Am I Jewish if my Father is Jewish?

I recently found out that I may be part Jewish. My dad's side of the family is from Poland and I found out they may have escaped Poland during WW2. How would I actually go about researching the actual heritage with this? It says that I am Ashkenazi Jewish a small percentage, but the thing I've learned about that is that I really need to learn my heritage. Any Jewish blood I have in me is just kind of diminished from generation to generation. I guess the main question I am asking is how would I go out exploring this? My dad's biological last name was Osantowski, but changed to Shudark (Szudarek) later after his mom remarried. Both are Polish names. Some of my family is also rumored to have ran away from the Nazis in WW2. So I just want to learn, just don't have the greatest money/resources. Thank you for your time Rabbi.

Shalom!

Thank you for your question!

Judaism is a complex and multifaceted identity that encompasses elements of religion, ethnicity, culture, and history.

From a religious perspective, Judaism traditionally 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.

The existence of “Jewish blood” or even DNA testing is not admissible for the purpose of determining if one is Jewish. There must be direct and unbroken matrilineal descent.

In your case, you mention that it is your father who might be Jewish. As you can see, according to Jewish law you would not be Jewish. I will further add that Judaism does not encourage people to convert to Judasim.

Nevertheless, allow me to emphasize that 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” 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 the “Noahide” or "B'nai Noach" movement and consider joining them.

  Good luck on your journey!