The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #93122   Message #1789200
Posted By: C. Ham
21-Jul-06 - 01:08 PM
Thread Name: BS: What if the U.S. packed up and left
Subject: RE: BS: What if the U.S. packed up and left
I'm half Jewish & all American & I'll call it as I see it!

By that, I assume you mean that you had one parent who was Jewish and one that wasn't. While that may be, no one is half-Jewish. You are either Jewish, or you're not.

Under the traditional Jewish law followed by Orthodox and Conservative Jews, you are Jewish if your mother was Jewish. If your father was Jewish, but not your mother, you would have to undergo a conversion ceremony to be considered Jewish.

Reform and Reconstructionist Judaism recognize the children of Jewish fathers and non-Jewish mothers as Jewish if they identify themselves as Jewish. They don't recognize half Jews.

When I hear someone describe themselves as half Jewish, I wonder if they celebrate Hanukah for four days and Christmas only from noon util midnight.