In a bizarre interview with Olivia Nuzzi for New York magazine, Donald Trump‘s lawyer Rudy Giuliani claimed he was “more Jewish” than George Soros (a survivor of the Holocaust, mind you) because Soros doesn’t support right-wing causes often associated with “true” Judaism, like supporting the Israeli government.

“Don’t tell me I’m anti-Semitic if I oppose him,” he said. “Soros is hardly a Jew. I’m more of a Jew than Soros is. I probably know more about — he doesn’t go to church, he doesn’t go to religion — synagogue. He doesn’t belong to a synagogue, he doesn’t support Israel, he’s an enemy of Israel. He’s elected eight anarchist DA’s in the United States. He’s a horrible human being.”

Don’t worry, Rudy. You’re considered anti-Semitic for many other reasons, I promise.

Also, if attending religious services is necessary to be a member of a religion, then there are far more atheists in this country than we imagined.

NBC News followed up on that comment to ask if Giuliani was joking. Naturally, the response was worse.

Asked by NBC News if his comments about being more Jewish than Soros were made in jest, Giuliani, who’s of Italian descent and was raised Roman Catholic, responded by text, “I’m more Jewish than half my friends.”

The guy who momentarily confused churches with synagogues insists he’s “more Jewish” than other Jews.

Not that this is a shock to everyone else, but Jewishness is not defined by how someone feels about Israel. In fact, Jewish opinions on Israel are very diverse. There are plenty of valid reasons to oppose modern Israeli politics.

But even looking beyond that, if you’re born Jewish, then you’re Jewish — that’s it. There’s no other litmus test. There’s no “more Jewish” or “less Jewish.” Just “Jewish.”

How to know if you are more Jewish than a Jewish person: Are you Jewish?

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YES NO

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you are you are

as Jewish less Jewish — Abraham Gutman� (@abgutman) December 23, 2019

How seriously do Jews take that sentiment? Few dispute the fact that Ivanka Trump is a Jew by choice, since she converted when she married Jared Kushner. Her values and conduct are considered incompatible with Jewish values, yes, but that doesn’t negate the label.

If Giuliani really wanted to prevent anti-Semitism, though, there’s someone close to him who could use the advice.

(Image via Shutterstock)

