Grace Thompson
John Bouvier Jack Kennedy Schlossberg is the only grandson of former US President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. He is the son of Caroline Kennedy, the former US Ambassador to Japan and Australia, and designer Edwin Schlossberg. Jack Schlossberg was raised Catholic, like his mother, but has Jewish ancestry through his father's side. Schlossberg has stated that he identifies as culturally Jewish and that he is at least 100% half Jewish.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Father's Religion | Orthodox Jewish |
| Mother's Religion | Catholic |
| Raised as | Catholic |
| Education | Catholic |
| Self-identification | Culturally Jewish |
| Could be | The first Jewish president |
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What You'll Learn
Jack Schlossberg's Jewish ancestry
John Bouvier Kennedy "Jack" Schlossberg is the only grandson of President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Schlossberg's father, Edwin Schlossberg, was born in New York City in 1945 to Orthodox Jewish parents, Alfred and Mae Schlossberg (née Hirsch). Alfred and Mae were the children of immigrants from around Poltava, Ukraine (formerly the Russian Empire). The Schlossberg family attended the Park East Synagogue on the Upper East Side, where Alfred served as president for a time. It was there that Edwin attended Hebrew school and had his bar mitzvah.
Schlossberg's mother, Caroline Kennedy, is a Catholic of Irish, French, Scottish, and English descent. Although Schlossberg was raised Catholic, his mother incorporated some Jewish traditions into the family's holiday celebrations. For instance, in an interview with Newsday in 2007, Caroline mentioned that they "incorporate Hanukkah... We light the menorah and play dreidel and sing songs at our holiday party."
While Schlossberg acknowledges that he is not "technically" Jewish since his mother is Catholic, he identifies as culturally Jewish. In an interview with Hey Alma, he stated, "I feel I'm at least 100% half Jewish." He has also posted online about his support for Pope Francis and his Catholic practices, such as what he gave up for Lent.
Media outlets have portrayed Schlossberg as a “new face” of the Kennedy family and a "new hope" for the Democratic Party. He has leveraged his social media presence to share political news and opinions and has expressed an interest in politics and public service.
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Schlossberg's Catholic upbringing
Jack Schlossberg is JFK's only grandchild and could one day be the first Jewish president. Schlossberg was primarily raised and educated as a Catholic, following his mother's tradition. His mother, Caroline Kennedy, is a Catholic of Irish, French, Scottish, and English descent. She is the daughter of the famous First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. Schlossberg has also praised his "uncle Teddy" (Senator Edward Kennedy) and his mother Caroline, who is the current US Ambassador to Australia.
Schlossberg has posted online about his Catholic practices and his support for Pope Francis. He has also shared what he gave up for Lent, such as sugar and anger. He received a Catholic education and attended the Collegiate School in New York. Despite his Catholic upbringing, Schlossberg grew up with some Jewish traditions. His father comes from an Orthodox Jewish family of Ashkenazi Jewish descent from Ukraine. Schlossberg's grandparents, Alfred and Mae Schlossberg, were the children of immigrants from Ukraine (formerly the Russian Empire) and entered the US through Ellis Island. They were also Orthodox Jews and attended the Park East Synagogue on the Upper East Side, where Alfred served as president.
Although Schlossberg was raised Catholic, he values his Jewish roots and identifies as culturally Jewish. He once stated, "I feel I'm at least 100% half Jewish," acknowledging his mixed religious background. Schlossberg has also accompanied his mother on her duties as an ambassador, first to Japan and then to Australia. He has taken an active role in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, serving as a chair of the selection committee for the New Frontier Award. Schlossberg has become a prominent figure in his own right, known for his quirky social media presence and his interest in politics, particularly in the Democratic Party.
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His support for Pope Francis
Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of former US President John F. Kennedy, has expressed his support for Pope Francis on social media. In an Instagram post following the Pope's death in April 2023, Schlossberg wrote:
> "Pope Francis is an incredible, towering figure who transformed the Catholic Church to be more diverse, equitable, and inclusive. His parting gift to us was the fact that he did not like JD Vance, VP of little faith, at all."
Schlossberg's post was in reference to a joke circulating online that US Vice President JD Vance's meeting with Pope Francis was the "last straw" for the 88-year-old pontiff. Schlossberg's comment received media attention, with some outlets describing it as "explosive."
