But now Gwyneth Paltrow has revealed she wants to raise her children in the Jewish faith, following an appearance on the ancestry programme Who Do You Think You Are?
The American actress, whose late father was Jewish film producer Bruce Paltrow, was moved to discover earlier this year on the show that her family came from a long line of influential East European rabbis.
And this has inspired her to raise daughter Apple, seven, and five-year-old son Moses in a Jewish environment, she told guests of a London event hosted by Jewish charity the Community Security Trust.
Her decision is a far cry from comments she made last year about her experience of being raised as both Jewish and Christian.
‘It was such a nice way to grow up,’ she said, but later added, ‘I don’t believe in religion. I believe in spirituality. Religion is the cause of all the problems in the world.’
Last night a genealogy expert explained the religion passes through the matriarchal line. This means 38-year-old Miss Paltrow…who also studies Kabbalah…would not in fact be considered a true Jew in religious law as her mother, actress Blythe Danner, is Christian.
In addition, the children’s father, her husband Coldplay singer Chris Martin, also has a Christian background.
‘Miss Paltrow may just want to follow traditions that she did as a child, like observing the Sabbath, keeping a kosher home and celebrating holidays,’ the expert said.
by Lorelle Heath
