What makes you Jewish? Are you born Jewish or is it religion?

Question

I know that a lot of people say you have to be either converted to Judaism or your mother has to be Jewish in order for you to be considered a Jew. But what bothers me is that there are Sephardic Jews that just found out they had crypto-Jewish ancestors and kept some hidden traditions. Why couldn't they be considered Jewish too if THEY were robbed of their culture and identity because of the inquisition. This makes me look at all the tribes of Israel. Ok since anyone who is a descendant of Judah is considered Jewish hence the name JUDAH, then it is of bloodline not belief. So how come so many people think it's religion. I heard a saying "Every Jew is an Israelite but every Israelite is not a Jew" this means the tribe of Ruben is Israelite but is not Jewish. The tribe of Simeon is Israelite but is not Jewish and so forth with the rest of the tribes. Do you get what I'm saying. I'm also tired of people saying you are Jewish if you eat matzo balls, and if you have a big crooked nose or if you have curly brown hair with blue or green eyes or brown beady eyes. The reason I bring it up is because I am married to a beautiful Mexican woman that just recently found out that her ancestors were Sephardic crypto-Jews that came to Mexico in Monterrey Nuevo Leon. She doesn't look Jewish in any way if you are comparing here to an Ashkenazi Jewish stereotype. I also have been reading the bible for some time now and God promises to return ALL of the Jews back to Israel. So if you converted to Judaism you are NOT a real Jew by blood but by belief making you just that a believer of Moses' laws and other Jewish tradition. I don't want to be mean but this is not fair to all the other Jews that were dispersed to foreign countries by persecution. What they can't have the same hope of returning to God's Holy land, promised to their ancestors and themselves because they've lost their Jewishness? How is this fair? My wife and I are Born Again Christians but she thinks it's not fair that she wouldn't even be considered a Jew because someone that believe they have to be a believer. The same goes for me I'm a plain Gentile I would still be a plain Gentile but my wife is Jewish even if I practiced the Laws and everything I would only still be a gentile. Converted or not I'm still just a Gentile. A lot of people wouldn't look at it that way but it's common sense and if Jews weren't so stubborn and listen to Jesus the Messiah they would know. The land of Israel is given to the Jewish people by Jesus Himself. A Jewish person still needs to believe the Gospel to be saved, just like a non-Jewish person. My wife is Jewish but she's Christian and I'm a Gentile but I'm a Christian and we both chose Jesus so that would make us both Children of God and descendants of Abraham because now I'm spiritually a descendant and my wife is spiritually and physically a descendant. Does anyone know what I'm talking about, if you are going to be rude and nasty please don't answer.

Answer 1

If someones mother is Jewish then they are Jewish at least on a ethnicity level. Take Dan Radcliffe (Harry Potter) his mother is Jewish but Dan is not religious. So he is a Jew by ethnicity but not religiously.



As far as religion anyone can convert to any religion they want. So lets say Steve decides to convert to Judaism he is now a jew by religion only just not by ethnicity.

Answer 2

In a way, you are correct. Under her baptism, I called my child a Christian. But this was more of a "national" matter as opposed to a racial one. In the same way that Jews were circumcised and considered redeemed by that circumcision, I believe that Christians are baptized in infancy and the parents/church may assume redemption for these children. Through your question, I believe you have a good grasp of covenant theology. There are two ways in which a nation grows. One is through birth, and the other is through bringing in the outsider. Many Christians focus on only the outsider and the need to witness to even their own children by making them outsiders, and I side more with Jewish views on baptism as a replacement for circumcision, but having the same effect. The assumption is there, and so are the expectations of adherence to the faith. I am not saying that baptism definitively saves anyone. If we look at the Old Testament example of Esau, we see where circumcision also did not definitively save him, as he was hated from before birth. However, this was not the normal operation of the Church which continued circumcisions and for that matter baptisms nonetheless. I have no idea why, or at least it was never explained to me, why Jews are considered a race. A nation I can understand, because of sharing a common culture. But I believe that Christianity can also be considered a nation of sorts, with its common culture of a relationship with God that transcends visible, physical platforms as is more palpably the case in Judaism.

