In his new book, Kushner says he once broke up with Ivanka because she wasn’t Jewish
Memoir recalls how Murdochs, Bono and Billy Joel helped rekindle romance between couple, and that Trump pressed Jared on why his daughter had to be the one to convert
Michael Horovitz is a breaking news editor at The Times of Israel
Jared Kushner, the son-in-law and senior adviser to former US president Donald Trump, revealed in his memoir, released Tuesday, how he broke up with Ivanka Trump while they were dating because she wasn’t Jewish, then reunited with the help of the Murdoch family and singer-songwriters Bono and Billy Joel.
An advance copy of the book, “Breaking History: A White House Memoir,” describes the now married couple’s courtship, and how the soon-to-be president ruined his surprise marriage proposal.
The two met in 2007 for a business lunch at the behest of Trump who wanted Ivanka to see if Jared was interested in purchasing any of the family’s properties.
“We spoke about business, but the conversation soon turned to NASCAR, New Jersey diners and other unlikely interests that we had in common,” Kushner recalls.
But months later “when I realized that I was falling in love with Ivanka, I grew concerned about our different religions. As hard and painful as it was, I broke up with her,” says Kushner, who is Modern Orthodox.
“Ivanka told me it was the worst decision of my life. She was right.”
Kushner writes that he was surprised to see Ivanka several months later on a Mediterranean cruise he was invited to by their mutual friend Wendi Murdoch, then wife to media mogul Rupert Murdoch, owner of News Corp.
Kushner described having lunch at the French Riviera home of Bono, when, after the meal, they were treated to a performance by their host and travel companions.
“After lunch, Billy Joel, who had also been with us on the boat, played the piano while Bono sang with the Irish singer-songwriter Bob Geldof.”
The couple got back together shortly thereafter.
“As the months went on, Ivanka told me that she was open to exploring the possibility of converting to Judaism,” Kushner writes.
The two began meeting with a rabbi and having Shabbat dinners together. These started with ordering from Manhattan’s Second Ave Deli but Ivanka would go on to replace the take-out food with her own home-cooked meals.
As the relationship got more serious, Ivanka suggested that Kushner meet her father. Kushner called Trump and the latter suggested that they go out for lunch — something the real estate mogul rarely did.
“As we sat down, I could feel my voice shake as I managed to say that Ivanka and I were getting more serious and that she was in the process of converting,” Kushner writes.
“Well, let me ask you a question,” Trump replied. “Why does she have to convert? Why can’t you convert?”
“I replied that it was a fair question, but Ivanka had made the decision on her own, and we were both comfortable with it,” Kushner continues.
“That’s great,” [Trump] said. “Most people think I’m Jewish anyway. Most of my friends are Jewish. I have all these awards from the synagogues. They love me in Israel.”
But then, Trump warned Kushner that he better be serious about his daughter because he had another idea for who she could marry.
“You know, Tom Brady is a good friend of mine and had been trying to take Ivanka out…” Trump began.
“Before he got any further, [Kushner] quipped, ‘If I were Ivanka, I’d go with Tom Brady.’ [Trump] looked at [Kushner] with complete seriousness. ‘Yeah, I know,’ he sighed,” Kushner writes.
When he decided to propose to Ivanka, Kushner said he approached his bride-to-be’s father in his office and explained to him that he had a “surprise engagement” planned. However, Trump was unable to keep the news to himself.
“Later I learned that right after I left Trump picked up the intercom and alerted Ivanka that she should expect an imminent proposal,” Kushner wrote.
The couple got married at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey and before Trump — “[who was] respectful of our Jewish traditions” — walked Ivanka down the aisle, he asked Kushner for a yarmulke to wear.
