As you probably heard, Ivanka Trump, 27, wed New York Observer newspaper publisher Jared Kushner, 28, on Oct. 25. The modern Orthodox Jewish wedding was held at the Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey. Five-hundred guests attended what was reported to be a very nice but tasteful reception. The bride wore a lovely white modest wedding gown designed by Vera Wang (who was also a guest). Barbara Walters, another guest, said on The View that the dress reminded her of Princess Grace Kelley's wedding gown. Walters, who is Jewish, also showed the invitation on TV--it was written in English and Hebrew. Orthodox Rabbi Haskel Lookstein, who supervised Ivanka's conversion to Judaism studies for the last 18 months, married the couple. (In a July column, I discussed Ivanka's conversion and her husband's family background.) Trump is the daughter of real-estate mogul Donald Trump. In a recent Nightline profile that can be read or viewed on the Nightline website, Trump admitted that "nepotism got me in the door," but added that her father would quickly fire her from her position as a vice president of his company if she couldn't do the job. Right now, she is supervising the construction of the Trump Soho, a 46-story hotel condominium in downtown New York that will cost $450 million. She is also the author of the new book The Trump Card: Playing to Win in Work and Life. Nightline says: "Trump's [book] is about life lessons for business success that she learned from her
Ivanka Trump. Photo: Reuters/Carlo Allegri.
upbringing. She tells young women how to focus at work, negotiate with gumption and thrive in uncertainty." I have to say that although "the Donald" is often over the top, his daughter comes off as a total class act who tactfully protects her private life. Nightline reports: "[Ivanka] Trump declined to discuss her recent conversion to Judaism--the newfound religion she now shares with her fiancé. 'I've converted to Judaism not to marry him, but I am marrying him,' she said, highlighting the distinction. 'I choose not to talk about this because I think in life there are some things that are personal and between people, and once I open this can of worms everyone will think it's OK to have this discussion with me.'"
Though Trump drew a distinction between her conversion and her marriage, the author of a USA Today article in its "Beliefs" section took it as a given that Ivanka's sole reason for converting was to marry her now-husband. I didn't like the article much, but readers of this column may be interested in reading some of the hundreds of posted comments about the question the author posed to her readers: "Would You Convert For Love?"
The groom's parents (who, like the Trumps, made their millions in real estate) also threw a post-wedding gala party to which the bride wore another incredible dress. Sounds like everybody enjoyed the good (kosher) food and dancing.
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