Answer 3

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To some extent, you're on the right track looking for the source of confusion in the differences between Christianity and Judaism. But comparing them probably isn't the solution. Christianity sees itself as a covenant that each individual has to sign on to. The denominations which see the only alternative as eternal damnation tend to practice infant baptism, with adults making that decision, lest the child die before it can sign on him/herself. But it's still centered on individual belief. Judaism, of course, sees itself as a particular covenant for a particular group (love Aryeh's clarification on the significance of ayin mem 'with'). So our question isn't 'Is this child saved from damnation' but rather 'How shall this child live his/her life?" We found a solution that works for us. But mostly the confusion comes out of a 'definition' of "Jewishness" that's only been around for a 100 years or so. For some 1900 years before hand, Christians were fully capable of seeing Jewishness as a religious identity. And as you know, redefining 'Jewish' as genetics was simply a way of making hatred more palatable to a world that was learning how to stop beating up on each other on the basis of religions.

Answer 4

People like to say that they are "half Jewish" and things like that, but it is a religion, not a race. Most Jews are of Israeli descent because it is very difficult to convert to (you have to take a test and everything) and Jews do not actively try to get people to convert. The mother's line idea only exists because traditionally mothers taught their children about religion.

Answer 5

"even mentioning His name bothers them."



Are these the lies that Christian antisemitism must sink to, these days. Say Jesus all you want. But DON'T CLAIM TO BE JEWISH.





I know what you are talking about, and, if you are Christian, you should pray for repentance. Replacement Theology has been used as the justification for a lot of nasty things in the past. So sad to see that it is still being touted today by Jews for Jesus, Messianic *Jews* and other groups. If you understood what the Replacement Theology Martin Luther ranted about led to in terms of HaShoah, perhaps you would have the decency not to engage in it. I will not be rude, but I will be blunt: You are no more *Jewish* than my *non-Jewish* father would be if he, say, said a prayer to the Magic Jewish Garden Fairy in our garden, sprayed himself with the hose five times, turned in a circle, then declared himself *Jewish* by extention of MJGF's blessing on him and all Jewishkind.



Quite simply--Jews, and inclusion into Judaism, are defined (common sensically) by the Jews themselves. There is a Jewish tradition for group inclusion, and it defines the Jews IN RELIGIOUS TERMS. So, to be short and sweet, you may be Jewish if:



1. You were born to a Jewish mother.

2. You converted into Judaism.



You may NOT be Jewish if

-You convert to another religion. You are now a Buddhist/Muslim/Christian/





Think about how China would react if a group of Chinese-American tourists, born in the USA, took a trip to China, and declared themselves Chinese Citizens by Blood...then started dictating to China how she should be, and that she sorely needs to alter her laws to include their citizenship. They will then form an organization telling the Chinese that if they want to be *true Chinese*, they need to emigrate to the US and become US citizens. Finally, they will tell Anglo-Americans that they can also be "Chinese by Covanent" if they feel that they really identify with Jackie Chan movies (that's you).



China might be a little rude. There sorry ***-es would be on a plane home the next day. But you would be hard pressed to argue that their actions did not warrant their treatment by the Chinese.

Peace

Answer 6

this rant is offensive and goes against Jewish law and the Torah.



Converts are always treasured. Without Ruth YOU wouldn't have your savior. Your wife is a Christian and being dishonest if she claims otherwise, so are you. Especially when you ask this of our Jewish friends on SHABBAT.



One is a Jew IF their mother is Jewish (through her mother's side) or they convert.



Those that have Jewish heritage are welcome to convert, those that don't have Jewish heritage are welcome to convert.



those with Christian beliefs aren't.

Answer 7

Judaism is a religion, not a race.

Answer 8

That was a very interesting question, thank you for sharing your ideas and thoughts with me.

Answer 9

My brethren, do not eat that which comes out of your butt; it is an abomination. For a man's spirit is what he eats. Therefore, my brothers, eat a wholesome diet so as to not defile thy spirit.

Answer 10

Until about two hundred years ago, the vast majority of Jews observed the Torah and the commandments in entirety. Jewry's leaders were Torah scholars, who directed the people according to the Torah. They were loyal citizens in the host nations where they dwelled and to the local laws. They prayed for the welfare of their respective governments. To our sorrow, at that time a small number of Jews slowly left their observance of Torah and commandments. Together with this, they began to deride the spiritual leadership of their people. This assimilation was the basis upon which, one hundred years ago, the ideology of Zionism was born. Its founders were assimilated Jews who had abandoned the Torah.