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

Under Jewish tradition, you are born Jewish if you have a Jewish mother. Probably, this is because it is always clear who the mother is, whereas, before modern genetic testing, you could never be sure who the father was. If only your father is Jewish, you would have to convert.

Answer 2

well, I am also confused by this, my mom converted to Judaism when I was a toddler, so I became Jewish, with the option not to be. The thing about either parent being Jewish is just to get more recruits, and is not practiced by the orthodox or chasidic jews, who are true to the bible.
The history of it comes from the mother raising the children and teaching them Jewish values.

Answer 3

that is a complete myth,

first of all what if your mom is jewish and your dad italian,

so your jewish not italian

its a matter of choice for the parents and for the child as an adult at 18 to decide. judaism is a religion not a class or race of people. there are german jews, german people who chose to follow the jewish faith, but jewish people are mostly considered white.

Answer 4

There are three main types of Jews. Conservative, Reformed and Orthodox Jews are the types. This is only the Orthodox opnion. This is also refering to being Jewish by race.

Answer 5

Think about it....in ANY birth- we know who the Mom is....Dad could be anybody.

Remember that being Jewish is not just a religion- it is a NATIONALITY. They are God's chosen people.

Answer 6

If the mom is Jewish the child is Jewish. If the mom is not Jewish the child is not Jewish.

Answer 7

my freind is jewish she told me it does not matter about what isreal says its the matter about their torah it says if the mother is jewish then the kids are no matter what and not if only dad is
she says the real jews believe in the torah and isreal is not
she says she cant answer to much today because they are
having a sad day called tisho bov any more info ask me ill ask my freind the best thing if you realy want to know ask a orthodux rabbi and you will get an answer if you want to know a name ill ask my freind

Answer 8

actually if your father is not Jewish but your mother is you are considered a bastard and can not be married or be buried in Israel. If your father is unknown and your mother is Jewish then you are a legitimate Jew(not a bastard) and can enjoy all the rites in Judaism.

Answer 9

Judiasm is a religion, not a ethnicity. She can be of Hebrew decent. But a religion is determined by the individual themselves.

Answer 10

Biblically it was passed on through the father, but there was so much raping going on that they weren't sure who the fathers were, so the Rabbis changed it to be through the mother. But Biblically, I think its still through the father.