What does it mean to be Jewish?

[Jase]

Hi all, I'm new here ( to this forum, not the boards). I hope this is the right place to ask this, but I've been thinking about it lately and I'm just curious how it works.

I recently found out my co-worker is Jewish, and we've become friends. It got me thinking about what it means to be Jewish.

Now, I know under Jewish law the "gold standard" for most Jews is that a Jew is anyone born of a Jewish mother or one who converted to Judaism. My mother was born Jewish, so that would automatically make me legally Jewish and have the Jewish bloodline, correct. My father, however, is a gentile.

My friend on the other hand has a Jewish father, and his gentile mother converted to Judaism before he was born. He was then raised in the Jewish religion (although I don't think he practices much anymore). Does the fact that his mother converted make him legally Jewish, and since his father is Jewish by birth means he has the Jewish bloodline? I'm assuming both are true.

My bigger question though is in regards to the tribes of Israel (I guess most likely Judah? ). My understanding is that tribal lineage is through the father. Does that mean, since only my mother is Jewish, that I don't belong to a tribe, where as my friend does? Kind of upsetting if I'm not a member of a Tribe. What does this mean in the grand scheme of things? Does this make me less Jewish than my friend?

And on a final note regarding Jewish bloodlines. Due to Jews being so rare, is there a higher likelihood of Jews being blood relatives? Both my friend and I are descendants of Russian Jews, which I found kinda neat and coincidental.

Thanks for the clarification! ;)

[ChavaK]

My friend on the other hand has a Jewish father, and his gentile mother converted to Judaism before he was born. He was then raised in the Jewish religion (although I don't think he practices much anymore). Does the fact that his mother converted make him legally Jewish, and since his father is Jewish by birth means he has the Jewish bloodline? I'm assuming both are true.
If his mother had a halachic conversion, then he is Jewish.
Reform will consider him Jewish if only the father was
Jewish, as long as he was raised in the Jewish faith, to the
exclusion of all other. However, from the Orthodox point
of view, there is no "Jewish bloodline" if only the father is Jewish.
You are a Jew or not....you can't be "part Jewish" or have a
"Jewish bloodline"....although you can be of Jewish ancestry.


My bigger question though is in regards to the tribes of Israel (I guess most likely Judah? ). My understanding is that tribal lineage is through the father. Does that mean, since only my mother is Jewish, that I don't belong to a tribe, where as my friend does? Kind of upsetting if I'm not a member of a Tribe. What does this mean in the grand scheme of things? Does this make me less Jewish than my friend?Other than Kohanim and Leviim, tribal status is pretty much
unknown. It does run through the father; if you father is not
Jewish you do not have a tribe. However, in this day it really
is not important. Your friend would follow whatever tribe
his father had; if the mothers conversion is halachaly sound,
then she is a full Jew and the child is a Jew with the tribal
status following the father. Tribal status has no standing
on whether someone is a Jew or not, so you are "just as
Jewish" your co-worker.


Shabbas is coming near, so you probably won't get a lot
of answers til after motzei shabbas...:)

[christianmomof3]

And on a final note regarding Jewish bloodlines. Due to Jews being so rare, is there a higher likelihood of Jews being blood relatives? Both my friend and I are descendants of Russian Jews, which I found kinda neat and coincidental.


I think there may be a higher likelihood of Jewish people being related - I am not sure though.
When I was in college, a co-worker tried to set me up with a young man who was Jewish since I was also Jewish. We both had the same last name and someone asked if we might be related. I said that my last name had been changed at Ellis Island and told them what the original name was. He said that was his family's original last name too.
He asked his mom about it and she said that they originated in a small town in Latvia or Lituania and half the town had that last name and was related. My family also traces back to Latvia or Lituania so we may have been related.
We never did go out on a date. :blush:

[Jase]

If his mother had a halachic conversion, then he is Jewish.
Reform will consider him Jewish if only the father was
Jewish, as long as he was raised in the Jewish faith, to the
exclusion of all other. However, from the Orthodox point
of view, there is no "Jewish bloodline" if only the father is Jewish.
You are a Jew or not....you can't be "part Jewish" or have a
"Jewish bloodline"....although you can be of Jewish ancestry.

Other than Kohanim and Leviim, tribal status is pretty much
unknown. It does run through the father; if you father is not
Jewish you do not have a tribe. However, in this day it really
is not important. Your friend would follow whatever tribe
his father had; if the mothers conversion is halachaly sound,
then she is a full Jew and the child is a Jew with the tribal
status following the father. Tribal status has no standing
on whether someone is a Jew or not, so you are "just as
Jewish" your co-worker.


Shabbas is coming near, so you probably won't get a lot
of answers til after motzei shabbas...:)Hi, thank you for the reply. I know the tribes don't mean a whole lot now, I just kind of feel like I'm missing something I guess because of having a jewish parent and a gentile parent. And a couple weeks ago, my friend was talking about another jew and referred to him as a "fellow tribesman", meaning we are all from a tribe. But obviously that isn't the case for me. I know it's silly but on some deep level it kind of bothers me.

Obviously this would also mean if the 144,000 Jewish witnesses are true in revelation and that occurs in my lifetime, i couldn't be one.

[ChavaK]

And a couple weeks ago, my friend was talking about another jew and referred to him as a "fellow tribesman", meaning we are all from a tribe. But obviously that isn't the case for me. I know it's silly but on some deep level it kind of bothers me.
It doesn't mean anything....being a "memeber of the tribe" only
means a person is a Jew; it doesn't really relate to what tribe he
comes from. When someone converts to Judaism, they are often
"welcomed to the tribe" which doesn't mean of course that they
are welcomed to a specific tribe since a convert does not have
one either. It's a way of saying "welcome to the family".

Obviously this would also mean if the 144,000 Jewish witnesses are true in revelation and that occurs in my lifetime, i couldn't be one.
Can't help you with that since I am not a Christian....
:wave: