Israel How do Indeal with antisemites and people who don’t understand Zionism?

[PhotoGuy]

Facebook is swarming with antisemites. I want a state where both Jews and Muslims live together in harmony but instead they want to fight. These people don’t even seem to understand Zionism. How do I deal with antisemites in real life and on Facebook?

[RabbiO]

Where do you live?

[PhotoGuy]

Where do you live?

St Louis, MO

[RabbiO]

One other question, are you Jewish?

[PhotoGuy]

One other question, are you Jewish?

Somewhat. I have been bar mitzvahed, circumcised, been to Hebrew school, but only my dad is Jewish, not my mom, but he taught me everything I know.

[RabbiO]

One other question, are you Jewish?

Somewhat. I have been bar mitzvahed, circumcised, been to Hebrew school, but only my dad is Jewish, not my mom, but he taught me everything I know.

Before addressing the antisemitism questions, let's talk a moment about Jewish status. 

It is true that pursuant to traditional halahka you would not be judged ti be a Jew since your mother is not a Jew. The Orthodox and Conservative movements would require you to undergo conversion. The Reform and Reconstructionoist movements recognize patrilineal descent is a child is raised as a Jew. The renewal movement recognizes patrilineal descent, but require certain rituals to be observed before full recognition as a Jew is granted.

You seem to have been raised in a manner that would satisfy the Reform and Reconstructonist movements. Am I correct?

[PhotoGuy]

One other question, are you Jewish?

Somewhat. I have been bar mitzvahed, circumcised, been to Hebrew school, but only my dad is Jewish, not my mom, but he taught me everything I know.

Before addressing the antisemitism questions, let's talk a moment about Jewish status. 

It is true that pursuant to traditional halahka you would not be judged ti be a Jew since your mother is not a Jew. The Orthodox and Conservative movements would require you to undergo conversion. The Reform and Reconstructionoist movements recognize patrilineal descent is a child is raised as a Jew. The renewal movement recognizes patrilineal descent, but require certain rituals to be observed before full recognition as a Jew is granted.

You seem to have been raised in a manner that would satisfy the Reform and Reconstructonist movements. Am I correct?

Yes, I’m a reform Jew. Thinking of converting to the conservative sect.

[RabbiO]

PhotoGuy -

I don’t mean to keep derailing this thread, but I think it is important to followup on our developing conversation. If you desire to accepted as a Conservative Jew you will need to undergo a conversion ritual since the Conservative movement does not accept patrilineal descent. I would never try to convince you, or any other Jew, not to move from one expression of Judaism to another. I believe that all of the movements within Judaism are valid if lived authentically.

I would like to know why you wish to affiliate with the Conservative movement.

[PhotoGuy]

PhotoGuy -

I don’t mean to keep derailing this thread, but I think it is important to followup on our developing conversation. If you desire to accepted as a Conservative Jew you will need to undergo a conversion ritual since the Conservative movement does not accept patrilineal descent. I would never try to convince you, or any other Jew, not to move from one expression of Judaism to another. I believe that all of the movements within Judaism are valid if lived authentically.

I would like to know why you wish to affiliate with the Conservative movement.

I would like to be an official Jew because I am compelled by Tanakh and have been raised in a Jewish fashion from my dad. It’s not necessarily something I can explain, I just feel very connected to it and the lessons it teaches are compelling. That’s the best I can explain it. I want to be a conservative Jew because orthodox seems too strict for me and Reform Judaism isn’t religious enough. I guess that’s the main reason.

For the record, I’m circumcised, bar mitzvahed, and raised in a Jewish fashion from my father. I also studied Judaism in Hebrew school. Unfortunately, there are no synagogues at all within an hour drive from where I live. I wish there was an online conversion process.