While Schlossberg was primarily raised and educated in the Catholic faith, he has stated that he identifies as "culturally Jewish." His father comes from an Orthodox Jewish family of Ashkenazi Jewish descent from Ukraine, while his mother, Caroline Kennedy, is a Catholic of Irish, French, Scottish, and English descent. Schlossberg has also posted online about his support for Pope Francis and his participation in Lent, a traditional Christian period of fasting and penitence.
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Incorporation of Hanukkah
Jack Schlossberg, though primarily raised and educated in the Catholic faith of his mother, has also celebrated Hanukkah as part of his Jewish heritage. Schlossberg's father comes from an Orthodox Jewish family of Ashkenazi Jewish descent from Ukraine, while his mother is Catholic with Irish, French, Scottish, and English roots.
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish celebration that revolves around the lighting of the menorah, traditional foods, games, and gifts. The holiday commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the second century B.C., when Jews rose up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt. The name "Hanukkah" comes from the Hebrew word for "dedication."
The celebration of Hanukkah includes religious and non-religious customs. Religiously, the observance of Hanukkah can include the daily reading of Scripture, recitation of Psalms, almsgiving, and singing of hymns. Non-religious customs include eating traditional foods fried in oil, such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly donuts), playing the game of dreidel, and giving children gifts of money (Hanukkah gelt).
Incorporating Hanukkah into their holiday celebrations allowed Schlossberg's family to acknowledge and honour their Jewish heritage, even as they primarily identified as Catholic. This incorporation of Hanukkah traditions is a way for families with diverse religious backgrounds to celebrate and connect with their cultural roots.
Hanukkah has gained significant cultural importance, especially among secular Jews and in North America, due to its proximity to Christmas. The holiday provides an opportunity for families like Schlossberg's to embrace their Jewish heritage and participate in traditions that have both religious and cultural significance.
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Identifying as culturally Jewish
Jack Schlossberg, JFK's only grandchild, was primarily raised and educated as a Catholic, following his mother's tradition. However, Schlossberg has stated that he identifies as "culturally Jewish".
Jewish identity is complex and multifaceted, encompassing elements of religion, culture, ethnicity, and ancestry. While some individuals may identify as Jewish solely based on their religious beliefs and practices, others may identify with the culture, traditions, and community associated with Judaism without strictly adhering to the religious aspects. This cultural identification with Judaism is often referred to as being "ethnically Jewish" or "culturally Jewish".
Being culturally Jewish typically involves a sense of connection to Jewish traditions, customs, values, and history, even if the individual does not actively practice the religion. It can also include a feeling of belonging to the global Jewish community and a recognition of the shared experiences and challenges faced by Jews throughout history, such as the Holocaust. For some, being culturally Jewish may also involve participation in certain Jewish rituals and celebrations, such as lighting the menorah during Hanukkah or attending synagogue services, without necessarily adhering to all religious doctrines or beliefs.
In the case of Jack Schlossberg, his father comes from an Orthodox Jewish family of Ashkenazi Jewish descent from Ukraine, while his mother is Catholic. Although he was raised Catholic, Schlossberg has stated that he values his Jewish roots and identifies as culturally Jewish. He told Hey Alma, "I feel I'm at least 100% half Jewish", indicating that he recognizes and embraces his mixed heritage. Schlossberg's mother, Caroline Kennedy, also incorporated Jewish traditions into the family's holiday celebrations, such as celebrating Hanukkah and playing dreidel.
Ultimately, Jewish identity is deeply personal and can vary significantly from person to person. While some may identify as culturally Jewish due to their family background and cultural connections, others may identify more strongly with the religious aspects of Judaism. The concept of being culturally Jewish allows individuals with diverse beliefs and backgrounds to connect with and embrace their Jewish heritage in a way that resonates with them.
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Frequently asked questions
Jack Schlossberg has Jewish ancestry through his father's side, but he was raised Catholic, in his mother's tradition. He has said that he identifies as "culturally Jewish".
Jack Schlossberg is JFK's only grandchild and could be the first Jewish president. However, he is not technically Jewish as his mother, Caroline Kennedy, is Catholic.
Jack Schlossberg has said that he feels "at least 100% half Jewish". He has also posted online about his support for Pope Francis and his Catholic practices, such as giving up sugar and anger for Lent.
