Bernie Sanders & Larry David are cousins! (Finding Your Roots)

Question

I was delighted to find that Prof. Henry Louis Gates' "Finding Your Roots" is back on PBS! Last night, it was mostly about Polish Jews, via Larry David & Bernie Sanders. In the DNA segment of the show, it turns out they are cousins. Particularly notable, because David does a very good Sanders impression (as seen on Saturday Night Live)

Sanders is unconnected, David doesn't have a profile yet.

If you missed it, it can be viewed online.

Comments

Yes, the show was very interesting.

---

Crap! I meant to watch it!

---

I should have included a link, Lucy. I've added it now (above.) You can watch it online.

---

Thank you, Elizabeth. I need to get back to working on Bernie's family again.

---

Great show, although it would have been nice if we had been given at least their degree of cousin relationship.

---

Can they do that with DNA, Anthony? It would depend on whether there was a single common ancestor or else two or more lines in common, no? I'm anything but an expert, and would be glad for further explanation from anyone who knows more.

---

I did not see a connection in their trees.  It was announced during the DNA discussion in the show - the tests done were autosomal, so I must assume matching segments (of unknown cM's) must have been found to say they are "cousins".

Answer 1

I really like that show! I'll have to watch it - glad to see it back :)

Answer 2

I saw that show. I thought about creating a profile for Larry but I have a very limited amount of time to try the difficult task of working with another Notable so I will leave that to another.

Answer 3

My paternal second cousin, Gary David, of Potosi, Wisconsin looks quite similar to Larry David.  I also see the resemblance somewhat in my dad.  My paternal GGG-GF, Joseph David, Sr was born in Prague, Bohemia, and his son, Joseph David, Jr was born there as well.  I was told there was a conversion from Jewish to Catholicism, but I'm not sure exactly how long ago.  I'd love to learn more about them and the ancestors before them -- where they lived before Prague.