6

If a man converts to Judaism and follows Sephardic customs, and his son (who is Jewish-by-birth or has already converted) follows Ashkenazic customs, does the son have to follow his father and also observe Sephardic customs?

Improve this question
7
  • 2
    Why does the son have to be Jewish by birth? Would you think it’s any different if the son converted as well by a different Rabbi and therefore keeps different customs?
    – DonielF
    Sep 10, 2019 at 13:34
  • @DonielF If the mother is Jewish, then the son is Jewish. If the father is Jewish but not the mother, he is not Jewish and would have to either a) convert or b) remain a non Jew.
    – Shmuel
    Sep 10, 2019 at 15:20
  • 4
    Related: judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/12716/… The ger is not related halachically to his biological parents, even if the father happened to be Jewish. This would suggest that the answer is no.
    – Damila
    Sep 10, 2019 at 15:57
  • 1
    @Shmuel Read my comment again. I’m well aware of what makes one a Jew. I asked if the father and son converted separately if this question would be any different; I’m trying to flesh out where the OP is coming from so I can gauge a potential answer better.
    – DonielF
    Sep 10, 2019 at 16:29
  • @DonielF I agree with what you are doing regarding the OP's question.
    – Shmuel
    Sep 10, 2019 at 19:17

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
2

If the son was born a Jew then his non-Jewish biological father was not his halachic father and the subsequent conversion of this non-Jew has no effect on the son's customs. Nor is this son required to show the traditional fatherly Kibbud Av to his mother's new husband if he were to marry her. The son should ask his Rav / Rosh Yeshiva how to proceed (as one should in all cases).

Improve this answer
3
  • 1
    Hi and welcome. How do you know this? We don't know who you are that we should trust you. Please let us know by editing your posts to include justification for your claims.
    – Double AA ♦
    Nov 20, 2019 at 0:55
  • Welcome! Are you the Rabbi Moshen whose book is cited in this answer? You clearly know a lot about the conversion process; surely you'd be able to spend a few minutes longer in improving your answers by adding your sources.
    – DonielF
    Nov 20, 2019 at 18:52
  • אֲמַר לֵיהּ בְּגַיּוּתָן אִית לְהוּ חַיִיס נִתְגַּיְּירוּ לֵית לְהוּ חַיִיס - When they are gentiles they do have family lineage, but when they convert they do not have lineage, as they now belong to the family of the Jewish people and their previous lineage is disregarded.
    – ArtickokeAndAnchovyPizzaMonica
    Mar 14, 2022 at 14:18

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .