US Speaker Nancy Pelosi Surprises: 'My Father Was a Shabbat Goy'

During a speech she gave this week at the AIPAC conference in Washington, Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, revealed her connection to the Jewish people and the Yiddish language. "Before I was born, my father was in the U.S. Congress, and when he was young, he was a 'Shabbat goy.' So he spoke Yiddish," she surprised.

In her speech, Pelosi spoke about the strong reciprocal relations between Israel and the U.S., which she believes are based on "our shared values and interests, including lasting peace in the region and the world. We are all connected to Hashem here, and united in our common mission to promote peace, prosperity, and progress in the Middle East and America."

Pelosi, 66 years old, was elected Speaker when the Democratic regime took over the House, and instantly became the first woman to hold a position that is only a heartbeat away from the presidency. Her connection to Judaism and closeness to Jews were expressed by former AIPAC President Amy Friedkin, who has been Pelosi's friend for the past 25 years, saying, "She loves saying that when she lived in Baltimore, she attended every bar and bat mitzvah, almost every Shabbat."

Also joining these remarks is Sam Lauter - a Jewish and pro-Israel activist from San Francisco, who has known Pelosi for 40 years. "She is one of the simplest people you can meet, and she is very loyal. She used to participate every year in the first night of Passover, the Seder night, at my parents' house. She feels the issues burning in Judaism in her soul, and it really comes from within."