I have a question…

One of my cousins on my father’s side is Jewish. She converted 45 years ago when she married a Jewish man, and they’ve raised their son and daughter as Jewish, including Bar and Bat Mitzvah. She keeps a kosher home still, even after her husband passed away, and was going to the synagogue regularly (before Covid). She keeps a mezuzah on her door. She recently told me that a kid (twenty-something) told her "well, you’re not [b]really[/b] Jewish, and your kids aren’t really Jewish either. Their mother has to be Jewish, not just their father." My cousin told him, "My children [b]were[/b] born to a Jewish mother." She was very offended. Once you convert, don’t you become part of the community ? 🤔

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BittersweetPotato · 31-35, F

From what I read before, yes it is really the mother that has to be Jewish. I am sure i read it somewhere, but I honestly don’t know how accurate it is.

Regardless, it is ridiculous what he said to her. If she chose to convert, and has followed their way of life, who the hell is he to tell her that she is otherwise. Not that I think it is brilliant what she did as I am sick of all religions, but it is her choice.

bijouxbroussard · F

@BittersweetPotato I don’t know if she would’ve if she’d married someone else. But her husband was a real sweetheart, a bit older than she. And his siblings embraced her.

BittersweetPotato · 31-35, F

@bijouxbroussard I find the concept of converting to partner’s religion a bit weird because I think believing in a religion has to do with one’s self, not with whom we marry. But people do it all the time anyway. I am curious though if in Jewish culture she HAD to convert?! For example, in Islam, a non Muslim man couldn’t marry a Muslim woman unless he converts… It is nice though that she had a happy life with him and his family.. maybe why she converted, because she loved him and his culture.