Who Is a Jew?

Overview

Recall questions on the halakhic definition, why status passes through the mother, the American Reform decision of 1983 and the British progressive positions.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   According to Jewish law, who is a Jew?

   Model answer

   A person born to a Jewish mother, or a person who has converted to Judaism.

2. 2

   Why is Jewish status traced through the mother?

   Model answer

   The rabbis derived the rule from the Torah and from the certainty of maternity, and it has governed Jewish status ever since.

3. 3

   What did the American Reform movement decide in 1983 about descent?

   Model answer

   It accepted that a child of one Jewish parent, mother or father, is presumed Jewish where the child is raised with public acts of Jewish identity.

4. 4

   What is the position of the British progressive movements on descent?

   Model answer

   Liberal Judaism accepts descent through either parent, and the Movement for Reform Judaism has also recognised inherited status from either parent since 2015, though some Reform synagogues have not adopted it.

5. 5

   Why does the disagreement over patrilineal descent matter in practice?

   Model answer

   Someone accepted as Jewish by one movement may not be accepted by another, which affects marriage, burial and membership.

6. 6

   What is required for conversion in Orthodox Judaism?

   Model answer

   A long period of study, acceptance of the mitzvot, appearance before a Beth Din, immersion in a mikveh, and circumcision in the case of a man.

Other ways to work this

The same content, four other ways.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.