The Forward's E.J. Kessler reports that Sen. George Allen's French Tunisian mother Etty Lumbroso Allen was from the "august Sephardic Jewish Lumbroso family."

Allen’s own African heritage casts a different light on the matter. Though Etty Allen seems not to have dwelled on it during her years in the spotlight as a coach’s wife, she comes from the august Sephardic Jewish Lumbroso family. Her father, who was the main importer of wines and liquors in Tunis — including the Cinzano brand — was known in France, where he lived after World War II, as part of the family, according to French Jewish sources. If both of Etty’s parents were born Jewish — which, given her age and background, is likely — Senator Allen would be considered Jewish in the eyes of traditional rabbinic law, which traces Judaism through the mother.

This might complicate life for Allen, a practicing Episcopalian who besides running for re-election this year in Virginia is often mentioned as a possible Republican 2008 contender. Political analyst John Mercurio of National Journal’s noted tip sheet, The Hotline, said that any complication “would depend largely on how this information was revealed.” ...

According to information compiled from several Sephardic genealogical Web sites, the Lumbroso family originated in Portugal but made its way to Livorno, or Leghorn, in Italy after the expulsion of the Jews from the Iberian Peninsula in the 15th century. “Lumbroso” means “luminous” and is a translation of the Hebrew word “nehora.” ...

Dr. Jeffrey Malka, an expert on Sephardic genealogy, told the Forward in an e-mail that in Portugal the Lumbrosos became conversos — unlike Spanish Jews, Portuguese Jews were not allowed to leave and were forcibly converted en masse — who escaped to Livorno, where they were able to return to Judaism. Malka called the Livorno community “fascinating” because, invited by the Medicis, they became wealthy and powerful traders, setting up branches in Tunis and ransoming Jews captured by Barbary pirates.

"If Allen wants to research his heritage, there are many resources available," Kessler helpfully adds. "The marriage contracts of many Lumbrosos, for example, can be found in historical compendia including 'Registres Matrimoniaux de la Communaute Juive Portugaise de Tunis, XVIII-XIX siecles.'” Ryan Lizza's definitive account suggets someone who has cultivated the apperance of an entirely different heritage than the rather fascinating one he was born to.

Update: Wonkette's take is hilarious.

Posted by Laura at August 24, 2006 05:11 PM