NEW YORK — Ivanka Trump, whose fashion choices and lifestyle are closely watched and often emulated by tens of thousands of followers, has publicly shared her personal reading list for the first time, offering a rare glimpse into the books that shaped her thinking in 2025. [Please note – photo has been slightly modified]
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In a social media post, Ivanka Trump said the books “shifted my perspective, some softly, others profoundly,” adding that many are titles she revisits for clarity and alignment.
Among the works Trump highlighted was Toward a Meaningful Life by Rabbi Simon Jacobson, the only explicitly Jewish book on her list.
Rabbi Jacobson is an Orthodox Jewish rabbi, author and speaker who was raised in a Chabad Hasidic family in Brooklyn. He is the founder of the Meaningful Life Center, an organization that applies Jewish spiritual teachings to modern life, and he is the longtime publisher of The Algemeiner Journal. His book Toward a Meaningful Life, first published in the 1990s, has sold hundreds of thousands of copies worldwide and presents a practical guide to purpose, faith and service rooted in the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
Trump described the book as a reminder that “purpose is found not in ambition, but in faith and service.”
The list also included a mix of fiction, classics and philosophy, ranging from The Odyssey and The Women to modern reflections such as The Creative Act and The Almanack of Naval Ravikant.
Trump said she often rereads books alongside her children, noting that she revisited The Odyssey this year while reading with her daughter. She also cited enduring influences such as Meditations and poetry by Rumi as fixtures on her nightstand.
While Trump is frequently imitated for her fashion and lifestyle choices, the post marked a departure from her usual public persona by focusing on intellectual and spiritual influences. She ended the post by inviting readers to share their own book recommendations for the year ahead.
Why does VIN post this?
Next time, please find a more halachically acceptable picture. I expect more from you VIN. My filter blocks many pictures from almost every website, but allows full access to VIN, as it assumes that VIN has done the work for them. Now, we know that VIN isn’t deserving of that level of trust.
Notably absent:
Artscroll’s biography on Rebetzin Kanievsky.
The Bamboo cradle.
The art of the deal.
vinnews is not a frum website. ive been screaming that for years!
How about the Tanach ?
There are several books on tznius she can read.
I want to be very clear: I am not taking sides, nor am I here to criticize or speak negatively about anyone. I am also not here to determine whose conversion is kosher or not. That is for the rabbanim to decide—not for us.
It is also important to say that speaking lashon hara about others is not acceptable. Even when something may be framed as l’toeles, casually discussing people’s personal histories can easily become habitual, and that is something we should be very careful about. At the end of the day, every individual and every family must do their own due diligence. I am simply sharing my personal experience.
I married someone who comes from a family of geirim. Before we got married, this was never disclosed to me (and if it were I would have still gotten married), and my spouse was unaware. Only a few years into our marriage did we somehow discover this information. By that point, we already had several children together.
My spouse’s grandmother had converted, though she was not observant, nor was the rest of the family. Later, when her daughter—my mother-in-law—became engaged, my father-in-law discovered the situation, and rabbanim arranged for her to convert l’chumra. Unfortunately, both before and after the conversion, she did not observe mitzvos.
When we eventually learned the full background, the situation became far more complex. There were serious halachic questions regarding whether we were permitted to continue living together, as well as concerns about our children’s status. Complicating matters further, the rav who had overseen my mother-in-law’s conversion was no longer alive, so the rabbanim were unable to consult with him directly. In addition, my mother-in-law was unable to locate her conversion certificate.
At that point, my in-laws were divorced, so much of the investigation had to be done through the get. As we were told, when someone converts, the way the get is written can sometimes shed light on whether the conversion was considered valid. There were many layers involved, and the process required extensive clarification.
Ultimately, rabbanim from the cRc and couple of other organizations carefully researched and analyzed the situation. They were able to issue a psak, including confirmation that our children would be permitted to marry kohanim. BH, after thorough investigation and clarification, everything was determined to be halachically sound.
One of the key factors that allowed the rabbanim to rule favorably was that my spouse’s father later became frum, and my spouse himself had grown up frum from a young age. This played a significant role in the final psak. But that being said every case is different.
well she seems to use her good intellect for good purposes.
Rav shachter shilta was on the beis din. Repent for mocking her conversion. Stop it allready.
Except for not covering her hair, Ivanka’s dress was totally tsnius. The neckline was hig enough and her elbows and sleeves were covered and it wasn’t tight.
OINK
Why are so many people whining? She freaking likes the book.
That woman is one of the most manipulative on social media. Shameful on VIN to post it as news
Rabbi Moshe Feinstein states the very marriage of a gentile woman to a non observant Jew, is equivalent to an open declaration that she will not observe the precepts. This is so, because it is highly unlikely that the gentile member of such a union, will be more committed to Judaism than her remiss Jewish husband (certainly when they are living together prior to their marriage). Unlike mental or tacit negations, explains Rav Feinstein, open declarations do invalidate conversions. When such cases appear before a rabbinical court, its members actually become witnesses to an acceptance declaration that is not sincere. Therefore, it is no longer a tacit insincerity, but rather an obvious one. As such, they are forbidden to sanction the conversion. Regardless of what this Jewish court may declare, the conversion is invalid and the person is not deemed a member of the Jewish nation. In Iggros Moshe, Letters of Moshe (Yoreh De’ah, no. 157), he writes that “According to the Law, it is certain that one who converts for the sake of marriage, does not intend to keep the commandments, and is not a proselyte at all.”
Im not sure about the value of reading so many self help books in such a short while. Tofasta Merubah Lo Tefasta.
Truthfully, Hershel Schechter signed off because NO frum bais din would put their name to this and there was huge pressure on him from YU. Also the third signature they found some chassidishe unknown in Monsey. Enough already with this fake work arounds on every kol davar ossur! Shameful!