Happy Birthday to the King of the Jews
No, not that one.
Today would have been Elvis Presley’s 75th birthday. As any visitor to Graceland remembers, Elvis was a friend to the Jews. And as any anti-Semite with too much free time knows, he was also a close relative. (Okay, even the pro-Semites have written a book along these lines: Schmelvis: In Search of Elvis Presley’s Jewish Roots
.) Now, I don’t believe that someone’s halakhic status as maternally Jewish matters a whit if the individual doesn’t self-identity as an MOT. But I do believe that when an opportunity to celebrate arises, one should take advantage. So today, the Fried Peanut Butter & Banana Sandwiches are on me (if you can make it to my place in Boston by 1 pm today)!
Little known fact: Elvis’s “Teddy Bear” was an homage to Theodore Herzl.
One of my agents in the south tells me that in his youth, Elvis was apparently a Shabbos goy for his religious neighbors.
Actually, Elvis’ roadie (the one who coined the phrase “Elvis has left the building”) is Jewish too! (I know this because he’s a childhood friend/former bandmate’s grandfather. The roadie I mean) Every year the family has a sort of Elvis Yahrzeit pilgrimage to Graceland and/or Vegas.