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Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Arizona's first Jewish Congresswoman


Recently, I heard someone state that Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is Catholic; I attempted to inform that individual that she is actually Jewish, without success.
So, to dispel any misunderstanding about her religion, I'll post an excerpt of her wikipedia bio:

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Personal life

Giffords was born in Tucson, Arizona, to Gloria Kay (née Fraser) and Spencer J. Giffords. Her father is a first cousin of director Bruce Paltrow, whose daughter is actress Gwyneth Paltrow.[10] Giffords was raised in a mixed religious environment by her Jewish father and Christian Science-practicing mother. She has identified herself solely with Judaism since 2001, belonging to Congregation Chaverim, a Reform synagogue, in Tucson.[1][11] She is Arizona's first Jewish Congresswoman.[12][13]

Giffords graduated from Tucson's University High School. She received a B.A. in Sociology and Latin American history from Scripps College in California in 1993,[14] and a Master of Regional Planning from Cornell University, in 1996.[14] She focused her studies on Mexico – United States relations while at Cornell. She was a Fulbright Scholar in Chihuahua, Mexico, in 1996 and a fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.[citation needed]

Giffords married U.S. Navy Captain and astronaut Mark E. Kelly on November 10, 2007. He was the Space Shuttle's pilot on STS-108 and STS-121, and commander of STS-124.[15]

Giffords is a former member of the Arizona regional board of the Anti-Defamation League.[16] After Hurricane Katrina struck in the late summer of 2005, Giffords spent time as a volunteer in Houston, Texas, in relief efforts for Hurricane victims. She wrote about her experience in the Tucson Citizen.[17]

Giffords is an avid reader and was featured on NPR's Weekend Edition on July 9, 2006. She was periodically interviewed together with Illinois Republican Peter Roskam on NPR's All Things Considered. The series focused on their experiences as freshman members of the 110th Congress.

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Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arizona's 8th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2007
Preceded by Jim Kolbe

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Member of the Arizona Senate
from the 28th district
In office
January 8, 2003 – December 1, 2005
Preceded by Randall Gnant
Succeeded by Paula Aboud

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Member of the Arizona House of Representatives
from the 13th district
In office
January 1, 2001 – January 8, 2003

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Born June 8, 1970 (1970-06-08) (age 40)
Tucson, Arizona
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Mark E. Kelly
Residence Tucson, Arizona
Alma mater Cornell University (M.U.P.)
Scripps College (B.A.)
Profession Politician; businesswoman
Religion Reform Judaism[1]

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