Can a person be Jewish by choice or is it a nationality??

Question

Extremely curious... I know that Jewish people practice the same religion but then it is differnt forms of the religion (Orthodox, etc.). So can a christian person become Jewish if they wanted to or do you have to be born into it? Please explain. Is this a nationality or religion??

Answer 1

Being Jewish is both an ethnicity and a religion.

You can be ethnically Jewish (all that is required is that you are born to a Jewish mother) and not be religiously Jewish. You can be a Christian, Buddhist, Atheist, or any religion, and still be ethnically Jewish.
Once Jewish, always Jewish.

According to Judaism, if you are born a Jew, then you are under the obligation to obey the commandments of the Torah (the Laws in the 1st 5 books of the Bible). One may choose not to do so, but according to Judaism, they are in violation by not doing so.

Besides being born into the religion, one can also choose to convert to the faith. Once they convert, they are always Jewish from then on. And if a female converts and then has a child, her child is also Jewish. If the mother is Jewish, so is the child. They are both obligated, according to Judaism, to practice the religion of Judaism. Again, they may choose not to, but that's their personal choice.

To be accepted as Jewish by all Jews, you must have an Orthodox conversion. An orthodox conversion is done by going to talk to a rabbi, who is required to turn you down 3 times before accepting you as a potential convert. Then you study, for a year or more. When you are knowledgeable enough, you are ready to officially convert. You go to a mikvah, a ritual bath. You have to answer a few questions by a "Bet Din" which is a Rabbinical Court (it's just 3 rabbis called together for the occasion). Once you show them you commit to keep the laws, and are knowledgeable enough to do so, you are accepted then as a Jew.

Also, you must live within walking distance of a synagogue, because on the Sabbath (Shabbat) you cannot drive to synagogue, if you're orthodox.

You can have a non-Orthodox conversion, but you must keep in mind that if you do, Orthodox Jews will not consider you Jewish, and you will not be able to immigrate to Israel on the Israeli Law of Return.

Answer 2

It is both. There is a racial aspect toe Jewishness and a religious aspect.

Those who are born into Jewish families may racially identify as Jewish, but not practice the religion. People not born into Jewish families may not be racially Jewish, but can convert into the religion.

It is a very long, intense educational processes to convert, and many communities are a bit reluctant to take in converts as they don't want people flip flopping in and out of the religion (which, frankly put, is a common problem in North America). It's a big commitment and should be treated as such.

Answer 3

You can convert, although it's a long process with a lot of study put into it. I'd remember, though, that Judaism is also a culture and a heritage along with a religion. No convert will ever be the same as someone born into it.

Answer 4

Hmm. You can convert to Judaism if you want to, you can be born Jewish, and if you live in Isreal, you're an Isreali. I believe that Israel has a national or state religion, Judaism. But yes, anyone can convert to Judaism, though it is a lengthy and difficult process. You have to be very sincere about it. They don't want fly-by-night people trying to convert.

Answer 5

u must make difference between being israeli and jewish. all israelis are not jews and all jews are not israelis.
being israeli is holding the nationality and being jewish is holding the burden of th religion.
I guess u can convert even if it's not that easy. they follow a long process which I don't know the details. but I know that i's very complicated.
what is interesting you in this religion??

Answer 6

not a race or a nationality. If you try to convert they tell you it is nationality/race and you need to be born Jewish. If you question that then it is a religion and you need to study for many, many years and be circumcised again. If you point both of these out and question them you are told that you are not Jewish so of course you don't understand. But if you are very rich you are a natural, one of the lost tribe newly found. Bring in your shekels.

Answer 7

In some section genuine. the rustic they call domicile, they abandoned, have been defeated, only misplaced administration, however the British and different international locations that supported the assumption gave them a foothold. they have had help in each and every thank you to Israel. you're nat all that a strategies off base. They have been the only information superhighway formerly the 1700's that they had a complication-unfastened language and did the international's business enterprise. they should have the skill to stay the place they want. the international is their oyster. you're kinda stunning.

Answer 8

I know Christians who have converted to Judaism. It is--so I've been told--a fairly rigorous process. One need not be born into the faith, but one does need to effectively convince the rabbi et al. that one wishes to convert, and then one needs to study the faith in-depth. And so forth. I don't have firsthand experience with this; surely someone who has converted can be more enlightening than I on the process.

Answer 9

According to the New Testament, there are two kinds of Jews - those who are Jews "outwardly", and those who are Jews "inwardly" (who have faith, like Abraham). Obviously, the first kind can only become that way by natural birth. The second kind are identified by faith in the Messiah.

Answer 10

Basically Judaism does not want goyim (non-jews) to be Jewish. It's discouraged in the religion, however if you want to join you are free to do so. But do not expect all other jews to accept you with open arms.

Why you want to join a religion that discriminates? Why don't you join Islam, we too believe in One God, same God. There is no discrimination in Islam, no color, no race, no VIPs in Islam - all equal, all brothers and sisters.