Meet Alice Plebuch, A Woman Who Discovered That Her Father Was Switched At Birth | Megyn Kelly TODAY

TODAY
12 Mar 201811:45
EducationalLearning
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TLDRIn a twist of fate, Alice, raised in an Irish-Catholic family, discovers through DNA tests that she and her siblings are half-Jewish. This revelation prompts a quest to uncover her father's true heritage, which leads to the astonishing conclusion that he was switched at birth with another baby in the same hospital. The search involves multiple dead ends and a genetic match named Jessica Benson, culminating in a connection with Pam Benson, who helps Alice piece together the family mystery.

Takeaways
  • 😱 Alice and her siblings discovered they were approximately half-Jewish through DNA tests, contradicting their Irish-Catholic upbringing.
  • 🏠 Alice's father had an Irish-Catholic wake, emphasizing the family's perceived heritage.
  • 🔍 Alice embarked on a quest to uncover her father's true roots, armed with only his birth certificate and a photograph.
  • 🤔 The family considered various theories, including the possibility of Irish Jews hiding their heritage or an affair within the family.
  • 🧬 A genetic test revealed that the Jewish heritage was not passed through Alice's mother but was linked to her father's side.
  • 👥 Alice's brother's DNA test showed no Jewish genes on his X chromosome, confirming the Jewish lineage came from their father.
  • 🌐 Alice used 23andMe to find a genetic match, Jessica Benson, who was initially anonymous but later revealed to be related to Alice's father.
  • 🤝 Through communication with Jessica Benson, Alice discovered that Jessica's family also believed they were Jewish but were actually Irish-Catholic.
  • 📅 A significant clue was the shared birth date of September 23rd, 1913, which led to the realization of a mix-up at birth.
  • 👶 The script suggests that two babies, born on the same day in the same hospital, were switched at birth and raised in the wrong families.
Q & A
  • What was Alice's initial reaction to her DNA test results?

    -Alice was surprised and thought the results were wrong because they contradicted her known Irish-Catholic background.

  • How did Alice's siblings react to their DNA test results?

    -Alice's siblings also tested and found out they were approximately half-Jewish, which was unexpected for them as well.

  • What was the significance of Alice's father's birth certificate and a single photograph?

    -These were the only items Alice had to trace her father's past before he was placed in an orphanage, and they were crucial to her search for the truth.

  • Why was Alice's father's short stature initially attributed to his upbringing?

    -It was believed that he was short because he was raised in an orphanage from a young age and suffered from malnutrition.

  • What motivated Alice to continue her search for her father's roots despite the initial DNA test shock?

    -Alice was devoted to her father, who was devoted to his family, and she wanted to honor his legacy by discovering the truth about his family.

  • How long did it take Alice to find a clue that led her to the truth about her father's past?

    -It took Alice nearly three years of searching and dealing with multiple dead ends before she found a clue.

  • Who is Pam Benson and how is she connected to Alice's family mystery?

    -Pam Benson is a woman who Alice found through a clue, and she ultimately led Alice to the truth about her father's past.

  • What was Alice's initial theory about her Jewish heritage after receiving the DNA test results?

    -Alice theorized that her father's parents might have been Irish Jews who hid their Jewish heritage or assumed Irish identities to enter the United States.

  • How did Alice confirm that her Jewish heritage came from her father and not her mother?

    -Alice's brother tested and had no Jewish genes on his 'X' chromosome, which indicated that the Jewish heritage must come from their father.

  • What was the significance of the name Jessica Benson in Alice's search?

    -Jessica Benson, initially anonymous, was a genetic match on 23 and Me and turned out to be related to Alice's father's assumed first cousin, which was a key piece in solving the family mystery.

  • What was the astonishing revelation about the two men born on the same date in the same hospital?

    -The two men were switched at birth and raised in the wrong families, which explains the discrepancy in Alice's DNA results and her family's heritage.

Outlines
00:00
😱 DNA Test Reveals Unexpected Heritage

Alice, raised in an Irish-Catholic family, was shocked to discover through DNA tests that she and her siblings were approximately half-Jewish. Despite her father's Irish-Catholic wake and upbringing, the DNA evidence was undeniable. With only a birth certificate and a photograph as clues, Alice embarked on a quest to uncover her father's true heritage. The family had various theories, including the possibility of Irish Jews hiding their heritage or an affair that led to Alice's half-Jewish lineage. The search for the truth involved multiple dead ends and nearly three years of investigation.

