Am I Jewish?

charlie sc · Mar 16, 2019

Weird question but I think it's valid. So, my mother is Jewish(not practising) and I consider myself an atheist. I went to a Jewish high-school for 2 years if that means anything

Anyway, I've been told on numerous occasions that you're still Jewish as long as your mother is Jewish. This sounds rather strange to me because it seems as if it's a cultural or ethnic type of classification. Other religions don't seem to do this.

Anyway, any thoughts?

Tumah · Mar 16, 2019

charlie sc said:
Weird question but I think it's valid. So, my mother is Jewish(not practising) and I consider myself an atheist. I went to a Jewish high-school for 2 years if that means anything Anyway, I've been told on numerous occasions that you're still Jewish as long as your mother is Jewish. This sounds rather strange to me because it seems as if it's a cultural or ethnic type of classification. Other religions don't seem to do this.

Anyway, any thoughts?

Jewish-ness is passed down along the matriarchal line according to Jewish Law, or obtained through conversion. So if your mother was Jewish, you are as well. Regardless of your religious beliefs or lack thereof, if you were a woman, your children would be considered Jewish as well. The main complication is where you or your mother converted, in which case you would only be considered Jewish by the denomination/s that consider your conversion valid. Judaism is often described as an ethno-religion, as it contains elements of both ethnic and religious classifications.

The previous is true for Orthodox and Conservative Judaism. According to Reform Judaism, Judaism is passed through either parent provided one was raised with Jewish teachings, or conversion.

charlie sc · Mar 17, 2019

Tumah said:
Jewish-ness is passed down along the matriarchal line according to Jewish Law, or obtained through conversion. So if your mother was Jewish, you are as well. Regardless of your religious beliefs or lack thereof, if you were a woman, your children would be considered Jewish as well. The main complication is where you or your mother converted, in which case you would only be considered Jewish by the denomination/s that consider your conversion valid. Judaism is often described as an ethno-religion, as it contains elements of both ethnic and religious classifications.

The previous is true for Orthodox and Conservative Judaism. According to Reform Judaism, Judaism is passed through either parent provided one was raised with Jewish teachings, or conversion.

Thanks. This line of classification always seems a bit odd to me, though, it gives me an edge because I can just say I'm Jewish when I need too, lol. I never considered myself as part of an ethnic religious affiliation. This seems somewhat humorous because my uncle and aunt are Jewish, don't really practice it and even eat pork on occasion. However, they still go to synagogue for social reasons and practice some traditions related to Judaism. Anyway...

The last post seems to be deleted. Was it inappropriate or something?

Rival · Mar 17, 2019

charlie sc said:
The last post seems to be deleted. Was it inappropriate or something?

It was against the DIR policy.

Tumah · Mar 17, 2019

charlie sc said:
Thanks. This line of classification always seems a bit odd to me, though, it gives me an edge because I can just say I'm Jewish when I need too, lol. I never considered myself as part of an ethnic religious affiliation. This seems somewhat humorous because my uncle and aunt are Jewish, don't really practice it and even eat pork on occasion. However, they still go to synagogue for social reasons and practice some traditions related to Judaism. Anyway...

The last post seems to be deleted. Was it inappropriate or something?

I think it's odd to you because most Western religions don't work that way. But there are other ethno-religions left in the world besides Judaism. In terms of impact on your life, on the part of traditional Jews it means that we believe your actions still impact our nation. On your part it means that if you ever decide to become more traditional or take part in some Jewish rituals, you won't need to convert in order to do so.

charlie sc · Mar 18, 2019

Tumah said:
I think it's odd to you because most Western religions don't work that way. But there are other ethno-religions left in the world besides Judaism. In terms of impact on your life, on the part of traditional Jews it means that we believe your actions still impact our nation. On your part it means that if you ever decide to become more traditional or take part in some Jewish rituals, you won't need to convert in order to do so.

I think that’s a very nice way of looking at things and I do remember something to that effect in judaica class. However, that’s unlikely to be the case for me. The only time I was ever bullied was in this orthodox Jewish school and I don’t mean a little or inconsistently either. I understand that’s what teenagers do but it still rubs the wrong way even today and it was very specific in nature(I.E not being Jewish enough). The only time I’ve ever felt ostracised was at Jewish institutions. There was also a Jewish camp i went to that had the same effect.

I assume something like Othering was going on and kids being kids. However, I’d like to think younger people reflect their upringers. At any rate, I doubt I’ll return or take part in a more traditional stance, but I do appreciate the Judaic open gesture.

Tumah · Mar 18, 2019

charlie sc said:
I think that’s a very nice way of looking at things and I do remember something to that effect in judaica class. However, that’s unlikely to be the case for me. The only time I was ever bullied was in this orthodox Jewish school and I don’t mean a little or inconsistently either. I understand that’s what teenagers do but it still rubs the wrong way even today and it was very specific in nature(I.E not being Jewish enough). The only time I’ve ever felt ostracised was at Jewish institutions. There was also a Jewish camp i went to that had the same effect.

I assume something like Othering was going on and kids being kids. However, I’d like to think younger people reflect their upringers. At any rate, I doubt I’ll return or take part in a more traditional stance, but I do appreciate the Judaic open gesture.

Othering is a prime symptom of close-knit communities and teenagers. And although I don't understand how you would have ended up attending an Orthodox high school without being Orthodox yourself, it's definitely understandable why you might be ostracized if all the other teenagers were Orthodox. That being said, what I wrote earlier is not about making an open gesture. It's a technical aspect of being of Jewish descent, rather than an expression of solidarity. Judaism is transmitted by the mother, and it doesn't recognize anything that may detract from that (such as conversion, or differences in belief).

Rival · Mar 18, 2019

Tumah said:
Othering is a prime symptom of close-knit communities and teenagers. And although I don't understand how you would have ended up attending an Orthodox high school without being Orthodox yourself, it's definitely understandable why you might be ostracized if all the other teenagers were Orthodox. That being said, what I wrote earlier is not about making an open gesture. It's a technical aspect of being of Jewish descent, rather than an expression of solidarity. Judaism is transmitted by the mother, and it doesn't recognize anything that may detract from that (such as conversion, or differences in belief).

Is it possible to be 'kicked out', so to speak? The closest word in my concept would be 'excommunicate'.

Jake1001 · Jul 6, 2020

charlie sc said:
Weird question but I think it's valid. So, my mother is Jewish(not practising) and I consider myself an atheist. I went to a Jewish high-school for 2 years if that means anything Anyway, I've been told on numerous occasions that you're still Jewish as long as your mother is Jewish. This sounds rather strange to me because it seems as if it's a cultural or ethnic type of classification. Other religions don't seem to do this.

Anyway, any thoughts?

The history of Judaism:
Rule#1- you can’t win the game.
Rule#2- you can’t break even.
Rule#3-you can’t leave the game.

Am I Jewish?

charlie sc

Well-Known Member

Tumah

Veteran Member

charlie sc

Well-Known Member

Rival

se Dex me saut.

Tumah

Veteran Member

charlie sc

Well-Known Member

Tumah

Veteran Member

Rival

se Dex me saut.

Jake1001

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