How Jewish are the Milibands?

14 August 2010

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For the first time in over a century, we may soon have a Jewish PM, says Venetia Thompson. But will either Ed or David have the courage to embrace their identity?

At last Britain’s Jewish community has something to celebrate. Not since Disraeli has Britain had a Jewish Prime Minister (although let’s not forget that Disraeli was a practising Christian); now we have not one, but two bright, young, attractive Jewish boys running for the Labour leadership. The Miliband brothers have left every Jewish mother in the country wondering if either of them is single.

But we shouldn’t start dancing the hora just yet: both the Miliband brothers seem to be having a bit of an identity crisis: are they Jewish? Jew-ish? Ethnically Jewish atheists? Does it even matter? Apparently so, or neither brother would have bothered commenting on their ‘identity’ and no questions would have been asked. David has said recently that, though he considers himself atheist, ‘being Jewish must have an influence on the way I think. I am the child of Jewish immigrants and that is a very important part of my identity ... if you try to analyse where I stand politically, it would be very difficult to do so without reference to my roots.’

When David was made Foreign Secretary many were quick to draw attention to the possible implications of his Jewish background, which, as the BBC commented, would be ‘noted particularly in the Middle East. Many Israelis and Jews around the world will welcome the fact that someone with his dramatic family history has made it into the high offices in British and world diplomacy.’

It is impossible to say whether his Jewish background and ‘dramatic family history’ influenced his decisions regarding Israel. As Foreign Secretary, he deftly navigated the dove-hawk divide, rarely revealing his personal views. Most telling were his powerful words at the patrons’ dinner of the UJIA (United Jewish Israel Appeal — a charity that supports young people and education in Israel and the UK) in 2008. He said that ‘it is Israel which breathes new life into Jewish people’. His campaign to be Labour leader has received several large donations from prominent Jews.

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Anthony Makara

August 15th, 2010 8:39am Report this comment

Does it really matter whether the Millibands are Jewish? The more we continue to refer to this, or to Diana Abbott as being a black and female candidate, the more we take the focus away from the candidates persona and policies.

Is there any such thing as a typically Jewish politician? Are we to suggest that a religious culture or ethnic background creates the political mindset?

Otherwise the suggestion is that one can only enter politics dispassionately if one becomes a lapsed Jew?

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