may have had an anti-Semitic undertone, according to some analysts.
Giffords...is considered the first Jewish Congresswoman in Arizona,
according to the National Jewish Democrat Council, a badge she wore proudly.
Giffords, 40, was raised “mixed” by a Christian Scientist mother and Jewish father...
After a 2001 visit to Israel,
she had decided she was Jewish only and became a staunch Zionist.
In a 2006 speech calling for a reviving of direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians,
Giffords talked about her Jewish background.
“My grandfather, Akiba Hornstein, was the son of a Lithuanian rabbi,” Giffords began.
“My grandfather changed his name to Giff Giffords for reasons of anti-Semitism
and moved to Southern Arizona from New York more than a half century ago.”
“...I am a lifetime member of Hadassah [the largest Zionist women's group in America]
and now a member of Congregation Chaverim [a Reform synagogue],” she said.
Moving into a political tone in her speech, Giffords said, “the failure of the current [Bush] administration to continue the peace process has been a loss to America and Israel.
That is why we need a new direction in Washington.”
At her swearing in for a third term in Congress last Wednesday,
Giffords used a copy of The Pentateuch, The Five Books of Moses, for the ceremony."
The Right Perspective
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