Is Karlie Kloss Jewish?
Model Karlie Kloss has been in the public eye ever since being discovered in her teens. The star, who is from St. Louis, has become known for her work with Victoria’s Secret, her coding company Kode with Klossy, and of course, her friendship with Taylor Swift. But one of the things people often mention when discussing Kloss is her relationship with Josh Kushner, brother of Trump Administration adviser Jared Kushner.
The Hollywood Reporter noted that Kloss and Kushner started dating in 2012 and got engaged and married in 2018. While their relationship is kept pretty private, Kloss has opened up about one thing she has done during her time with Kushner and it has to do with his Jewish faith.
Did Kloss convert?
Kloss converted to Judaism in June 2018, according to Page Six. The model also keeps kosher, the publication’s source revealed, which is a Jewish guideline of eating. Following a kosher diet often means not eating meat and dairy together, and avoiding food items such as shellfish and pork. Kloss hasn’t been too outspoken about being kosher, but she has spoken up about her conversion.
What Kloss has said about Judaism
While Kloss has been tight-lipped on what her religious observance was prior to her relationship with Kushner, she has been vocal about her experience converting and what it means to her to now be Jewish.
“Changing part of who you are for someone else can be seen as weak,” Kloss told Vogue UK in 2019. “But you know what? Actually, if you’ve been through what I’ve experienced, it requires you to be anything but weak. It requires me to be stronger and self-loving and resilient. I really did not take this lightly.”
Kloss also said that converting to Judaism wasn’t just something she did for her relationship. She did it for herself, too.
“It wasn’t enough to just love Josh and make this decision for him,” Kloss added. “This is my life and I am an independent, strong woman. It was only after many years of studying and talking with my family and friends and soul searching that I made the decision to fully embrace Judaism in my life and start planning for a future with the man I chose to marry.”
Kloss also implements other Jewish traditions in her normal routine
In addition to converting to Judaism and reportedly following a kosher diet, Kloss also says she observes Shabbat, the weekly Jewish day of rest.
“Some people find grounding through meditation,” Kloss continued in her conversation to Vogue UK. “Some find it through exercise. And to each their own, but for me, Shabbat has brought so much meaning into my life. It helps me reconnect to the actual world.”
With the year that everyone has had, we can only hope that Kloss’ weekly Shabbat tradition has helped her feel more relaxed and at peace in what has been a shaky time for many.
