Was Elvis Presley Jewish?

In 1998, The Wall Street Journal published an article titled, "All Shook Up in the Holy Land" exposing Elvis Presley's unlikely Jewish lineage. Apparently, Elvis' maternal great-great grandmother, Nancy Burdine, was a Jew. Her daughter gave birth to Doll Mansell who gave birth to Gladys Smith who gave birth to Elvis. Although it sounds improbable, according to Jewish law, which confers Jewish lineage by way of the mother, that makes Elvis Presley Jewish.

Furthermore, this fact was something that Elvis was apparently aware of and even sensitive to. For example, there is a famous picture of Elvis performing in Salt Lake City in 1972 wearing a Jewish "chai" symbol, and when Elvis' mother Gladys died in 1959 he made sure to put a Jewish Star of David on her headstone. But even if Elvis may have been technically Jewish, and was even aware of his background, he was not at all observant.

There is another Elvis however who is in fact observant. Dan Hartal is the world's only Orthodox Jewish Elvis impersonator, and goes by the moniker -- Elvis Schmelvis.

Hartal's unusual story begins in an unusual place -- the Montreal Hospital of Hope, a home for the aged where Hartal is employed as the Music Coordinator. When he began his work, he wanted to find a way to combine his love of performing for the elderly Jewish residents with his love for Elvis Presley's music. The result was Elvis songs with a Jewish twist like "Jerusalem Hotel" instead of "Heartbreak Hotel," or "Love me Blender" instead of "Love me Tender."

"After one of my performances," Hartal recalls, "one of the residents said to me, ‘You aren't Elvis, you're Schmelvis.'" And "Schmelvis" was born.

Soon thereafter, Schmelvis paired up with documentary filmmaker Max Wallace for another unusual journey. They wanted to make the pilgrimage to Elvis' home in Graceland and recite kaddish – the Jewish memorial prayer that is recited on the anniversary of someone's passing – his yahrtzeit. They decided to bring some cameras along and make a film out of their experience.

The result is "Schmelvis: Searching for the King's Jewish Roots," and the film does exactly that. For example, we learn that Elvis grew up in "the Pinch" -- the Jewish quarter of Memphis where his mother worked in the "shmata business," a predominantly Jewish enterprise at the time. As a teenager the future king was the "Shabbos goy" (i.e. performed tasks otherwise prohibited to Jews on the Sabbath) for his upstairs neighbors at 462 Alabama Ave., Rabbi Alfred and Jeannette Fruchter, who was the Rabbi at the local synagogue. The Presleys regularly came over for Friday night dinner, and Elvis had a penchant for the Rebbetzin's cooking.

If there is one regret that Geller has about his time with Elvis it's that he wasn't able to wrap teffilin with him.

In watching the movie and speaking to Hartal, it is hard not to come to the conclusion that there is something almost spiritual in the love that diehard Elvis fans have for their "king." "Elvis had a special neshama (soul)," says Hartal. "You don't see followers of John Lennon or Jim Morrison behaving the same way that Elvis fans do. There was something special beyond the man. His spirit, his music, his connection."

According to Larry Geller, Elvis' hair stylist and at times spiritual guru, Elvis was quite spiritual in his own way. When he worked for Elvis, Geller was involved with Eastern religions and would often give Elvis books of a spiritual nature. Geller subsequently became an Orthodox Jew. According to Hartal, Gelller, whom he calls Chaim Lev, said that if there is one regret that he has about his time with Elvis it is that he wasn't able to wrap teffilin with him.

As documented in the movie, in the end, the group was successful in giving Elvis the Jewish tribute that they felt was long overdue. Initially they had only 7 of the 10 Jewish males required for a minyan (quorum) to recite the mourner's kaddish. But fortunately, or miraculously as Hartal asserts, three more Jews came "out of nowhere" and Rabbi Reuven Poupko led the group in prayer.

Since the release of the film, Schmelvis has become a much sought after performer. He also has a new release coming out called "From Memphis to the Holy Land" timed to coincide with Elvis's 30th "yahrtzeit."

When asked what he thinks Elvis' reaction would be to Schmelvis' music, the movie, and the fact that they got a minyan at Graceland to recite the mourner's kaddish on Elvis' yahrtzeit, Hartal pauses to reflect and answers, "He would probably say ‘Uh...thank you, thank you very much."

To view an excerpt from the Schmelvis movie click here

To contact Schmelvis through his website click here

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Published: April 14, 2007

Visitor Comments: 26

(22) Richard, March 4, 2013 7:12 AM

Elvis knew his roots

Read Larry Geller's book, "If I Can dream". He told his friend he is Jewish but had to hide that fact while living in the south. Yet he was very proud of his heritage personally.

(21) Anonymous, February 8, 2013 1:13 PM

ELVIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN JEWISH?

19 ABOVE... Why so upset? Are you jealous that there is no Jewish blood in your body?

(20) janet, November 22, 2012 7:58 PM

jewish

Everyone desires to be Jewish or Native-American, when these individuals were shunned like other races, who did not fit into a certain category. It is important to be who you are, and be proud of all bloodlines within ourselves. We all belong to God, who created everyone. Elvis reminded me of Michael Landon, who was of Jewish lineage. My family came from many bloodlines, which I am so very proud, and thankful.

(19) Anonymous, July 9, 2012 10:54 AM

elvis was NOT Jewish!

Hey there non-Goyim! Elvis Presley was NOT Jewish! He was born and raised Christian. There are many, many, MANY, many false accusations of this interpretation that he was born Jewish. He was NOT born Jewish. He never had any Jewish blood in him through his Mother or Grand-mother or whatever... The fact is and still remains that he was born and raised a Christian. He was raised in the Assemblies of G_d which is a Christian denomination. So NOT Jewish!

Vavoline, July 20, 2012 2:41 AM

Oh yes here was...we are proud to have him as a tribe member..we r thrilled not to have someone like you

Karl, January 17, 2013 12:44 PM

Elvis was Jewish

Oh yes here was?!? Don't you mean yes he was? I thought you guys were good at spelling... Hm... You're thrilled not to have someone like me as a tribe member... Hm... How very humanitarian of you... I don't think you're Jewish at all! You can't spell and you can't write proper English!!! You are what we call in the goyim world a zvers!!! Hope you have a hard and confronting life!!! ELVIS WAS NOT JEWISH!!! Get it through your thick skull!!!

menachem, August 20, 2012 6:28 PM

there's nothing wrong with being jewish

you make being Jewish sound like some kind of horrible stigma

Anonymous, August 30, 2012 8:52 AM

on the contrary

Being Jewish is a high and nobel thing to be. We are the children of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, Sarah, Rivka, Rachel and Leah. We stood at the foot of Mt. Sinai and witnessed the Devine Revelation, heard with our own ears G-d say, "I am H-shem, your G-d, Who took you out of the land of Egypt". Every Jew was there, including the souls of every one of us who where not yet born. We are the ones entrusted and instructed to teach the Devine law to the world, including monotheism and morality. re Presley: I was a teenager during the years that he was most popular. I really don't believe he was Jewish. But Judaism goes by the mother. So if the article is correct and he was from a line of Jewish mother, grandmother, etc., then he is and what can we do? And any Jew, observant or not, and even those practicing xtianity, G-d forbid, if he were born a Jew, he is still a Jew. Even if he G-d forbid converted,though this is a terrible sin, he is still a Jew, though that is one of the worse things a Jew can do. It seems to be a trend today, to try to prove everyone's Jewish.

(18) Anonymous, March 31, 2012 8:52 PM

yep..Jewish Elvis

First of all, there are Jews who are not observant, and even in Israel. It is very common. Second, yes ... Jewish Elvis :)

(17) Anonymous, February 19, 2011 5:10 AM

lets not forget he had some cherokee indian in him also.

lets not forget he had some cherokee in hiim also.

(16) Pook, January 20, 2011 5:47 AM

GREAT Grandmother. Not GREAT GREAT.

Nancy Doll Gladys Elvis GREAT Grandmother.

(15) Anonymous, March 12, 2010 1:08 AM

ATT: comment 14

I'm an observant, Orthodox Jew, and I have a question about your comment. Are you referring to the heritage issues such as being a kohen or a levi, or are you referring to people whose mothers aren't Jewish and whose fathers are? If you are referring to the latter, then you really do need to have a Jewish mother to be Jewish. It is not an Israeli law. It is Torah law. So these people you're talking about are not Jewish. The culture and and traditions are a part of the blood. Unless you convert in a Beis Din, a Jewish court of law, you cannot be Jewish if your father is, and your mother isn't. Unfortunately, many Jews who are the offspring of mixed marriages are unaware of this. Also, I agree with David S. Levine that it is unimportant if he's Jewish, and since he was a supporter of the Jews, it doesn't matter. However, no matter what, you're Jewish, and if it could've made a difference to him, it would have mattered.

