Is Zack Polanski a practising jew
Executive summary
Zack Polanski is publicly identified as Jewish by multiple profiles and interviews; he describes himself as “proudly Jewish” but “not religious,” and has said he is “proud to be Jewish” while distancing himself from Zionism [1] [2]. Sources describe a Jewish upbringing (attending a Jewish school), family origins from Eastern Europe, and that he grew up in a Jewish family [3] [1] [4].
1. How sources describe Polanski’s Jewish identity
Profiles and interviews consistently call Polanski Jewish and describe a Jewish upbringing. Wikipedia and long-form profiles note he was born into a Jewish family with Eastern European roots [3] [4]. The Observer and The Times of Israel describe him as Jewish in biographical terms and say he attended a Jewish school in Manchester [5] [1]. Jewish media report him as “Jewish” and as the first Jewish leader of a major UK party in recent memory [6] [2].
2. Does “Jewish” in reporting mean practising or religious?
Available reporting draws a distinction between ethnic/cultural and religious practice. In a quoted interview Polanski “describes himself as proudly Jewish but not religious,” which indicates a cultural or ethnic Jewish identity rather than active religious observance [1]. Profiles label him Jewish without specifying synagogue membership or ritual practice [3] [4], and one source explicitly says he is “proudly Jewish but not religious” [1].
3. Direct quotes and evidence about practice
The clearest direct statement about practice in these sources is Polanski saying he is “proudly Jewish but not religious,” and that he grew up attending a Jewish school, which signals cultural connection but not current religious observance [1]. Other pieces repeat that he is Jewish, or that he grew up in a Jewish family and community, but do not document any current religious practices such as synagogue attendance, ritual observance, or holding religious office [3] [4] [5].
4. How Jewish outlets and commentators frame him
Jewish-focused outlets present him as Jewish while also noting political stances that separate him from mainstream communal leadership. Jewish News labels him a “Jewish non-Zionist” and reports he has said he is “proud to be Jewish” but “certainly not a Zionist,” signaling internal diversity of Jewish identity and political views [2]. The Jewish Chronicle highlights him as the first Jewish leader of a major UK party recently while noting controversies over his criticism of Israel — again treating Jewishness as identity separate from political positions [6].
5. Competing perspectives and implicit agendas
Some commentary emphasizes identity milestones — e.g., “first Jewish leader” narratives in Jewish media [6] — which can reflect communal pride or political framing. Other outlets stress his secular, political persona and policy priorities (eco-populism, criticisms of Israel) and note he is “not religious” [1] [4]. The Times of Israel and UnHerd both foreground his Jewish background while linking it to political positioning, which may aim to highlight diversity within Jewish political views [4] [7].
6. What the sources do not say
None of the cited sources provide evidence that Polanski currently practices Judaism in ritual terms (e.g., synagogue membership, keeping Shabbat, dietary laws). Available reporting does not document specific religious practices or frequencies of observance; instead it characterises his Jewishness as familial, cultural, and self-described rather than observant [1] [3].
7. Bottom line for the original question
Based on available reporting, Zack Polanski is Jewish by family background and self-identification but identifies as “not religious,” which means he is not described in the sources as a practising Jew; sources explicitly say he is “proudly Jewish but not religious” and recount a Jewish upbringing [1] [3]. If you need confirmation of current religious practice (synagogue attendance, ritual observance), available sources do not mention those details [1].