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Let's say that a person has a reason to think his mother might be Jewish (there is some evidence, but only a little), and it is likely that the person will never be able to know for sure. In such a case, does he sin if he is Jewish and does not keep Mitzvot?

Is there a precedent or a standard ruling as to what a person like this should do? Should he convert? Or do you say that maybe it does not matter because if a person is unaware they do not need to follow the law?

(I am not writing about myself even thought I was in such a situation, as I have already made a decision what to do next. It is because I am curious about my family members.)

The question is not about conversion, it is about being unsure about whether one is a Jew and living like a gentile and if that is wrong.

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And what's more, some mitzvos — like keeping Shabbos — are forbidden to a non-Jew, so there's no way to be machmir. (Though there is that story (I don't remember where) where the doubtful non-Jew did no melachah except wearing tzitzis which are useless to a non-Jew and therefore only considered carrying when worn by the non-Jew.) – b a Sep 2 '12 at 14:51
@ba Genius idea! – Double AA♦ Sep 2 '12 at 15:45
@ba: I've heard that with regards to Avraham Avinu (who we are told kept the whole Torah). There is a disagreement if he had the status of a Ben Noach or a Jew. The question is then, what did he do about Shabbat. If he was not Jewish, he could not keep Shabbat, if he was Jewish, he couldn't break Shabbat. There are actually several answer given to this question by different rabbis over the years. One of them was that he wore tzitzit. - it's been a while, but I'm pretty sure i heard it here: insidechassidus.org/inside-talmud/131-selected-topics/… – Menachem Sep 2 '12 at 20:08
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I think there will be more questions like this as people in countries struck by the Shoah and totalitarism start to dig into their ancestral origins. I think there should be a ruling on this matter by a respectful posek (am I not confusing it?) because the people will ask this question. In Eastern Europe one could be openly Jewish or have a life. It is difficult to get information even from family members who would rather not say, because for so long being Jewish was like a crime. I can see my ancestral surnames on ghetto lists and wonder... – MichaelS Sep 2 '12 at 22:54
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@ba: see about halfway through this rchaimqoton.blogspot.com.au/2006/07/resting-on-seventh-day.html - The answer with the Tzitzit is brought by the Chatam Sofer. – Menachem Oct 7 '12 at 3:04
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