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Ivanka Trump credits Emma Watson for famous proverb by Rabbinic sage

Donald Trump's eldest daughter is being ridiculed on social media

Maya Oppenheim
Monday 12 September 2016 15:15 BST
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Trump married the real estate developer, whom she now has three children, with after studying with Rabbi Elie Weinstock from the Modern Orthodox Ramaz School
Trump married the real estate developer, whom she now has three children, with after studying with Rabbi Elie Weinstock from the Modern Orthodox Ramaz School (Action Press/Rex)

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Ivanka Trump has been mocked for attributing an iconic quote by rabbinic sage Hillel the Elder to Emma Watson.

A graphic was uploaded to the eldest daughter of the republican presidential candidate’s Instagram, Facebook and Twitter account on Friday which read: “If not me, who? If not now, when? - Emma Watson”.

Although Watson, who played the role of Hermione in the Harry Potter series, quoted a reworked version of the proverb during a 2014 speech at the United Nations, the original version of the Jewish aphorism was said by Hillel, one of the most important figures in Jewish history, in Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers).

Social media users argued Ms Trump should be aware of the quotes origins given she converted to Orthodox Judaism before marrying her husband Jared Kushner in 2009.

Ms Trump married the real estate developer, whom she now has three children with, after studying with Rabbi Elie Weinstock from the Modern Orthodox Ramaz School and has previously spoken about keeping a kosher diet and observing the Jewish Sabbath.

“Uh, @ivankatrump, as an Orthodox Jew, you should know this was not coined by Emma Watson,” wrote journalist Yair Rosenburg on Twitter.

“How do you get this wrong if you're Orthodox?” asked another user.

“Ivanka #Trump Credits #EmmaWatson for Famous Rabbinical Saying, Sparks Online Derision #Election2016,” said another.

It is not clear whether the tweet was uploaded by Ms Trump or someone in her team.

A representative for Ms Trump declined to comment. Watson did not immediately respond to request for comment.

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