The majority of the time, you dont have to prove it. It rarely comes up, except when joining a synagogue or getting married and they take your answer at face value, unless there is a specific reason to believe otherwise.

I suppose if you wanted to, you could lie but it wouldnt make you Jewish just bc a rabbi accepts your lie.

Also marriage documents.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you can covert to Judaism. Jews don't look for converts, but if someone comes with a honest interest in the religion, there is a conversion process. The Torah (Old Testament) accounts for conversion and requires converts to be treated as well as, if not better than, those who are born Jewish.

Though there are some Orthodox Jews who don't recognize you as being Jewish unless you are Jewish on your maternal side. They also don't recognize converts to "reformed" Judaism. It can be a problem if you want to get married in Israel and are coming from the U.S. There are extreme beliefs for every religion.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/magazine/02jewishness-t.html?pagewanted=all

Orthodox Jews recognize people as Jewish if their mother is Jewish OR if they have an orthodox conversion - sometime also if they have a conservative conversion, but it depends on the rabbi and circumstances.

How can you prove that your maternal side is Jewish?

Birth records; tombstones; immigration records; bar mitzvah certificates; temple records.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you can covert to Judaism. Jews don't look for converts, but if someone comes with a honest interest in the religion, there is a conversion process. The Torah (Old Testament) accounts for conversion and requires converts to be treated as well as, if not better than, those who are born Jewish.

Though there are some Orthodox Jews who don't recognize you as being Jewish unless you are Jewish on your maternal side. They also don't recognize converts to "reformed" Judaism. It can be a problem if you want to get married in Israel and are coming from the U.S. There are extreme beliefs for every religion.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/magazine/02jewishness-t.html?pagewanted=all

Orthodox Jews recognize people as Jewish if their mother is Jewish OR if they have an orthodox conversion - sometime also if they have a conservative conversion, but it depends on the rabbi and circumstances.

How can you prove that your maternal side is Jewish?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And why does he go to a Unitarian church if he is Jewish?

Unitarians don't have to believe in God or Jesus.

But why would a "devout Jewish" person attend services there instead of a sinagogue?

OP here, because he was raised as Christian and lived as one for 32 years (though not particularly religious) and 3 years ago he went through the conversion process. My friend and I just got off the phone. I said "I don't really have advice but maybe seeing a counselor would help." and moved on to the next topic. After reading responses here, I decided that I shouldn't even attempt to advise her beyond that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you really convert to Judaism? Aren't they the Chosen People? This is a serious question, I'm not mocking you.

I usually like to pick the stupidest thing I read a day and share it with friends. Easy winner! I think this should hold me for a few days.

Thank you for that well thought out and insightful comment on the practice of converting to Judaism. I feel informed.

I didn't get the memo that I was your personal Google. if you want information on converting to Judaism, why don't you try looking for it, and not just being an ass on DCUM. Or was bored Christian housewife class cancelled today?

Not that PP but you sound like a real a$$. And I love that you assume she's Christian and toss in a gratuitous religion-based insult. Yes, Jewish bigots do exist, and you're proof.

And I love that you all assume that I'm Jewish.

Didn't have to assume - the comment about how "I am not your personal google" -- where "I" is a Jewish person who doesn't want to answer PP's question -- tells us all we need to know. Or, follow PP's example, where he said he's a man and not Christian -- and tell us what you are instead.

LOL. Unless this poster answers every question on DCUM with "I am not your personal Google," then this poster is Jewish. Nice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you really convert to Judaism? Aren't they the Chosen People? This is a serious question, I'm not mocking you.

I usually like to pick the stupidest thing I read a day and share it with friends. Easy winner! I think this should hold me for a few days.

Thank you for that well thought out and insightful comment on the practice of converting to Judaism. I feel informed.

I didn't get the memo that I was your personal Google. if you want information on converting to Judaism, why don't you try looking for it, and not just being an ass on DCUM. Or was bored Christian housewife class cancelled today?

Not that PP but you sound like a real a$$. And I love that you assume she's Christian and toss in a gratuitous religion-based insult. Yes, Jewish bigots do exist, and you're proof.

And I love that you all assume that I'm Jewish.

Didn't have to assume - the comment about how "I am not your personal google" -- where "I" is a Jewish person who doesn't want to answer PP's question -- tells us all we need to know. Or, follow PP's example, where he said he's a man and not Christian -- and tell us what you are instead.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you can covert to Judaism. Jews don't look for converts, but if someone comes with a honest interest in the religion, there is a conversion process. The Torah (Old Testament) accounts for conversion and requires converts to be treated as well as, if not better than, those who are born Jewish.

Though there are some Orthodox Jews who don't recognize you as being Jewish unless you are Jewish on your maternal side. They also don't recognize converts to "reformed" Judaism. It can be a problem if you want to get married in Israel and are coming from the U.S. There are extreme beliefs for every religion.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/magazine/02jewishness-t.html?pagewanted=all

REFORM Judaism. Not reformed.

Really? Wow, I've been saying it wrong for some 30 years.

Dang, you are right. Why hasn't anyone corrected me in all this time. You would think a boy from Long Island would know better. Live and learn.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you can covert to Judaism. Jews don't look for converts, but if someone comes with a honest interest in the religion, there is a conversion process. The Torah (Old Testament) accounts for conversion and requires converts to be treated as well as, if not better than, those who are born Jewish.

Though there are some Orthodox Jews who don't recognize you as being Jewish unless you are Jewish on your maternal side. They also don't recognize converts to "reformed" Judaism. It can be a problem if you want to get married in Israel and are coming from the U.S. There are extreme beliefs for every religion.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/magazine/02jewishness-t.html?pagewanted=all

Orthodox Jews recognize people as Jewish if their mother is Jewish OR if they have an orthodox conversion - sometime also if they have a conservative conversion, but it depends on the rabbi and circumstances.