Violent Neo-Nazi Who Inspired American History X Discovers He Is Jewish Following DNA Test

Frank Meeink, once a notorious white supremacist who inspired Ed Norton's role in "American History X," was taken aback to find out he has Jewish roots after taking a DNA test.

Back in the '90s, Meeink was at the helm of a violent neo-Nazi group, fully convinced of the need to spark a racial conflict.

Now 48, Meeink has taken a new path as a devout Jew. He prays three times a day with his tefillin on, dives into Torah study, regularly attends synagogue, and follows kosher dietary laws.

The revelation about his Jewish heritage came after a buddy mentioned he "looked Jewish," as noted by the Jewish Chronicle.

Chatting with the New York Post, Meeink shared, "I just wanted to see if it was true, I wanted to see if it was real."

He described discovering his Jewish identity as a "gift from God."

Digging deeper, Meeink learned he was 2.4 percent Ashkenazi Jewish, tracing back to his mother’s maternal great, great-grandmother.

Though it's a tiny fraction, it was enough to be meaningful for Meeink.

He traced his lineage to Elizabeth Zellman Rementer, uncovering she was Jewish.

Given the principle of matrilineal descent, this lineage hinted at Meeink technically being Jewish himself.

While not all Jewish scholars agree on matrilineal descent, many do, and Meeink wholeheartedly embraced his newfound heritage and community.

Meeink shared that embracing Judaism helped him navigate through some of life’s toughest moments: the loss of his son Josh at 19, his marriage ending, and his mother's passing due to a fentanyl overdose.

He expressed his appreciation for Judaism, stating: "The thing I loved about Judaism is that it says ‘Love the Lord your God’ and that you don’t need to force your God on nobody else."

"I want to try and build this relationship with God."

Meeink's upbringing was tough, marked by substance abuse and violence in his family.

He grew up feeling like an outsider among predominantly black neighborhoods. 

When introduced to neo-Nazism, he felt it "justified all of my fears."

Meeink's descent into hate led him to kidnap and torture a member of the anti-fascist group, Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice.

He recounted the heinous act, admitting, "So we kidnapped him, used firearms - we had guns and s**t."

"We had him stay in the apartment and tortured him for hours with no remorse, no empathy, no nothing."

While serving a three-year prison sentence, Meeink's interactions with black inmates began to shift his perspective, leading him to renounce his past beliefs.

Looking ahead, Meeink is determined to speak out against hate and injustice. 

He's optimistic about a potential sequel to "American History X" that would portray his transformation in full.