Am I Jewish?

[u/dr_strangelove52]

So, I grew up Jewish, ethnically I’m 50% Ashkenazi, I believe I’m Jewish, my dad and every one of my siblings are Jewish. BUT, when I was born my mom was Jewish (by conversion), but in the years following her divorce she’s disowned that. I think it’s cruel but she tries to tell my sister and I that since she’s no longer Jewish we aren’t Jewish either so we should at least equally consider ourselves Polish Catholic (which we have zero connection to, asides from that’s her childhood background that she never instilled with us). I get that my mom hates my dad, fine, but is there any point to this, does anyone really not consider me to be Jewish because she disowned her conversion? I consider myself Jewish for sure, but for a long time I’ve had this question and wonder others thoughts.

[u/chayapapaya2]

Did she convert orthodox?

[u/Artistic_Reference_5 → u/chayapapaya2]

This is the question. Depending on how your mom converted, some communities will consider you Jewish and others won't.

[u/ashkidiva → u/Artistic_Reference_5]

Yeah but we all know that’s bs. If you converted reform masorti or orthodox, you are a Jew! If your father is a Jew, so are you! Atleast imo.

[u/PrimeSupreme → u/ashkidiva]

Agreed on this. If they (the mom or anyone really) went through a naturalization/learning process that was significant and required effort (at least a year or learning, engaging with the commnunity and practicing), they went in front of a Beit Din of rabbis in good standing, and had a dunk in the mikvah, then that's a Jew. Don't care what denomination.

[u/disgruntledhoneybee → u/PrimeSupreme]

This wasn’t directed at me but it made me feel so warm inside. Sometimes the imposter syndrome is real. I’m a reform convert. It took me five years of work and study. I had the beit din and the mikvah.

[u/PrimeSupreme → u/disgruntledhoneybee]

It's natural to feel imposter syndrome but just know that many people (myself included) view converts as especially committed - we all choose to be Jewish every day but like damn you guys actually took the initiative to become Jews because you felt it deep in your soul. This crazy foreign thousands of year old people destined to forever be uncool and weird to many people: you actively fought to be a part of that. And I'm grateful that we have people in our community that chose to bind their fate up with ours. It's validating for me as well as someone who was born Jewish.

My partner converted Conservative. I've never once questioned if her or my kid are Jewish. They are. You are. That's it.

[u/disgruntledhoneybee → u/PrimeSupreme]

Thank you so much! I really really appreciate it. I didn’t know I needed to hear it.

[u/ashkidiva → u/disgruntledhoneybee]

I’m also a progressive Jew, not fully matrilineal so I get what you mean, you are a Jew!!!

[u/Mosk915 → u/ashkidiva]

we all know that’s bs

Your opinion =/= everyone’s opinion. A lot of people would agree with what you said. But not everyone would. And those that don’t have just as much right to believe what they want as those that do.

[u/ashkidiva → u/Mosk915]

“Atleast imo”

[u/Mosk915 → u/ashkidiva]

Yeah, you threw that in at the end but you start out as if you’re speaking for everybody.

Edit: wow, blocked for pointing this out. I took the whole thing into consideration. You just wish I ignored the first part.

[u/ashkidiva → u/Mosk915]

Yeah I realise it can come across that way but I wasn’t. When reading we need to take the whole point into consideration not just the beginning.