does having jewish grand mother on fathers side make me genetic jew ?

Answer 1

If she is descended from Jewish people who are lineally descendants of Judah, then I would say yes. If she converted to Judaism & is descended from other people, then maybe not. As I see/understand it, being Jewish is both a lineage & a religion, so you can be one, the other, or both. You can be Jewish by birth, but Christian by religion. You can be born Hindu & practice Judaism, or you can be born to Jewish people & practice Judaism. You can even be raised Jewish & become an atheist, or be raised as an atheist & become Jewish.

Answer 2

The short answer to your question is: No. For the long answer, keep reading.

There is no such thing as a "genetic Jew". I say this because being Jewish is a state of the soul, which can be attained in one of two ways. Being born to a Jewish mother is one of them. The other is conversion. One who converts to Judaism in accordance with Torah law is 100% Jewish. Some of the most important figures in our people's history were either converts or the descendants of converts - no one doubts the Jewishness of Rabbi Akiva or Onkelos or King David. Obviously, converting to Judaism doesn't change one's genetic code, ergo the effects of a conversion must be entirely spiritual, not something that can be measured physically.

So like I was saying, to be a Jew by birth, you have to be born to a Jewish mother, period. That's the definition of a Jew, and has been for thousands of years, like, ever since there were Jews. One's father imparts tribal affiliation, but not Jewishness. So, your father's mother doesn't really affect either of these. But if you were Jewish, and your father's FATHER was a Levi (Levite), you would be a Levi. My father's father was a gentile, therefore I have no specific tribal lineage. But his Mom was Jewish, therefore he is technicalyl Jewish, and my Mom is Jewish, so I'm Jewish. But before your being a Levi even becomes a possibility, your Mom would have to be Jewish. So if it was your grandmother on your MOTHER'S side, that would make you a Jew.

I hope this helps clear things up for you.

Answer 3

According to the Torah, one is a Jew if his or her mother is Jewish. Of course, any righteous Gentile can convert to Judaism. Take for example, conservative radio talk-show commentator, Laura Schlessinger, whose mother, Yolanda Ceccorini, was a non-practicing Roman Catholic and whose father, Monroe, was a non-practicing Jew. Dr. Laura made a very public conversion to Orthodox Judaism and then approximately five years later took back at least the Orthodox part. (Perhaps the description should read "self-righteous" on Dr. Laura's part?)

Then again, in November 1935, the Reich Citizenship Law classified individuals with one Jewish parent or one Jewish grandparent as non-citizens in Germany. It certainly didn't matter to Hitler if they were practicing Jews, practicing Christians, or atheists!

Answer 4

No. Traditionally(Orthodox), in Judaism, the "religion" is passed on by the mother, not the father (in the same train of thought that you almost ALWAYS know exactly who your mother is, but being 100% certain of your father wasn't always possible. :-) So you can only "inherit" Judaism through your MOTHER'S mother, but not your father's mother. More liberal (Reform)Jewish thought will recognize both the mother and the father as contributors towards a child's Jewishness.

There is nothing "genetic" about religious beliefs, of course, but I think this is what you are referring to.

Answer 5

DNA testing can only determine the "genetic percentage" of certain ethnicities in a person. Judaism is a religion and people of many different ethnicities are Jewish. DNA testing will not identify you as a Jew.

Answer 6

mommabear has given you the correct answer....

HOWEVER .. had you been living In Nazi Germany ..it would have been a different kettle of fish .. You would have been judged as being Jewish. :(