Jewishness Question
Question
If I was raised Christian, but have always felt connected to Judaism and the Jewish books of the Bible and had previously thought about converting and recently found out that I’m ethnically Jewish do I have to convert
Answer
Shalom!
Thank you for your question!
Judaism only recognizes someone as Jewish if they are born to a Jewish mother or if they have undergone a formal conversion process according to Jewish law (halakha). This matrilineal descent principle has been a defining feature of Jewish identity for centuries. There are a number of Scriptural proofs that Jewishness id determined by the mother. But, as mentioned, individuals who have undergone a conversion process, regardless of their ancestry, are generally recognized as Jewish within the Jewish community.
In a case of DNA testing it would need to be analised by a competent Orthodox Rabbi how far it can be relied on.
Nevertheless, allow me to emphasize that Judaism believes that God loves all mankind. All that God wants from the Non-Jewish world is that they observe 7 precepts, or commandments. They are known as the “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.
Look online for https://netivonline.org/rod-reuven-bryant/ and consider joining them.
Good luck on your journey!