Only Jewish if your mom is?

Question

I'm interested to know the history and information on this (that you are considered Jewish if your mom is even if your dad isn't, where as, if your dad's Jewish and mom isn't you aren't considered Jewish). Also, is this an official opinion in the Jewish community or just for some ? If your dad is the only Jewish parent are you considered Jewish too ( aka Ben Stiller, etc.)? Thanks!

Answer 1

it basically has been the Jewish position for the last 3,000 years that Jewishness comes from the mother and your tribe comes from the father.

the reason for this is one. We are sure that the child is from the mother (the same cannot be said about the father) and two because the child's first learning comes from the mother who takes care of him and brings him/her up in the community.

about 30 years ago the Reform movement started to consider children of only Jewish fathers fully Jewish, but everyone outside reform has rejected this practice calling it a break from Jewish law and a desire to get more money by gathering more members.

because these situation have become more common many Orthodox Rabbis encourage conversion for those who are interested and only have a Jewish father. If this applies to you I suggest you contact one and talk with him

Answer 2

Orthadox and Sefadi Jews hold very strongly that it is not possible to be jewish without having a jewish mother. The origins of this law are difficult to explain as they come from the 692 commandments presented in the Torah by God. There a retheories which suggest that the nature of the womans place in the jewish society as mother and bearer of children means she must also bear the children of the jewish nation and as such the nation cannot be born from the blood of a Gentile(non-jew).

Reform and secular jews however believe that all jews are equal and that in modern day practice men should have the same rights as women and visa versa to conform with modern day standards to allow the jewish religion to continue to strive. In reform and secular judaism you can also convert into the religion which is strictly forbidden in the Orthadox custom. The reform laws have been around since the 40's

Answer 3

I believe the code is that if the mother is jewish then the child is as well because of blood. I'm pretty sure that's the official opinion

Answer 4

acording to jewish law. if your dad is jewish then your not jewish. only if your moms jewish then your jewish

Answer 5

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