Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied Welcome a Baby Boy

Since I launched my blog in March 2003, no post has attracted as much attention as the one I titled simply: "Is Benjamin Millepied Jewish?" That post has received dozens more comments than this blog normally receives. And that simple question: "Is Benjamin Millepied Jewish?" has driven traffic to this blog in record numbers.

So, now that Natalie Portman has given birth to a baby boy I'm sure there will be new questions that arise in the public's mind. As Benjamin Millepied and Natalie Portman welcome their son into this world, will they choose to have a brit milah (bris, ritual circumcision) for their baby son? What will his name be? Will Natalie Portman choose a Hebrew name for her son? Since she is of Israeli descent, will her son's name be a common Israeli name?

When Natalie Portman releases the name of her baby, I'm sure people will still want more information. Since Ashkenazi Jewish custom dictates that babies are named after deceased relatives, the public will want to know who Natalie Portman's son is named for. Also, there is no question that this baby was born Jewish because Natalie Portman is Jewish, so there will likely be an international discussion about whether Portman and Millepied will have a traditional bris ceremony on this new baby's eighth day of life. With the debate over a ban on ritual circumcision currently taking place in San Francisco, I'm certain this celebrity birth will add fuel to that fire.

Finally, Natalie Portman has stated publicly that she plans to raise her child Jewish. Another high profile Jewish celebrity who is intermarried to a non-Jew but raising her child Jewish will add to the discussion about interfaith families. Benjamin Millepied could choose to convert to Judaism in the future, but if he doesn't he will be in good company with other non-Jewish parents helping to raise Jewish children. In fact, organizations like the Jewish Outreach Institute and InterfaithFamily.com exist to help interfaith families who are giving their children a Jewish upbringing.

Mazel Tov to Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied on the birth of their son. For years we've watched Natalie Portman as she's starred in movies and received award after award. Now, she'll have a chance to shine as a Jewish mother. I'm betting that 13 years from now, there will be a headline somewhere that reads "Natalie Portman's son becomes a Bar Mitzvah."

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Comments

[Annabell6]

11:12 AM on 06/27/2011

I just don't see the chemistry. Happy for them, hope it works out especially with the religion quirk.

[stuarthorowitz]

01:49 PM on 06/25/2011

This article is puzzling to me, inasmuch as I have had no problems flying with Delta, Air France, and Saudi Arabian Air ( going to, leaving, and traveling within KSA). My name is Horowitz. This is either a very new and surprising development - or not based on fact.

[bbertaud]

07:45 PM on 06/18/2011

Well......Mazel Tov !!

[joeinvt]

05:21 PM on 06/16/2011

I've heard that Millepied walks all over her.

[Semprini]

08:25 AM on 06/17/2011

:-)

[JOHNSPEAKS]

09:10 AM on 06/16/2011

Are they married? Is their son legitimate before -God-? Will there son join the -Israeli- army and defend their culture if -Israel- still exists, etc. etc. etc. these are the important questions that need to be answered???

[Otaku-jin]

12:40 AM on 06/16/2011

She needs to name the boy Luke. There's no other option.

[Misterioso Adversario]

05:57 PM on 06/15/2011

Who cares.

[vlad26]

05:24 PM on 06/15/2011

I don't know, Rabbi. The french are pretty anti-circumcision, and she seems very modern in her views. They might not circumcise him. I do believe you can still be raised an excellent Jew with all your body parts in mint condition. I have friends who've done brit shalom, with no major consequences from the more traditional community. Could be an interesting publicity stunt if she broke with tradition.

[Gharib7z]

03:43 PM on 06/15/2011

It's definitely a birthday week for the Portman-Millipied's, as Natalie celebrated a birthday of her own on June 9. It seems 2011 brought the actress lots to celebrate. Natalie Portman Has Baby http://usspost.com/natalie-portman-has-baby-34572/

[Jeannette Lacey]

01:04 PM on 06/15/2011

Why is this news in the Religion page?

[RabbiJason]

04:06 PM on 06/15/2011

Read what I wrote. People are curious about the religious upbringing of the baby since Natalie Portman has said publicly that she will raise her children as Jewish. She is having the baby with a non-Jewish man and this will therefore raise some questions (as I write above).

[Joseph Schmoe]

10:07 PM on 06/15/2011

And why is this any of your business?