Elvis Presley Had Jewish Roots, He Would Have Turned 91 Today 0 25

Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935, Tupelo – August 16, 1977, Memphis) was an American singer and actor, one of the most commercially successful performers of popular music in the 20th century. His fame is so widespread that many people refer to him simply by his first name — Elvis. Elvis Presley is also associated with the enduring phrase "The King of Rock and Roll" (often simply "The King" in America). He ranks third among the greatest artists of all time and greatest vocalists according to Rolling Stone magazine.

The life of the King, from birth to his mysterious death, is filled with enigmas. Doppelgängers, scandals, disappearances and appearances in unexpected places, blank pages in his biography... Many of his fanatical followers are convinced that he did not tragically die in 1977 but continues to live, hiding in the shadows of his unparalleled fame.

But one secret has been kept particularly carefully all these years.

One of Elvis's paternal great-grandfathers came from a poor family of Amsterdam Jews, and his name was Aaron van Presler. This fact was preferred to be kept quiet at home. Therefore, Elvis's twin brother, who was born 35 minutes earlier, was named after the great-grandfather with a distorted name - Garon. Jess Garon died shortly after birth. Elvis remembered him throughout his life and took the Old Testament name Aaron in memory of his brother, grandfather, and his Jewish heritage.

In 1948, the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed, and the state of Israel was established. Elvis was still in school at that time, but the dream of visiting his ancestors' homeland never left him. And it came true! In 1953, at the age of 18, immediately after graduating from high school, the young man traveled to Israel and lived for several months in a kibbutz near Abu Ghosh. This is how he looked during those years.

Shortly after arriving, Elvis befriended a fellow kibbutznik, Judah ("Jude") Zamari, and began taking guitar lessons from him. The talented musician taught Presley his musical techniques. Elvis was grateful to him throughout his life and dedicated his performance of the Beatles' song "Hey Jude" to his late friend (Zamari died in a car accident shortly after Presley returned to America).

Elvis arrived in Israel without money. He made a living in two ways.

Firstly, he worked as a waiter in a nearby restaurant. But not just any waiter, a singing one. In between serving dishes, he would pick up a guitar and...

That was when the King gained his first real stage experience.

By the way, few people know that since then, a tradition of "singing waiters" has taken root in Israel. In many bars and pubs, waiters sing, unaware of whom they are honoring. Secondly, Elvis played chess with Israelis for money. The thing is, Presley was a magnificent chess player. World champion grandmaster Max Euwe joked that "because of this rock and roll, the chess world lost a champion." Naturally, Elvis always won and with the money he earned, he bought two guitars. He had something to return home with.

And this is the "Place of Victories." This is what they named the stone table with a chessboard where Elvis beat everyone. He always sat with his back to the beautiful views so as not to be distracted.