Is it true that the only reason a Jew?

Question

is a Jew is because their Mum is?

I went to a talk where a Muslim, Christian and Jewish speaker each talked about their religion. The Jew said that the only reason she and all Jews are jewish is because their mum is.

Answer 1

Yes, as an orthodox Jew I am sure that according to Judaism our religion is passed down from mother to child. This means that a person can have a Jewish father and non-Jewish mother and he will be 100% non Jewish. On the other hand if someones mother is Jewish and father is non-Jewish then they ARE 100% JEWS! Hence, you see the reason why intermarriage is forbidden for Jews. One of the reasons is that if people do that (and it is happening very quickly) one day there may be no Jews left. And Jews have a mitzva (commandment - only for the men) to have children. If they have non-Jewish children then they cant fulfill that commandment.

Secondly, once someone is born Jewish they can NEVER become a non-Jew, even if they convert to a different religion. They will be considered not religious, but always Jews. We believe never to give up hope of a Jew returning to G-d until the day he dies.

Thirdly, somebody here mentioned that she know someone who wanted to convert and in order to do that her mother had to convert. THAT IS TOTALLY FALSE! There is no such a law in the Torah. There is only one thing you have to know if you convert - do it through an orthodox Rabbi or the conversion may be worthless - causing many problems thereafter.

Answer 2

It all depends on the denomination of the Jew:

Orthodox Jews- you are Jewish if your mother is Jewish OR if you have a valid conversion (usually takes between 2 and 5 years)
Conservative Jews - You are Jewish if either parent is Jewish and express a desire to be Jew. Conversion is much quicker than in Orthodox Judaism
Reform Judaism- You are Jewish from either parent or feel connected to the Jewish religoin- conversion is a token process.

Answer 3

a person becomes a Jew at birth on the condition that their mother was Jewish.

but that is not the only way. Jews accept converts they just do not prostiyse.

Also that is what makes a person ethnically Jewish what defines their religion is the same as others.

Answer 4

Yes, if someone has a Jewish mum, then he or she is also a Jew. The other way to become a Jew is through conversion.

Answer 5

According to Jewish religion, if you mother is jews then you are jewish in their eyes. Same in Christianity, only with them if the father is christian you are then christian.

It seems the jews want to be an exclusive club and if you did not come out of a jew you can convert with a long process. It seems the christians want lots of members because men can have children with many different women, so men could father many more children than a woman can bear.

Answer 6

Judaism is probably one of the most deceptive religions on the planet.

Jews are adherents of Judaism, nothing more or less.

The word "Jew" originally referred to residents of Judea. Judea has not existed in nearly 2,000 years, so no one can rightfully claim to be born Jewish.

There are far more people who lie about Jews and being Jewish than there are (real) Jews.

Answer 7

Yes, as I understand it from friends, the father's religion and culture isn't as important to Jews as the mother's. Isn't that refreshing?!

How does it work with Muslims, are they not a true Muslim unless both parents are? Or is it only upbringing, or the parent who cares about religion most, that decides? I must look that up.

Answer 8

Well just like a lot of other people, we are all brought up with different beliefs and later on you can change or make other choices like a Catholic can change to a Baptist. It becomes a matter of choice. I know someone who was Jewish most of his life and became a Christian.

Answer 9

No!!!! Just because someones mum is a jew doesn't mean they are. I believe that a person should be able to choose what religion they want to be>>>>>

Answer 10

Well--- historically you become Jewish (at least in Europe) from the mother's side. So for example, my husband, who is Jewish had to have his mom convert to Judaism to become Jewish himself. I can't say that practice is the same all over.