Ivanka Trump Ridiculed for Incorrectly Crediting Famous Rabbi’s Quote
- By Gary Nguyen --
- 14 Sep 2016 --
Ivanka Trump gives Emma Watson credit for proverb by exalted Jewish Rabbi.
The Trumps are facing fresh criticism again – this time, it’s Ivanka Trump, daughter of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who is facing the fire. At the heart of the controversy is an Instagram post with a quote, which she credited to Emma Watson. Critics were quick to point out that the quote was originally by one of Judaism’s most important figures, Hillel the Elder. The fact that she herself had converted to Orthodox Judaism after her marriage has made it more difficult for her to explain herself.
Ivanka Trump Ridiculed for Incorrectly Crediting Famous Rabbi’s Quote[/tweetthis]
The saying has been reworded a number of times and the origin of the proverb is less known. However, due to her new religion, Ivanka is facing severe criticism from both Jews, as well as non-Jews alike. The original saying by Hillel was, “If I am not for myself, who is for me? And if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?” In the Ethics of the Father. Watson repeated a modified version of this proverb at a speech in 2014 for a gender equality program at the UN – “If not I, who? If not now, when?”
The backlash, mostly on social media, was focused on knowing how Ivanka could make such a mistake despite her marriage with Jared Kushner, an Orthodox Jew, in 2009. Ivanka is now a practicing Jew, having attended the Modern Orthodox Ramaz School where she studied with Rabbi Elie Weinstock. The mother of three has been vocal about her Jewish practices, including a kosher diet and observing the Jewish Sabbath.
Uh, @ivankatrump, as an Orthodox Jew, you should know this was not coined by Emma Watson:https://t.co/E9OrLut4ON pic.twitter.com/u72ShIoVaY
— (((Yair Rosenberg))) (@Yair_Rosenberg) September 9, 2016
Ivanka #Trump Credits #EmmaWatson for Famous Rabbinical Saying, Sparks Online Derision #Election2016 https://t.co/Jrj4FWwhlH
— Abiyomi Kofi (@TheAngryindian) September 12, 2016
How do you get this wrong if you're Orthodox? https://t.co/4RyddFrKtr
— (((David Mariutto))) (@DavidMariutto) September 12, 2016
Donald Trump’s campaign has not yet commented on this issue. This post is significant because Trump’s daughter Ivanka seems to be trying to give Trump’s campaign a dimension of woman empowerment. Oddly, however, Trump has been condemned for his comments which critics and feminists felt are “misogynist.” This incident makes it clear that not only are the words and actions of the presidential nominee being closely analyzed by people, but also those of his family members.
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