My grandfather was Jewish, am I jewish even though I was brought up in a christian home?

Question

Being a Jew is about who your parents were more than if you went to synagogue I think, but I'm not sure. In other words, Ihave Jewish blood, so then I am a Jew, right?

Answer 1

As far as conservative and orthodox rabbis and synogogues, you are not considered Jewish, as your mother must be either Jewish or mush have converted to Judaism before you were born. However a few left wing reform synogogues may recognize you as Jewish, if you were raised Jewish. However, if you went to Israel and tried to become a citizen because of "Law of Return" (gives all Jews immediate citizenship), you would not be considered Jewish because they follow the Orthodox law. And you are correct, going or not going to synogogue does not "make/break" your Judaism.

Answer 2

being a jew is being/practicing a religion. it's not a dna thing. do you know that for every three babies placed up for adoption, the first one is designated a roman catholic, second one is jewish & the third is baptist. if religion is that arbitrary to new born adoptees, why should it be anything else to those who are less than practicing (their inner faith). a religion is what you believe to be the faith that guides & sometimes rules your life. by the way, you never mentioned what your parents' beliefs are. if you were raised as a christian, perhaps they had their reasons. talk to them & find out why this was done. i don't know how old you are, but keep in mind religion is not a flip-flop thing. pick a belief & stay with it!

Answer 3

Yep, jermaine is right. If you were born Jewish (your mother was Jewish), you will be considered Jewish from that day on. They have been less strict with converts though. And it can go the other way around - if you convert to another religion, you will still be considered Jewish, albeit not a good-standing one.

Answer 4

I really have to say that I disagree with Judism being anything more than a belief. I don't believe it's a race or ethnicity, therefore, I don't believe it's heriditary.

You're Jewish if you believe in what the Jewish faith teaches. Just because one is brought up Christian, or Muslim, or Hindu, or Buddhist, does not make them anything. Every person has to decide it for themselves.

Answer 5

Being Jewish can be confusing because it can refer to either your genetic/biological background and/or your religious choice. You can be a Jewish person by race because of who your parents are yet choose any faith you like and you can be Jewish by faith yet belong to a different ethnic/racial group all together. So if your grandfather and at least one of your parents is Jewish (by race) then yes you are at least partially Jewish (by race). But as far as whether or not you are a part of the Jewish faith - that is something only you can answer. :)

Answer 6

Jewish is a religion.
If one were to ask you what is your nationality, would you reply, "Christian"?

People of the Jewish religion came from and still remain in all countries. There are people of Jewish religion in Italy.
They are Italians by blood.

Answer 7

You have Jewish ancestry, you would probably be considered a "Christian Jew" by the world.

Answer 8

Well its kind of like calling every black person an African american even though many are not,
You might have semetic ansestry in your blood as being Jewish is a culture, not a ethnicity, you were raise as a christian you are a christian.

Answer 9

Jewish is a faith. Christianity is a faith. I nevertheless won't be able to figure out what Messianic Jews are in words of religion. because that Jesus would not fit the pastime description of messiah, I an continuously puzzled by using Messianic Jews (who in the journey that they believe that Jesus is the Messiah, by using definition, at the instant are not Jews). i imagine I understand the mandatory theology of maximum of Christianity. i imagine I understand the mandatory theology of Judaism. yet, i don't believe of that from a logical perspective, you may merely slap both together and declare to be Jewish. It makes extra experience to assert your a Hinjew (because Hinduism is all inclusive and that i love Ram Dass). yet, I digress. because that Christianity is unique in its concept of Jesus, i merely won't be able to wrap my mind round some thing said as Messianic Judaism. it really is variety of like an "excuse" to not be Jewish and be Jewish together even as it really is not Jewish in any respect. on to community criteria: I even do not comprehend why solutions were bumped off because i am going to't see what they were. perchance, someone inadvertently (or not) revealed anti-Semitic feedback or some thing. i imagine that likely the merely excellent element you should do is, in case you've faith in Christianity, to face up for what you've faith and make contact with your self a Christian. To by some ability attempt to envelope it in Judaism appears more beneficial than somewhat deceptive. it really is merely my opinion, although the time period Messianic Jew merely makes me shake my head in utter disbelief.

Answer 10

Jewishness comes from mothers. So if you mother was a Jew, you are a Jew. However, tride comes from fathers.

If your father is a Jew, but your mother isn't, you'd have to convert.