Laurie Cardoza-Moore

[Amanah]

How do you actually define Judaism? Cultural, religious, based on parentage?
I believe you can be an atheist and claim to be Jewish based on having a Jewish parent?

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Amanah

How do you actually define Judaism?

Judaism went from being a Biblical religion which was tabernacle/temple based to one that morphed and evolved through the centuries. The Rabbinical Judaism goes all the way back to the Babylonian captivity, the Oral Torah was codified into the Mishnah and eventually the Talmud by the 6th century A.D..

Originally Posted by Amanah

Cultural, religious, based on parentage?
I believe you can be an atheist and claim to be Jewish based on having a Jewish parent?

You are correct, according to halakha, an individual can be considered Jewish because their mother is Jewish. This inheritance through the mother is regardless of what the individual believes ideologically or religiously. Yet, Biblically parentage inheritance didn't come through the mother, but through the father. The Bible precedence is superseded by the Talmud Kiddushin 68b, and has remained altered to this day.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Judaism went from being a Biblical religion which was tabernacle/temple based to one that morphed and evolved through the centuries. The Rabbinical Judaism goes all the way back to the Babylonian captivity, the Oral Torah was codified into the Mishnah and eventually the Talmud by the 6th century A.D..




You are correct, according to halakha, an individual can be considered Jewish because their mother is Jewish. This inheritance through the mother is regardless of what the individual believes ideologically or religiously. Yet, Biblically parentage inheritance didn't come through the mother, but through the father. The Bible precedence is superseded by the Talmud Kiddushin 68b, and has remained altered to this day.

I should add that no matter if a mother or father is "Jewish" does not make them racially "Jewish." Or to be more exact, Biblically Jewish. Just because their mother or even father is Jewish. They could have zero physical connection to ancient Israel, or ancient Judah. Basically, the Rabbis see not only a mother's line as legitimate, but that every Jewish soul who was ever born or going to be born was at Mount Sinai in the Wilderness.This is found in the Midrash Tanhuma Nitzavim. One must keep in mind that Judaism is a religion. If I'm Apostolic Pentecostal is doesn't automatically make my offspring Apostolic Pentecostal. Everyone would agree that is logical. Religion is about faith, not parental lineage. yet, when we are told someone is a God hating Atheist but he is Jewish, we accept that without question.