

2003-2008 Gothamist LLC. All rights reserved. Terms of Use & Privacy Policy. We use MovableType.

Site Meter