Talk:Leslie Haden-Guest, 1st Baron Haden-Guest

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Haden-Guest was undoubtedly Jewish. "the first Jewish Labour candidate, Captain Haden-Guest": Jewish Chronicle March 11 1966, page 8. He was married in an orthodox synagogue by the then Chief Rabbi.--Newport 21:23, 19 May 2007 (UTC)

I think he must have converted then as the rest of his family and forebears definitely weren't. Gustav von Humpelschmumpel 21:35, 19 May 2007 (UTC)

I'm not quite sure why "Converts to Judaism" was added here. Is there a source for it? Speculation doesn't pass WP:NOR and WP:V. Mad Jack 04:32, 20 May 2007 (UTC)

I am pretty sure he wasn't born Jewish/his family weren't Jewish and I think I know where the evidence will be found so I'll get back to you ;) Gustav von Humpelschmumpel 13:16, 20 May 2007 (UTC)

You mean a source that says some of his family weren't Jewish or a source that says he converted? There is a difference Mad Jack 18:29, 20 May 2007 (UTC)

No that he converted. I don't think any of his forebears were Jewish - he converted in order to marry his first wife Edith Low. Gustav von Humpelschmumpel 18:58, 20 May 2007 (UTC)

Unfortunately it turned out the entry in the Jewish Year Book was a red herring. As far as I can see the only source we have that say he was Jewish is the Jewish Chronicle in 1966- his obituary says nothing about him being Jewish or connection with any Jewish charities or causes. I think it is possible the JC just made an assumption because of his wives and the fact the name Guest can be Jewish. Haden also sounds as if it could be German or something. However neither his Haden or Guest ancestors are- they are both old West Midlands families. Gustav von Humpelschmumpel 15:34, 8 July 2007 (UTC)

Actually, if anyone was married in an Orthodox synagogue during the time that Haden-Guest was (or even now, actually), they would have to be Jewish (under traditional Jewish law); interfaith ceremonies were not performed. So if he was "married in an orthodox synagogue by the then Chief Rabbi", as the Jewish Chronicle reference given above states, he would have to have been born to a Jewish mother or been an Orthodox convert. There's really no other option. Mad Jack 05:18, 9 July 2007 (UTC)

Hmmm I didn't know he married in the synagogue. As his mother wasn't Jewish he must have converted, probably in order to marry his first wife. Gustav von Humpelschmumpel 10:38, 9 July 2007 (UTC)