one of my grandpa's was jewish, does that make me jewish too?

Question

also. do you know any good sites where i can research my family's history and ancestors? you know, like my family tree, and my great great great..etc..granparents? :D
like, a good website that you get good information for free?

i live in a family that is two religions i guess
after finding out that my grandpa was jewish im guessing the whole dad's side of the family is jewish, even though they celebrate catholic things, and my moms side is very religious when it comes to being catholic.

Answer 1

Well as one respondent said under Nazi Aryan laws you would qualifiy.

However, Orthodox and Conservatives Jews state you must have a Jewish mother to be Jewish. They state you get the nation from the mother and the tribe from the father. If you don't have a Jewish father, you belong to the tribe of the nearest male relatives on your mother's side of the family.

Reform Judaism I understand will consider a person as Jewish with a Jewish father, not necessarily a Jewish mother as long as they are being raised in the Jewish faith.

So, you are like me. You cannot be considered a Jew by Reform, Orthodox or Conservative Judaism, not unless you convert. It appears the female chain was broken.

Answer 2

In Judaism, TECHNICALLY your jewishness is determined by the maternal line. So if your mother wasn't jewish, then technically you are not Jewish (you wouldn't be eligible for citizenship to Israel). But, as far as other groups, it's just up to that group whether they would consider you Jewish or not (note that those who are not too fond of Jews would probably consider you Jewish. Those who have no feelings one way or the other or were "fond" of Jews could go either way).

Answer 3

Don't miss the Jewish research sites:
http://www.jewishgen.org/
http://www.avotaynu.com/
http://www.iajgs.org/Member-Index.htm

Answer 4

I am not familiar with Jewish rites, etc., but genealogically speaking, NO. I am part Ashkenazi (and 2 other types) Jew, but my ancestors also include Catholics and Protestant reformers...
As to sites:
Free sites: there are several to choose from. Start with:
http://www.searchforancestors.com/...

http://www.censusrecords.net/?o_xid=2739...

http://www.usgenweb.com/

http://www.census.gov/

http://www.rootsweb.com/

http://www.ukgenweb.com/

http://www.archives.gov/

http://www.familysearch.org/

http://www.accessgenealogy.com/...

http://www.cyndislist.com/

Assuming they emigrated from Europe, start with Ellis Island and the Battery Conservancy sites:
http://www.ellisisland.org
http://www.castlegarden.org
For those with native American ancestry, try:
http://www.tribalpages.com/
Don't forget county courthouse records, libraries (for books and to use their subscription-based genealogy programs such as ancestry.com.

For Jewish ancestries, try:
http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/judai...
http://www.moshiach.com/features/tribes/...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/priestly_bl...

When you really want to know where your ancestors came from, try such sites as: www.familytreedna.com, dnatribes.com, dnaancestryproject.com, and, of course, the National Geographics Genotype program, https://www3.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/faqs_about.html
The problem is not so much where to look, but where do you get the time to do the research?

Answer 5

Jewish tradition is matrilineal, but under Nazi law, you would qualify. Take your pick.

Answer 6

Technically, you can only be jewish if your mom is jewish.

Answer 7

I would say yes because it is a nationalty as well as a religon
so if he was born a jew it is your haritage