נושא: כללי

The last message I sent was sent early

The last message I sent was sent early. I’m going to rephrase it anyway. I believe that my status as being considered Jewish would be tenuous or untenable in the eyes of most, and might require a formal conversion. This is really a concern only if I, at some point, decide it’s advisable to branch out to a community (Likely only after Covid 19 restrictions lift) and study, discuss, and pray with other Jewish men. For me it is a certainty but for others they might see me publicly identifying as a Jew as tenuous. Experience has played the greatest role in shaping this certainty, as well the inclination to eventually network in order to enrich my study and prayer life as well as hopefully offerOmg something of value to the community. I pray and study alone as it is, keep kosher, and keep the fasts, holy days and the sabbath. My last name is an Galician Jewish name, Hola, which I found out synchronously a few years ago when my interest began to grow strongly. (I am aware of matrilineal descendants being only qualified in most denominations, according to the little I have read) I could go into detail on persona experiences but that may or may not be pertinent to your answer. I would be happy to accept becoming a convert, or publicly identifying in that manner. But there are a lot of contingencies surrounding it. For myself, if I begin considering that I am not Jewish and to not take that role as a Jew seriously, even in a covert way, I have problems, problems you can ask questions about but I’d rather not get into it if its not pertinent to how you’d answer the question. The primary concern for me, is making the opportunity to make connections and enrich myself by eventually studying and praying with others and involving myself in a community in the future in whatever capacity makes sense. What would you recommend? I’ve been considering visiting a synagogue before Covid-19 hit but I’d really like to take some smaller steps If any steps prove advisable to be taken before that, when that becomes a possibility. Thank you for your time and your consideration.

Shalom!
Thank you for clarifying your dilemma. You are correct in that matrilineal descendancy is the determining factor as to whether or not you are Jewish according to Jewish law.

There are only two ways a person can be considered Jewish according to Halacha, Jewish law. 1. Being born from a Jewish mother,

2. Undergoing orthodox conversion, meaning conversion according to the process proscribed by Jewish law, which involves study and practice, circumcision and ritual immersion in a mikveh.

Having said that, if you are not in the above-mentioned categories, but still wish to be part of a community which ascribes to Torah based values, prayer and study, but is not Jewish, there are communities of non-Jews who conform to the Seven Noahide laws. You would have to try to trace them, as we don't have accurate up to date information regarding these communities, but we know there are some in the USA and in South America.

If your mother is not Jewish and you do wish to convert, contact your nearest Chabad house and ask to be referred to someone in your area who deals with conversion. Chabad emissaries do not usually deal directly with conversion themselves, but should be able to help you locate the appropriate Rabbinical authority.

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