05:00
🤔 Unraveling the Mystery: A Switched at Birth Scenario

Alice's search led her to a genetic match named Jessica Benson, initially anonymous, who was related to her father's assumed first cousin. Jessica, who believed she was Jewish, was surprised to learn that her family might have Irish-Catholic roots. Through a series of questions, Alice discovered that Jessica's grandfather was born on the same day and in the same hospital as Alice's father, suggesting a possible mix-up at birth. The revelation pointed to a dramatic scenario where two babies were switched at birth and raised in the wrong families, leading to a complex unraveling of identities and heritage.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡DNA Test
A DNA test is a biological assay to help identify a person's genetic makeup. In the context of the video, it is used to determine ancestry and heritage. Alice and her siblings took DNA tests expecting to confirm their Irish-Catholic background, but instead, they discovered they were approximately half-Jewish, which became a central theme of the video as they sought to understand their true heritage.
💡Irish-Catholic
Irish-Catholic refers to individuals of Irish descent who practice Catholicism. In the video, Alice grew up in an Irish-Catholic family, which shaped her identity. The revelation from the DNA test that she was half-Jewish challenged her understanding of her family's religious and cultural background.
💡Orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution for children who have lost their parents or have been abandoned. In the script, Alice's father was placed in an orphanage at a young age, which affected his physical development and possibly his knowledge of his true heritage, as he was told he was short due to malnourishment from being raised there.
💡Ancestry
Ancestry refers to the descent from a particular lineage or family. The video revolves around Alice's quest to uncover her true ancestry after the DNA test results contradicted her known family history. The concept of ancestry is central to the narrative as it drives the search for the truth about her father's past.
💡Jewish Heritage
Jewish heritage denotes the cultural, religious, and historical traditions and lineage of the Jewish people. In the video, Alice's DNA test results indicated a Jewish heritage that was previously unknown to her and her family, prompting a journey to understand this unexpected part of their identity.
💡Wake
A wake is a social gathering that takes place after a death, traditionally associated with Irish and other cultures. Alice's father had an Irish-Catholic wake, which is a testament to the family's strong Irish identity and the shock of discovering a hidden Jewish heritage.
💡Roots
Roots symbolize the origins or the fundamental basis of something, such as a person's family history. Alice wanted to give her father roots by discovering his true family history, which was a driving force behind her pursuit of the truth about his heritage.
💡Genetic Match
A genetic match occurs when DNA testing identifies similarities in the genetic makeup between individuals, suggesting a familial relationship. In the script, a genetic match on 23 and Me led Alice to Jessica Benson, who was initially anonymous but later revealed to be related to Alice's father's assumed first cousin, helping to unravel the family mystery.
💡Half-Jewish
Being half-Jewish means having one Jewish parent, which contributes to half of one's genetic makeup. Alice and her siblings discovered they were approximately half-Jewish through DNA tests, which was a significant revelation that contradicted their known Irish-Catholic background.
💡Birth Certificate
A birth certificate is an official document that records the birth of a person, typically including the person's name, date of birth, and parents' identities. Alice had only her father's birth certificate and a single photograph to go on in her quest to understand his past, highlighting the limited information available to her.
💡Switched at Birth
Switched at birth refers to a situation where two infants are accidentally or intentionally exchanged shortly after birth, leading them to be raised by the wrong families. The video concludes with the revelation that Alice's father and another man were switched at birth, which explains the discrepancy in their genetic heritage and the mystery surrounding Alice's ancestry.
Highlights

Alice discovers her DNA test results are incorrect, showing she is half-Jewish despite being raised Irish-Catholic.

Alice's father had an Irish-Catholic wake, emphasizing the family's Irish heritage.

All six siblings tested and found to be approximately half-Jewish, raising questions about their father's past.

Alice's father was short for his family, possibly due to malnourishment from being raised in an orphanage.

Alice's father passed away, but the family is determined to uncover his true heritage.

Alice and her family spend nearly three years searching for answers, hitting multiple dead ends.

A clue leads Alice to Pam Benson, who holds the key to the family's true identity.

Alice initially writes a complaint letter to Ancestry.com, doubting the accuracy of her DNA results.

A second DNA test with 23andMe confirms the Jewish ancestry, making Alice believe the results.

The family theorizes that Alice's father's parents may have been Irish Jews hiding their heritage.

Another theory suggests an affair or someone not being who the family thought they were.

Alice's brother tests and shows no Jewish genes on his X chromosome, confirming the Jewish ancestry comes from their father.

A 23andMe genetic match introduces Alice to Jessica Benson, who is initially anonymous.

Jessica Benson reveals she thought she was Jewish, but it turns out her family is also Irish-Catholic.

Alice discovers two men were born on the same day in the same hospital and were switched at birth.

The family mystery is solved, revealing the true identities of Alice's father and his switched twin.

Transcripts
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