Is my son Jewish if my wife converts after he is born?

Question

I am jewish by the strict definition (my mother is jewish, her mother is jewish, etc.). My wife is Catholic. We just gave birth to a boy. If my wife converts, is my son now considered Jewish also, or does he need to convert also?

Answer 1

yes he would need to convert, but the good news is that as long as he is under 13, the conversion process is relatively simple. this is from a page i found on the net it sounds right but I do not vouch for its accuracy. However, I think this answer is bette than some of the others that i have seen so far.

" The conversion of a female infant or child according to Conservative and Orthodox practices only requires tevilah (immersion in a ritual bath called a mikveh). A male child also requires immersion in the mikveh. Prior to the immersion, the male must have a brit milah (a legal circumcision ceremony performed by a mohel). If possible, this should be done on the 8th day after the birth of the boy. If a circumcision has already been performed, a drop of blood needs to be drawn in a ceremony called hatafat dam brit. A Hebrew name can then be given to the child, though some wait to give the name until after the tevilah ceremony. There is usually a wait of a couple of weeks between the circumcision and the immersion.

A Bet Din, usually consisting of three rabbis, is convened for the immersion. Parents can enter the mikveh. If the children are old enough, they recite the needed prayers; if not a rabbi does so for them. After the tevilah ceremony is completed, and a name chosen if one has not already been selected, the child is declared by the Bet Din to be Jewish. "

Answer 2

Because he was not born of a Jewish mother, by Jewish standards and tennents he is not Jewish by blood. Judaism by bloodline goes through the mother only; not the father. So if you are wanting to rasie him in a Jewish home, he would need to be converted. But I am not certain though if he would be converted now as a child, or when he gets older upon his own consent. That you would need to ask your Rabbi.

Answer 3

Unfortunately he is not jewish.
If he would like to become jewish (which seems unlikely considering you're not setting a great example by marrying a non-jew which is against judaism) then he'll have to do that when he is older.

good luck

Answer 4

Being considered Jewish is just like being considered Catholic, Christian, Buddist... whatever. You have to admit your faith and participate in it religiously (pardon the pun). If you choose to raise your son as Jewish and he accepts the faith, then he will be Jewish.

Answer 5

take him to temple and teach him in the Jewish Faith.

Then he will have jewish blood and faith. Not all sects will consider him Jewish, but once he has his 13th birthday, he can be considered a jewish man!

Answer 6

Everyone needs to make a choice as to whom they will follow Josh 24:15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

Being born into a religion does not make you that religion, your own personal beliefs and actions determine what faith you follow. You may choose to raise your child in the Jewish faith, but if his heart is never in it, then he is not Jewish.

Answer 7

He needs to convert. Talk to a local Orthodox Rabbi about conversion of minors, it's a complicated issue.

Answer 8

I thought Jewish heredity was passed from father to son. . . that would make him Jewish already.

Answer 9

I think it is rediculus to say some one is born jewish or catholic he should accept for himself

Answer 10

I thought he was jewish from the time of his bris