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+--- Thread: How does birthright work, and will i have to convert? (/showthread.php?tid=1097)
How does birthright work, and will i have to convert? - idk - 11-06-2022
Hi, ive recently aligned myself with judaism but i need to know what i really need to do. im genetically 25% ashkenazi and a 5th gen immigrant, and i certainly look the part, but my mom is christian and my dad is a spiritual jew with 'birthright' by reform standards. my grandfather was a jewish man but he died on my dads fifth birthday so he was raised christian, though he never believed in it. he doesnt identify as religiously jewish but i want to, i just dont know how. do i need to convert? i have a lot of family i could ask for advice but theyre all hasidic, and i want to be/am reform, so idk what to do as being a convert typically means learning hebrew, and i dont even know if theres a rabbi in the area that will. just need advice and to know if i still have birthright. pls dont come to shame me for being reform, and if ur not refrom i would still appreciate advice, just like as you would if my mother was the jewish one.
-me
RE: How does birthright work, and will i have to convert? - Robert - 11-08-2022
There appear to be two questions to your post:
1) Would the Jewish Community, and here I would assume you most likely would prefer the Orthodox Jewish Community, accept you as Jewish? In other words, Jewish, meaning you would not be required to undertake a conversion?
The following link says it is for Jews, but I suggest you put your circumstances to the Orthodox Rabbi, and if he is willing to correspond with you about this, then you should answer any questions he may put to you, in order to receive guidance on this matter:
https://aish.com/ask-a-question/
2) Assuming you are not Jewish and that you wish to convert, and here I would assume you most likely would prefer conversion to Orthodox Judaism, how would you set about doing so?
Bear in mind that if you convert to Reform Judaism, this will not be considered valid conversion by the Orthodox Jewish Community.
I suggest you first find out about the Jewish religion, with which as you have said, you feel affinity.
Learn something about Judaism to see if you are happy with its belief and how to practice it.
You could read the following webpage first:
https://aish.com/48962366/
On the latter webpage you will see a brief list of books that you first might want to consider reading, so you can understand more to assist you in making up your mind.
RE: How does birthright work, and will i have to convert? - RabbiO - 11-09-2022
(11-06-2022, 12:35 AM)idk Wrote: Hi, ive recently aligned myself with judaism but i need to know what i really need to do.......Before you ask the question, let me give you the answer. Yes, I am, in fact, a rabbi. I am affiliated with the Reform movement.
From the information in your post you would not recognized as a Jew by any of the movements within Judaism. For that matter, from you've indicated about your father, he would not be recognized as a Jew by any movement within Judaism. Although the Reform and the Reconstructionist movements recognize patrilineal descent that recognition is contingent upon a child being raised as a Jew. From what you've said, and correct me if I'm wrong, this was not the case for either you or your father.
If you want to be a Jew, you will have to convert. Whether you seek conversion under the auspices of the Orthodox, Conservative, Reform or Reconstructionist movements is a decision that only you can make. I am concerned about what you actually know about Judaism - in any of its forms - and what you only think you know about Judaism. Unlike some others here I am not going to push you toward any one particular path, but I'd like to be what help I can for you along your journey.
Perhaps you can tell us more about yourself.
RE: How does birthright work, and will i have to convert? - RabbiO - 11-09-2022
(11-08-2022, 09:15 PM)Robert Wrote: Assuming you are not Jewish and that you wish to convert, and here I would assume you most likely would prefer conversion to Orthodox Judaism, how would you set about doing so?idk made it quite plain that he is seeking to become a Reform Jew so I don't know why you would assume that he would prefer an Orthodox conversion. While it is true that an Orthodox conversion is recognized as valid by all the movements within Judaism, and while it is true that Orthodoxy does not recognize as valid any non-Orthodox conversion, if idk were to convert under Orthodox auspices and then decide to affiliate with a non-Orthodox expression of Judaism, such action would constitute grounds for his conversion to be declared invalid.
Bear in mind that if you convert to Reform Judaism, this will not be considered valid conversion by the Orthodox Jewish Community.
RE: How does birthright work, and will i have to convert? - Robert - 11-10-2022
(11-09-2022, 11:18 PM)RabbiO Wrote:(11-08-2022, 09:15 PM)Robert Wrote: Assuming you are not Jewish and that you wish to convert, and here I would assume you most likely would prefer conversion to Orthodox Judaism, how would you set about doing so?idk made it quite plain that he is seeking to become a Reform Jew so I don't know why you would assume that he would prefer an Orthodox conversion. While it is true that an Orthodox conversion is recognized as valid by all the movements within Judaism, and while it is true that Orthodoxy does not recognize as valid any non-Orthodox conversion, if idk were to convert under Orthodox auspices and then decide to affiliate with a non-Orthodox expression of Judaism, such action would constitute grounds for his conversion to be declared invalid.
Bear in mind that if you convert to Reform Judaism, this will not be considered valid conversion by the Orthodox Jewish Community.
Thank you for pointing that out, but I answered idk's interest in "Reform" when I let him know that Reform conversion would not be recognized by Orthodoxy; being something which he may not have known.
RE: How does birthright work, and will i have to convert? - Chavak - 11-16-2022
I'm a little confused by your posts, but it sounds like your father was Jewish and your mother was not. You were not raised Jewish. My understanding is that you would not be considered to be a Jew by any sect of Judaism. You would need to convert. If you wish to convert Reform, you need to contact a Reform rabbi. Rabbi O here should be a good source to get you started.