Always been curious about Jewish faith

I’m curious to know more and struggling with modern day Christianity and want to know more about possibly being Jewish I always thought you had to be Jewish in order to be Jewish until just recently. I was looking at some Internet sites and found out that’s not the case, the reason I ask is because I was told when I was very young. I’m 46 that when we were in Germany couple the Germans didn’t wanna talk to us because they saw the spelling of our last name and said we were German jews, we just kind of brushed that off and said no that can’t be then when I was in my late 20s my mom did I think ancestry DNA and I think it said that she had some in her and we just kind of like oh that’s neat, and I’ve been on this discovery about finding my African ancestry to look at me. You would see a white man standing in front of you, but I found out through my mom’s side of the family. We have Africa. She has deep roots in South Carolina and unfortunately, she has the Lee last name and yes, it goes back to general, Robert E Lee and further back so unfortunately that has to do with slavery, but in that searching, I have found more and more, where ancestry said she was North African now and just recently updated to Shepherdic Jew, which makes sense that overlaps the North Africa part, and I also went onto an ancient ancestry website and it says that my DNA links too. I can’t remember the name of the family, but it was a Noble Shepherdic Jew family as well as house korevin the spelling may be wrong. I apologize, but it’s the family From, Aaron, the brother of Moses. I sure you know what I’m talking about. I just discovered this tonight, so in light of all this the whole searching was to find out who I am and honor my ancestors I now find out that I am Jewish and I have family that I fought on both sides of the holocaust, which has always fascinated me in World War II history, but yet deeply saddened me knowing what happened to the Jewish people. I also found out in Oscar Schindler‘s book at list a family member of mine that helped him who helped him bribe the secret Hungarian police so you can see where I’ve always been fascinated with the Jewish community and I would like more information on maybe a spiritual journey to explore that. I don’t know how to get my response so I will give you my email it is. Shawnneoscar@gmail.com I look forward to your response

Shalom!

Thank you for writing.

you would have to set up an appointment with an Orthodox rabbi and present to him all your findings for him to give you a final verdict on your status. One is only Jewish if one's maternal line can be proven to be Jewish without question

One who wishes to convert must first seek out his or her local orthodox rabbi and arrange for a meeting.

If the conversion candidate is approved, the rabbi will guide the potential convert through years of rigorous study. 

After such study, along with a proven knowledge of the mitzvot and a commitment to observe them, the actual formal conversion process will be carried out.

The actual conversion process is performed in the presence of a “Beit Din” a Jewish court made up of three rabbis who specialize in this area of Jewish law.

The components of the conversion ceremony are:

1. To publically declare allegiance to the Torah and to commit to observe all the mitzvot

2. Bris Mila, (circumcision) for men. If a man is already circumcised, a small drop of blood is drawn from that area in what can be called a “symbolic circumcision.” This latter procedure is also knows as a “hatafat dam bris.”

3. Immersion in a mikva, a Jewish ritual bath.

Once this is all completed the convert will receive a certificate from the Beit Din testifying that the bearer of the certificate is Jewish.

However, Judaism believes that God loves all mankind. One does not need to become Jewish to go to heaven. All that God wants from the Non-Jewish world is that they observe 7 precepts, or commandments. They are known as the “Noahide Laws.” They are called “Noahide Laws” because the requirement to observe these seven laws was given Noah, a righteous non-Jew (yes, the fellow from the story with the flood).

The 7 laws are:

1. Don’t murder.

2. Don’t steal.

3. Don’t worship false gods.

4. Don’t be sexually immoral.

5. Don’t eat a limb from an animal that is still alive.

6. Don’t curse God.

7. Establish a system of justice.

Any human being who observes these laws goes to heaven. There is no need to follow any other religion. You can pray to God in your own words and your own language.

Allow me to recommend the following sites to learn more about what G-d expects from Gentiles: https://sukkatshalom-bneinoach.com/ and https://www.netivonline.org/ which specializes in helping non-Jews with religious beliefs. There is a wealth of information there that you will find useful and inspiring. It is also worth looking up the “Noahide” or "B'nai Noach" movement and consider joining them!