2007-07-04 12:00:14 · 5 answers · asked by amateurgrower 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
Being Jewish by ha;achah (Jewish law) is down to two things:
1) Your mother is Jewish
2) You have a halachicly valid conversion
Even if you convert to another religion, you are still bound by Jewish law, whether or not you want to be- but cannot be a member of a Jewish community, be buried in a jewish cemetary etc.
That said- since an atheist has not converted, they are Jewish if they fulfill either of the two conditions above.
As for being a citizen of Israel- that has nothing to do with being Jewish. There are over a million Muslim Arab citizens of Israel, as well as Christian citizens etc. Israeli citizenship is a ivil matter and has nothing to do with being Jewish! On top of that, the Jews outside of Israel are NOT citizens of Israel unless they have lived there previously.
2007-07-05 22:23:26 · answer #1 · answered by allonyoav 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
According to Judaism, one is Jewish if they a) have a Jewish mother or b) converted properly according to Jewish religious law.
It is not decided by one's religious beliefs.
Also, the State of Israel has no say over Judaism and Jewish religious law.
I'm Jewish and religious but I am not a citizen of Israel.
2007-07-04 21:37:21 · answer #2 · answered by BMCR 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can be ethnically Jewish, or your mom could have been Jewish when she had you, which would make you Jewish...
And being a citizen of Israel does not automatically make you Jewish.
2007-07-04 19:22:23 · answer #3 · answered by Elianah 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The following links explain things.
What Makes a Jew "Jewish"?
http://www.chabad.org/45132
Jewishness; Jewish Identity - Jewish Knowledge Base
http://www.chabad.org/k2500
2007-07-06 11:35:16 · answer #4 · answered by JudaismExpert 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If your mother is jewish your jewish till the end.
2007-07-04 19:09:38 · answer #5 · answered by Gary S 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