Jewish people, I have a question for you...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, I thought I was of Polish/Czech Catholic ancestry, but my at-home DNA test indicates 99% Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry.

By Jewish law, does this mean I am "officially" Jewish? I was raised Catholic and know nothing about the religion. (But am going to research, as I'm interested in knowing my family's story).

If your mother is Jewish (meaning her mother was Jewish), then by Jewish law you can consider yourself an official member of the tribe, whether you choose to do anything religious or not. Practicing the religion has nothing to do with it. However, by DNA, you are Jewish regardless.

That's only because in olden days, the only thing you could be sure of was the child's mother - i.e., the person who actually gave birth to the baby. These days, with DNA testing, you can tell who both the mother and father are.

No, that’s the history, perhaps, but now it’s only because of whatever decisions the current relevant authorities have decided. Wedding officiants, immigration authorities, etc. and not all of them follow the matrilineal rule.

DNA testing is the modern, scientific means of determining parentage for everyone.

[Anonymous]

You are Jewish if your mother is Jewish. Jews are not white. Jews are Jews.

[Anonymous]

There are clearly a lot of Jews responding here that are not reform. My husband is over 99% Ashkenazi, I converted years ago and our kids are in the middle of their bar and bat mitzvah prep. They are Jewish, regardless of my DNA, both half of their DNA and as practicing Jews. Very antiquated to keep saying the Mom must be Jewish. Our synagogue is almost half interfaith, raising Jewish children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are Jewish if your mother is Jewish. Jews are not white. Jews are Jews.

Jews are Jews and Jews are Caucasian, i.e., white

Like people who are Christian and English, or Christian and French are Christian and Caucasian

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are Jewish if your mother is Jewish. Jews are not white. Jews are Jews.

Jews are Jews and Jews are Caucasian, i.e., white

Like people who are Christian and English, or Christian and French are Christian and Caucasian

Jews are not necessarily white.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are Jewish if your mother is Jewish. Jews are not white. Jews are Jews.

Jews are Jews and Jews are Caucasian, i.e., white

Like people who are Christian and English, or Christian and French are Christian and Caucasian

Caucasian is an outdated term that should no longer be used.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are Jewish if your mother is Jewish. Jews are not white. Jews are Jews.

Jews are Jews and Jews are Caucasian, i.e., white

Like people who are Christian and English, or Christian and French are Christian and Caucasian

Jews are not necessarily white.

Jews, i.e., the vast majority of Jews, whose ancestors are from Israel, are white, Just as many (maybe not most, these days) Christians are white because their ancestors came from White countries, like the countries in Europe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are Jewish if your mother is Jewish. Jews are not white. Jews are Jews.

Jews are Jews and Jews are Caucasian, i.e., white

Like people who are Christian and English, or Christian and French are Christian and Caucasian

Caucasian is an outdated term that should no longer be used.

according to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are Jewish if your mother is Jewish. Jews are not white. Jews are Jews.

Jews are Jews and Jews are Caucasian, i.e., white

Like people who are Christian and English, or Christian and French are Christian and Caucasian

Jews are not necessarily white.

Jews, i.e., the vast majority of Jews, whose ancestors are from Israel, are white, Just as many (maybe not most, these days) Christians are white because their ancestors came from White countries, like the countries in Europe.

I'm not sure that most Jews of Middle Eastern descent (Mizrahi Jews, as opposed to Ashkenazi Jews whose ancestors lived in Europe for a long time) would be considered white in the U.S., but I also don't know that there's much point in having this debate at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are Jewish if your mother is Jewish. Jews are not white. Jews are Jews.

Jews are Jews and Jews are Caucasian, i.e., white

Like people who are Christian and English, or Christian and French are Christian and Caucasian

Jews are not necessarily white.

Jews, i.e., the vast majority of Jews, whose ancestors are from Israel, are white, Just as many (maybe not most, these days) Christians are white because their ancestors came from White countries, like the countries in Europe.

I'm not sure that most Jews of Middle Eastern descent (Mizrahi Jews, as opposed to Ashkenazi Jews whose ancestors lived in Europe for a long time) would be considered white in the U.S., but I also don't know that there's much point in having this debate at all.

If someone doesn't perceive you as white, are you white? I think it is a huge debate indeed (which applies to plenty of Ashkenazi Jews as well), and not a fruitful one on here...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are Jewish if your mother is Jewish. Jews are not white. Jews are Jews.

Jews are Jews and Jews are Caucasian, i.e., white

Like people who are Christian and English, or Christian and French are Christian and Caucasian

Jews are not necessarily white.

Jews, i.e., the vast majority of Jews, whose ancestors are from Israel, are white, Just as many (maybe not most, these days) Christians are white because their ancestors came from White countries, like the countries in Europe.

lolwut. Converting doesn't change your ancestors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What a ridiculous question, if being Jewish is ethnicity or a religion. I am both Orthodox Christian and ethnic something. Just like in any other ethnic and religious group.
Catholic Syrians are both Arabs and Catholics, don't be a racist POS.

Maybe try to be less ignorant before being an ahole?

There is an obvious difference from someone being both an ethnic Arab and a religious Catholic, vs someone being both an ethnic Jew and a religious Jew.
If you look very,nvery closely, you might notice that the word "Arab" and the word "Catholic" are not the same word. One way to check is that the word "Christian" is about twice as long. They also have different first letter.
However, the words "Jew" and "Jew" are far, far harder to distinguish from each other.

To be fair to your argument, it IS much harder to understand if the person attempting it is a bigot.

[Anonymous]

OP, the answer to your question is: ask a rabbi.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, the answer to your question is: ask a rabbi.

OP, the answer to your question is: ask a geneticist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are Jewish if your mother is Jewish. Jews are not white. Jews are Jews.

Jews are Jews and Jews are Caucasian, i.e., white

Like people who are Christian and English, or Christian and French are Christian and Caucasian

Nope. Ashkenazi Jews you (and many modern progressives) probably would consider white, but Hitler and modern neo-Nazis would not. But Mizrahi Jews, including Ethiopian Jews, you would likely not.

In any case, people who argue this particular point are generally trying to justify something ugly.

I too find the original post to be highly unlikely. The fact that ALL of OP’s ancestors on both sides are Jewish and not a single one of them knows it seems… odd.