If your dad is Jewish and your mom isn't and you have never had an offical bar mitzvah, are you Jewish?

Question

Can you claim that you are jewish in this situation?

Answer 1

Well it depends what you think it means to be a jew. Some people see it as a religious practice where as some others see it as a cultural identity or an ethnic group.

One of my best friends had a jewish father from a conservative jewish extended family who felt that the children were not quite properly jewish. However she looked very like the members of her dad's family so she was accepted as "pretty much jewish"

I think it just depends on the individual and the community they are in - not just whether you have a jewish mother.

Answer 2

That depends.

The official rule is that you are Jewish if your mother is Jewish. Having or not having a bar mitzvah is irrelevant. If your mother is not Jewish and your father is Jewish you would have to convert if you wanted to officially be Jewish.

In society, you would be considered Jewish by some. The most important thing is what do you consider yourself?

Answer 3

You are only Jewish if your mother is Jewish.
A Bar-Mitzvah does not make a person Jewish.
So, no, you cannot claim to be Jewish.

Answer 4

to the original question,

In the strictest stense, no. and technically you aught go through the conversion process and bet din and such, but some conservative, and almost certainly reform, will consider having been raised jewish, if at least one parent is authentically jewish, to be good enough, kinda a "common law" conversion you could say.

the bar mitzvah ceremony is merely a celebration of coming of age... though for people who were raised jewish, but mother is not, sometimes its considered a defacto bet-din.

if you are concerned about being able to call right of return, then I would suggest talking to an Orthodox rabbi in person, telling them how you were raised, your parental status, ect. they will probably have some questions, and then you can see what you have to do to be considered officially, provably jewish.

Answer 5

You would not be Jewish.

Two ways to become Jewish
1) born to a Jewish mother
2) kosher conversion

Answer 6

that is complicated
If your mother is Christian, and your father is Jewish, the Jews consider you a Christian, since among Jews it is the mother who determines the child religion, but the Christians consider you a Jew, since among Christians it is the father who determines the child religion.
having or not having a bar mitzvah does not matter one way or another.
the best way is to decide which faith you wish to belong to, if it is important, and go through the formal process of joining this faith.

Answer 7

Not by birth. But you could become Jewish if you wanted to.

Answer 8

My friend, Don, is half Jewish and half Native American. Is he Jewish, or is he native? He calls himself a Schmohawk.

Answer 9

No, what I've heard is that the religion is passed on the mother's side. So, if your mom isn't Jewish, you aren't. If she is, then you are.

Answer 10

no your not Jewish, it has nothing to do with having a bar mitzva though. It has to do with having a Jewish mother.