(14) Anonymous, January 14, 2010 10:22 PM

Misguided energy spent on 'technically Jewish.'

This lineage assertion is trivial, time and energy better spent elsewhere. It reminds me of new age loonies tracing themselves back through distant generations to Native American ancestors. Does being 'technically Jewish' according to an outdated politically motivated 'law' -- propagated by fundamentalists trying to keep liberal Jews out of Israel -- mean Elvis is more Jewish than millions of observant, practicing Jews who trace their heritage through their fathers? Is it the 'blood' that makes Jews (and Elvis) special, or is it the culture, traditions, wisdom, and world view?

(13) jon, November 24, 2009 2:57 AM

family tree

Gladys - (Elvis's mother) maternal grandmother (Martha Tacket) was born to a Jewish mother (though it seems Martha's father was not Jewish). This being the case; Gladys was one eighth Jewish and the king was 1/16 Jewish running uninterrupted (maternally for 4 generations) on his mothers side. Though I am not an expert on Jewish law; my understanding is that technically this would make Elvis Jewish (according to Jewish law). For those interested - here is the maternal family tree: http://www.elvispresleynews.com/images/ElvisFamilyTree.jpg

(12) David S. Levine, October 28, 2009 12:34 AM

Pure Bunk

Why do some Jews constantly look to make someone they admire Jewish as if only Jews can accomplish good things. Elvis Presleys ancestry was examined after this assertion came out and the story is simply untrue. As someone in the entertainment industry he associated with many Jews, his best songwriters in particular. His entourage included a nephew of Supreme Court Justice Abe Fortas (whose family was from Memphis). Isn't that enough? He was friendly with Jewish people and, like most Southern Christians, a friend of the Jews. Why not leave it there?

(11) br Dave, September 24, 2009 11:59 PM

It s way cool

(10) Jesse, January 4, 2009 4:48 PM

My Father, who grew up in 1950's Memphis, remembers rumors of Elvis being Jewish on account of his Mother. So it is nothing new!

(9) eric, August 13, 2008 5:40 PM

quite disgusting,but it explains the latter years'kitsch

i have been wanting not to believe it,but now i'm beginning to think that it's true after all.the south is so kosher it makes me sick ti my stomach.in hollywood,it would take less time saying who's not jewish than who is.

(8) Tina, January 29, 2008 3:30 PM

He was jewish

(7) Gabe (spry senior citizen), December 14, 2007 1:28 PM

Yeah, I believe it. Why not?

I wish David S. Levine disclosed what source claimed to have debunked Presley's Jewish lineage. All the studies I've seen (that appear credible), reinforce the notion that Elvis had some Jewish DNA.

(6) Sandy Fine, April 17, 2007 5:03 PM

Loved the story of Elvis.

Thanks for letting me know the Elvis story.

(5) Ruth Santos, April 16, 2007 4:23 PM

Interesting...I had never heard that before.

I'm a diehard fan of Elvis...always was from the beginning when I saw him on the Ed Sullivan show, so long ago. He was the best looking man I ever saw, bear none.

(4) Jason Lipstein, April 15, 2007 11:51 PM

Mazel Tov Dan...lol You made it to the big leagues.. Aish.com...lol

Schmelvis is the KING!!! Long live SCHMELVIS!!!

(3) Iris, April 15, 2007 10:09 PM

Enjoyable reading

What a show Shmelvis! Iris

(2) Anonymous, April 15, 2007 3:04 PM

Very interesting.

Thank you for this story. I am happy to have found your website.

(1) David S. Levine, April 15, 2007 1:22 PM

Ancestry Debunked

The "story" of Elvis presley's supposed maternal Jewish ancestry was debunked years ago. He grew up in a government subsidized housing project and it's unlikely that a congregational rabbi was an upstairs neighbor. Elvis Presley did however have some Jewish friends and contacts, among them a realtive of Supreme court Justice Abe Fortas, also a Memphis native with extended family there. He was a great singer and entertainer, but in no degree Jewish, unfortunately.

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