Conservative Judaism/Jewish Heritage

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Expert: - 8/18/2003


Question
Two years ago I met my biological mother for the first time in Ripley, West Virginia in the USA and found out that an ancestor from Lithuania or Germany was Jewish.
Technically, would this make me Jewish also?  I am Christian, but would be delighted to know that a Jewish heritage would designate me as Jewish also.
Thank you.

Answer
Dear Bill,

Thanks for writing.

It's an interesting question that does occasionally arise, most often when there is to be a marriage.

If your original ancestor was a woman, and you are the direct descendent in the maternal line, that is from mother  to daughter, and you are the first male - then technically you could marry a Jew as if you were a Jew by birth.

But that's a technicality that is rarely used. The fact is that religion is not racial or an issue of descent. One is either Jewish or Christian; they are different religions with important principles each, but also different. Consider reading Dr. Trude Weis Rosemarin's "Christianity and Judaism: The Differences."

I hope and pray that your relish your Christian identity and faith, practice it in good faith, and perhaps once in a while thank God that in your ancestry was someone of a different religious, spiritual and educational background that contributed to making you who you are.

Thanks for writing and best wishes

Rabbi Dov

Conservative Judaism

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Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner

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Write to me with questions about Jewish customs and law, history, philosophy and tradition for answers from a Conservative perspective or conversion. I am a graduate of The Jewish Theological Seminary and a member of the Conservative Rabbinical Assembly. Having served in congregational pulpits since 1970, I now am President of the Foundation For Family Education, Inc. a non-profit educational endeavor. I established it to create new formats of hands-on programs and provide free educational downloads at www.jewishfreeware.org. In addition to general informational questions I welcome your questions about programs for social action, outreach to dual-faith families, inter-faith clergy projects, healing services, education for conversion, adult education for the congregation and the community. If you have questions about Informal and Formal Education I am ready to share my extensive experience with Youth Activities, Camping and Religious School/Hebrew High School on a congregational, community and national/international level.

Experience

I have served on the National Youth Commission for more than 25 years and serve on the Boards of the Conservative Zionist movement MERCAZ and the World Council of Synagogues. I have always dual-families and taught candidates for conversion with a great sense of fulfillment. I am very proud of 25 years on the Jewish camping staff of Camps Ramah. My greatest source of pride is my family! Ask me about them, please!:-)

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