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I have no true connection to Judaism. I was raised Catholic so was my father. Ever since I was in middle school my dad always told me I was Jewish. My father claimed his maternal grandmother was a Jewish convert to Catholicism.
I know going by this my father(who is dead now) is a Jew. But, I am not Jewish at all according to Orthodox Judaism. I used to get bullied for saying I was Jewish but as it turns out I'm not really Jewish at all. From now on I'm just going to say I'm Polish, Irish, Danish, and Hungarian.
My father had very black hair and was dark olive skinned. My mom always thought he looked Mongolian. Me and my sister both have brown hair she has brown eyes and I have strong hazel green eyes. My mom has blond hair and blue eyes. My father was 100% Polish excluding his Jewish grandmother but it's not common for Poles to have such dark skin.
Jews are a people it's not how you look but what you are on the inside. I know I don't have a Jewish soul. But, according to Orthodox Judaism my father does. If he continues to say he is Jewish in heaven that is up to him. As for me, I will cease doing so, I don't think it's right if I continue to do so.
Just a quick note, you wrote, "I'm just going to say I'm Polish, Irish, Danish, and Hungarian."
You can say any and all of those and still be Jewish because they are nationalities and not religious markers, and each of those nationalities has Jews. If you are not Jewish then a question about your religion should be answered addressing your religious status.
Just a quick note, you wrote, "I'm just going to say I'm Polish, Irish, Danish, and Hungarian."
You can say any and all of those and still be Jewish because they are nationalities and not religious markers, and each of those nationalities has Jews. If you are not Jewish then a question about your religion should be answered addressing your religious status.
I'm catholic, only Karaite Jews accept Paternal descent. Rabbinical Jews run the nation of Israel. There are only 50,000-80,000 Karaites Left, that's less than 1% of all Jews. I'm proud of my nationalities. I know I can't say I'm a child of Israel. Maybe my dad is, but I'm not in the eyes of Judaism. I have no right to say so. And I respect that, I'm not one of the tribe.
My father was Jewish but claimed to be an Atheist-Jew who joined the Society of Friends (the Quakers)-try figuring that one out.
My mother was Episcopalian. When they got married, we were SUPPOSED to be raised Jewish. However, the local synagogue informed my parents that they did not recognized any of us (I have 5 sibs). So we were "taught" at home. My dad wasn't very religious so we celebrated Hanukkah & Passover-and of course Christmas & Easter. My parents split when I was 8 and I went with my mother along with 3 of my sisters. My mother joined a local church and it was the first time I attended a service. At the age of 11, I was baptized-much to my father's anger.
All my life I have claimed to be 1/2 Jew-even though I know I'm not excepted. I am NOT a practicing Jew (nor am I a practicing Episcopalian either). I am a practicing Pagan. But, I still light the candles at Hanukkah as well as put up a Christmas tree-mainly as a recognition of my roots. I don't really celebrate Passover or Easter but I do recognize them-again as part of my heritage.
A few months back, Hubby & I decided to do our DNA. So, I was wrong-I am not HALF Jewish, I am only 49.3%. I think there is a difference between the Jewish religion and the Jewish heritage. Despite what the synagogue says, I DO have Jewish blood running through my veins.
Sorry, OP, you are mixing two different terms.
You are not a Jew. You are not born to a Jew female. Period, end of sentence, there is very good reason it was done that way.
You can be Jewish, as belong to Judaism. Nothing keeps you from going that route. You can be born to Jew mother, be a Buddhist, but you will still be a Jew. Being Jew is matter of blood, not matter of faith your parents were or what country you were born in. So saying "my mother was Episcopal" means nothing. It's the blood that counts, not the blah blah blah. You cna be born to a 100 generations pure breed Scots or African royal line, and you can convert to Judaism. And be accepted to the temple. But you will never become a Jew.
My father was Jewish but claimed to be an Atheist-Jew who joined the Society of Friends (the Quakers)-try figuring that one out.
My mother was Episcopalian. When they got married, we were SUPPOSED to be raised Jewish. However, the local synagogue informed my parents that they did not recognized any of us (I have 5 sibs). So we were "taught" at home. My dad wasn't very religious so we celebrated Hanukkah & Passover-and of course Christmas & Easter. My parents split when I was 8 and I went with my mother along with 3 of my sisters. My mother joined a local church and it was the first time I attended a service. At the age of 11, I was baptized-much to my father's anger.
All my life I have claimed to be 1/2 Jew-even though I know I'm not excepted. I am NOT a practicing Jew (nor am I a practicing Episcopalian either). I am a practicing Pagan. But, I still light the candles at Hanukkah as well as put up a Christmas tree-mainly as a recognition of my roots. I don't really celebrate Passover or Easter but I do recognize them-again as part of my heritage.
A few months back, Hubby & I decided to do our DNA. So, I was wrong-I am not HALF Jewish, I am only 49.3%. I think there is a difference between the Jewish religion and the Jewish heritage. Despite what the synagogue says, I DO have Jewish blood running through my veins.
Cat
I think a very significant number of Lebanese, Syrians, and Palestinians have Jewish blood. But, I don't know how to view that one. People have been converting to Judaism for 3,500 years. Some Jews look more Chinese than a typical Mediterranean/Middle Eastern person.
Jews are a nation of black, white, yellow, brown, and red people. Every color under the sun really. But, my old man looked somewhat East Asian and he was 100% Polish. Besides being what I can only assume was Ashkenazi blood.
While one can have all sorts of DNA "results" they don't say anything to the point of "being Jewish." A convert who becomes Jewish via a proper conversion might have no "Jewish blood" but be 100% Jewish.
Sorry, OP, you are mixing two different terms.
You are not a Jew. You are not born to a Jew female. Period, end of sentence, there is very good reason it was done that way.
You can be Jewish, as belong to Judaism. Nothing keeps you from going that route. You can be born to Jew mother, be a Buddhist, but you will still be a Jew. Being Jew is matter of blood, not matter of faith your parents were or what country you were born in. So saying "my mother was Episcopal" means nothing. It's the blood that counts, not the blah blah blah. You cna be born to a 100 generations pure breed Scots or African royal line, and you can convert to Judaism. And be accepted to the temple. But you will never become a Jew.
if someone has a conversion that is valid according to halachah (Jewish law) then yes they are a Jew. 100%
If you wish to become Jewish, OP, you can convert to Judaism, as mentioned.
Also, I believe the Reform tradition here in America acknowledges patrilineal Judaism, but if you were ever to make aliyah to Israel, you would have to convert properly (this was the case for many Russian Jews who followed patrilineal bloodline and had to convert again in Israel).
So if you want to be considered Jewish, your best option is to study and convert to Judaism.
When did Ruth go through the conversion process?...
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