Who?
After finding fame on X Factor in 2009, Stacey, 33, and then winning I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here in 2010, Stacey is now a multitasking celebrity woman. She’s a talking head on ITV’s Loose Women, a home ‘influencer’ with 5 million Instagram followers, a book and TV show about her many housekeeping hacks, a television presenter and - phew - a mother of five.
Family
Stacey’s Jewish father, photographer David Solomon has both Ashkenazi and Mizrahi roots and is well known for his work in the Strictly Orthodox community. Her mother Fiona was the daughter of a Church of England vicar but converted to Judaism before she married David.
Her great uncle by marriage, Holocaust survivor Emil Stryker, is the organiser of the first British deaf tennis tournament.
Upbringing
Stacey Solomon in her King Solomon school days (Stacey Solomon)
The Essex star attended King Solomon High School. But while her mother may have converted, Stacey was still brought up with a mix of both Judaism and Christianity - something which she has continued with her own children.
‘My mum’s family are Christian (my granddad was a vicar) and my dad’s family are Jewish, so we were raised learning about both,’ she explained.
What Jewish things does she say and do?
Stacey particularly talks about how Judaism informs her values saying: ‘Growing up, the influence Judaism had on me was an overwhelming understanding to love those around you, care for others as if they are part of your family, and strive to be the best individual that you can.’
Stacey Solomon's Instagram story about the meaning of Chanukah (Stacey Solomon)
She frequently shows the Jewish side of her world on social media; in one Instagram story she illustrated to her followers how to make a Star of David with cinnamon sticks. In another, she showed her children lighting a menorah writing: ‘For anyone wondering…We light the candles to remind us of a time when Jewish people weren’t allowed to practice their faith. Then following a rebellion they reclaimed the temple and lit the menorah knowing there was only enough oil to last One day. Miraculous it lasted Eight days. So now the Chanukah candles are symbols of hope. Signs that things will get better and someone is watching over you.’
She later added: ‘We celebrate Chanukah along with all of the other festivals but the boys love Chanukah the most because there’s presents.’
A few years ago, she admitted she was torn about the issue of circumcision, however, admitting that while her oldest son, Zachary was born in 2008 had a bris but she hasn’t followed tradition with her two other sons.
‘I really do have a moral debate myself all of the time whether I should or shouldn’t have,’ she’s said about circumcising the other two. ‘It’s a really weird one.’
And while none of the fathers of her five children are Jewish, when she married former EastEnders star Joe Swash last July, they had a special Jewish blessing to go with the secular nuptials.
Verdict?
Proud of her Jewish values in a secular world.
