ok so i have been told that i am a jew because my grandma (my mum's mum) is one and it goes through the maternal side.
but people can also convert to judaism?
are converts really jews?
are people who don't practice but who are born jews jews?
are people whose dads are jews jews?
Sunday, October 21, 2007
what makes a jew a jew?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
So many questions, so little time:
- but people can also convert to judaism?
I'm particularly interested in the answer to this one. It is surely only a matter of time before I am pressured to become a Jew too?
Enough reason to start a new blog? Possibly - I'm 26 and I just found out I married a Jew.
Anyway, it's probably worth checking out this Wikipedia article about Jews who have converted. It's possible, but I guess it depends on the Rabbi you talk to.
- are people who don't practice but who are born jews jews?
Yes, but the official term for this type of Jew is lazy ;-)
- are people whose dads are jews jews?
I thought it was matrilineal only? Why is that? Some kind of strange sexism at work?
What would happen if your blood mother was not Jewish, then your parents split, and your new step-mother was Jewish. Would you become Jewish then?
It's all pretty confusing if you ask me ...
You're Jewish if your biological mum is Jewish or if you've legitimately converted.
Your father determines your tribe, your mum determines whether you're in the nation as a whole.
If you've got a Jewish mum, but not a Jewish dad, your tribeless - but dont worry about that - it makes no practical difference right now anyway.
Also, what a Jew practices and believes makes no difference to his/her status as a Jew. A Jew is a Jew.
Feel free to join and ask questions on my facebook group: 'Questions & Answers in Judaism'
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2487975595
Eli
Hey K,
I have been asking myself a lot of those same kinda questions, and driving my nan nuts with them too. She took me to the synagogue the other day after me whining at her for weeks..it was really different to how I remember it as a kid. Ihave been reading loads about it too. One of the main things I have found out about converting to Judasim is that it is REALLY HARD. Unlike most of the rest of the main faiths, they dont welcome you with open arms, but instead make it very hard for you to convert. I was talking to the rabbi about this and he said that it is because it is such a lifestyle change, not just about going to the synagogue on a saturday, but you have to look at meat and other foods, Christmas, fasting, marriage etcetc, and that most people dont realise whats involved. It depends how seriously you take it I guess, unless you are strict Hasidic I cant imagine anyone having separate sinks for milk and meat!!
On a brighter note, there were a couple of people there who had converted, and everyone accepted them as 'normal'. Apprently in America it is way easier to convert to Judaism as it is quite fashionable at the moment.
Regarding the maternal inheritance,from what I've seen it doesnt really matter, I wasnt treated any differently coz my mum wasnt a Jew, I think as long as you have the intent that is the main thing.
Lookinto it K, it is really interesting, tho you will have to make Scotty convert too!!!
Love ya my little Jewish buddy
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
PS. If you wanna know anything ask me and I'll ask my nan, she's getting bored of my questions already!!
Well, here's my two cents.
the rabbi Hannah speaks of is right that converts are encouraged to consider the depth of th change they are attempting to make. a lot of the difficult involved in conversion is also historical. once upon a time, Jews proselytised like the Jehovah's Witnesses and the Shining Path do now. but basically they encountered a lot of.... how you say.... death, so they decided not to do it.
conversion is also dependent on which synagogue you convert with. nowadays the brands all have different flavours, so one synagogue may recognise you as a jew, and the next may not. but no one will ever turn you away at the door for it.... so long as you don't have a bomb strapped to your chest.
the only point at which all this stuff really matters is when it comes to three things: birth, death and marriage. Judaism centres around these things. So when you have a baby, and say you want to have a jewish naming ceremony, you'll need to prove the heritage of the kid. if you want to get married under a chuppah (Wedding Canopy with no english translation), you'll need to prove your heritage. And when you die, if you want a pine box and a bucket of sand from the Jewish undertakers, your heritage needs to be proven. (obviously not by you, although that would be impressive).
I think that's right, but seeing as though this is a jewish discussion, it's only right that someone shout me down. any takers?
Post a Comment