Am I Jewish

[searchinmyroots]

Ismq,

That may be your thoughts but it is not what Jewish law teaches.

Did you read the article Chava linked?

It explains it pretty well as to why it is Matrilineal.  Do you not agree with what is written?

We can't just go by what people "think".

We have to have some sort of agreement and stick with it or else there would be too much confusion.

There is no such thing as "half" Jewish as Chava mentioned previously.

[Ismq]

If one has mother and father british then one is british.if one has only a mother or father that is british then one is half-british.this thinking is logical and true and apply to all humans.jewish are also humans.

[searchinmyroots]

Yes, Jews are humans thank you.

But we are also a "biblical people" as written in the Hebrew bible.

British is a nationality, Judaism is not.

What you are comparing it to is more on the lines of calling one an Israeli. If your mother was born in Israel and your father was born in Italy, then you are half Italian and half Israeli.

Being Jewish is totally different. We are "a people".

[Ismq]

I don't understand

[Chavak]

I think that one is jewish is both father and mother is jewish.and that if one have only a father or mother that is jewish one is half-jewish.

Of course you are entitled to your own views, but that isn't what Judaism teaches or accepts.

[searchinmyroots]

I don't understand

What is it exactly that you don't understand?

It's very different than a nationality or a race.

If I'm not mistaken, the Jewish people are unique in this way. Not better, just unique as a "nation".

Look at the Hebrew bible. Most nations were formed first and then the people identified with the nation.

But the Jewish people were a "people" first, before they had a land or a nation.

Not sure if there is anything in history that can compare.

[Ismq]

To be german is also a race isn't it?

[Blue Bird]

No, it isn't. 

[searchinmyroots]

Ismq,

To be German means you are from Germany.

To be American means you are from the USA.

To be Italian means you are from Italy.

To be Jewish means you are from......................... (fill in the blank!)

[Blue Bird]

G-d be praised.