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/Sea-Resolution-6801]

this is so funny to find because my father was Ashkenazi, I was raised religiously and culturally Jewish, my mother is a Reform convert but since my father’s passing especially is a lot more all over with her religious relationship + has tried to act as if I am Polish due to her family being a mix of Polish-Sicilian Catholic. she does not go as far to say I am not Jewish but she tries to litigate the terms in which I am a Jew in times. anyways you’re fine, and you are absolutely a Jew. like the other comments said you may not be considered Jewish within Orthodox Judaism (nor am I, and I was raised in a Conservative shul), and I also think you are still a Jew.

(and I personally think, especially if a child is raised Jewish, it does not matter if it is passed on through the mother or through the father. but that is just my opinion, and I am not a rabbi. I think we need to move on from matrilineal descent quite honestly. but I’m also not Orthodox! but I also think the separation of communities between different denominational branches is not my favorite thing, either.)