The singer has opened up about his journey with the faith (Picture: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)
Robbie Williams has revealed he doesn’t plan on officially converting to Judaism as he’s not keen on the lengthy process or the thought of being circumcised.
The 49-year-old Angels singer was raised Catholic but his Turkish-American wife Ayda Field, 43, and their four children are Jewish.
He has now revealed that he toyed with the idea of changing his religion, as he appreciates the ‘sense of belonging’ and of having ‘a tribe’.
However, now the star and new Felix cat food collaborator has looked into what it would entail, the chart-topper quipped that he has now just decided to ‘self-identify’ as a Jew.
Robbie, who was educated at St Margaret Ward Roman Catholic School, explained: ‘I am a Catholic who has distanced herself from religion, and [Ayda] is a Jew who has distanced herself from religion.
‘But it is important that we have a tribe. It’s important to have a sense of belonging.’
Robbie’s wife Ayda is Jewsh, as are their four children (Picture: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
He added to Israeli news site Walla: ‘You know, I feel more Jewish than I feel Catholic. I even looked into the possibility of converting but it just takes too much time, so I decided to just identify as a Jew.’
As the interviewer then told him then men are also traditionally required to undergo circumcision if they convert to Judaism, Robbie cried in mock pain: ‘No, no, no, I’ll just identify myself as a Jew!’
He also clarified that his ‘self-identification’ was a joke by referring to non-binary singer Sam Smith: ‘I can just imagine already the headlines: ‘Robbie Williams identifies as a Jew’.
‘And suddenly I’m Sam Smith. Which is fine for Sam Smith. I identify as a Jew, but I also identify as Cristiano Ronaldo!’
The dad-of-four clarified that he was joking about his ‘self-identification’ quip (Picture: Lars Reimann/SIPA/Shutterstock)
Robbie, who has children Theodora (Teddy), 10, Charlton (Charlie), eight, Colette (Coco), four, and three-year-old Beau with Ayda, previously revealed that he had used religion to get through hardship.
The star started praying after ‘convincing’ himself he had Covid during the global lockdowns in 202.
‘I could feel my body was getting lethargic and tired and heavy and I convinced myself I’d got coronavirus,’ he told The Sun on Sunday.
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‘I never normally do it but I got down on my knees and prayed. Within 30 seconds I had lifted my vibration and was in love.
‘You know what? The symptoms went away and the fear went away. I’ve now safeguarded myself against lower energies, against feelings of worthlessness.’
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‘But it is important that we have a tribe. It’s important to have a sense of belonging.’
