- Family and Society
- Who is A Jew?
Inheritance of Status of Being Jewish
Question
I am wondering if you could clarify the manner by which the property of being Jewish is passed from mother to children. My concern is whether in the situation where my family history is unknown, if I could still be under an obligation to follow the Jewish faith because many many generations ago, along the line of mothers, there was a Jewish member of my family? I have only been able to find answers online discussing mothers and children, when I am worried about many many generations back.
Answer
Only if the Jewish ancestor is your mother's mother's mother's... mother, would you be Jewish. If you have no proof as such, than in all probability, logic and Jewish law, say that you follow the majority of the population, and need not "worry" or suspect that you may be Jewish. In fact, it's much easier to be a gentile who needs only follow the 7 Noachide commandments, rather than Jews who must observe the 613 commandments, and God loves all of His creation.

Speaking Hebrew
Various Rabbis | 20 Kislev 5764

Jewish lineage
Various Rabbis | 19 Sivan 5767
What does being jewish mean?
Rabbi Daniel Kirsch | Adar 27, 5781

Maternal Line-Where?
Rabbi Chaim Tabasky | 16 Adar 5767

Rabbi Ari Shvat
Lectures at various yeshivot, michlalot and midrashot. Has published many books & Torani articles and is in charge of Rav Kook’s archives.

Bircat baalat habayit 2
Adar I 23, 5771

A Day is a thousand years
Adar I 23, 5771

Investing in firm selling Chametz
Adar I 23, 5771

Yericho conquest by Yehoshua
Tevet 28, 5771

Eating in Shiurim
Rabbi David Sperling | Tishrei 7, 5775

On which day may one start wishing "Shabbat Shalom"?
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 9, 5780
Genesis 24: 2-9 – Put your hand under my thigh
Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt | Tevet 26, 5770

Visiting a cemetery on Yom Kippur
Various Rabbis | 18 Tishrei 5768

chelev oblation
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Elul 25, 5783

Urgent School Project
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Elul 25, 5783
Is a ger with a Levi father a Levi?
Rabbi Gideon Weitzman | Elul 26, 5783
