Report: Simon Cowell plans to embrace Jewish faith, visit Israel
X Factor boss, whose father was Jewish, is interested in girlfriend's religion as they expect their first child early 2014.
By JPOST.COM STAFFSimon Cowell 370(photo credit: REUTERS/Phil McCarten )
Music mogul Simon Cowell plans to embrace the Jewish faith of his girlfriend Lauren Silverman, who is pregnant with their first child, as well as make a secret trip to Israel, British tabloid The Mirror reported on Thursday, quoting sources close to Cowell.The 54-year-old X Factor creator, judge and producer has Jewish roots - his father Eric was Jewish - but Cowell was raised Roman Catholic.While Cowell has never shown particular interest in religion, the source told The Mirror he is "open to reason on the subject of religion and the faith in which his son is brought up.""But he is naturally inquisitive and really wants to visit Israel so that he can make a more informed decision," the source added.Cowell and Silverman's son is due on February 28, 2014, the source told The Mirror. Cowell remains secretive about the baby's first name, but has said the boy's middle name will be Eric, after Cowell's father.Last month, Cowell attended the Friends of the IDF Western Region Gala in Beverly Hills and donated $50,000 to the non-profit organization.Friends of the IDF, which was established in 1981 by Holocaust survivors, is dedicated to the well-being of the men and women serving in the IDF, as well as bereaved families of fallen soldiers. It operates in 17 regional offices in the United States and Panama.TV producer Haim Saban also attended the gala, that included a performance by Lionel Ritchie. Saban donated $2.3 million to the organization, and the event raised a total of NIS 70 million for the charity.
