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Are מתיהדים (geirim) required to give precedence to Yisra'Elim today?

Are מתיהדים also known as geirim or proselytes, the descendants of converts to the Israelite religion, required to give precedence to Yisra'Elim today? https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/...
הראל's user avatar
  • 2,799
2 votes
1 answer
362 views

Proselytizing the covenant?

https://youtube.com/shorts/RuNO7R0885c?si=Fwc-02_yqnv-LfDi in this, rabbi Asher Meza of “Torah Judaism international” seems to claim that proselytization is not only allowed, but even a good thing to ...
Man of faith's user avatar
  • 4,532
3 votes
7 answers
631 views

Would those of the lost tribes lose their status of Israelites after converting?

Jewishness is determined by matrilineal descent, so those of the lost tribes would have to convert. But is not tribe determined by patrilineal descent? Being an Israelite means being a “son of Israel”,...
user avatar
7 votes
3 answers
535 views

Did Israelites who stayed in Egypt become halachically Jewish?

Some sources indicate that not all of the Israelites left Egypt during the Exodus. On the other hand, the initial "conversion" of the Israelites to Judaism occurred at Matan Torah at Mt. Sinai during ...
Robert Columbia's user avatar
16 votes
1 answer
739 views

Half Jew half Gentile

I always thought it was a misconception to be "half-Jewish". Usually the speaker means one of their parents are Jewish, making them either fully Jewish or fully Gentile. However, I saw today that the ...
robev's user avatar
  • 20.2k
0 votes
1 answer
851 views

Does Reform Judaism recognize children of Jewish father as Jews?

Does Reform Judaism recognize children of Jewish father as Jews (under conditions that father is Jewish both from mothers and fathers side). If so, that person does not have to go through conversion ...
Ana's user avatar
  • 379
-1 votes
1 answer
135 views

The development of conversion

On this site conversion history, an article states it's about: The evolution of Israel as a nation into Judaism as a religion was paralleled by a move from assimilation of strangers to a more ...
Levi's user avatar
  • 7,596
7 votes
1 answer
383 views

How can the child of a convert know/find out if the conversion was valid?

A non-Jewish woman converts to Judaism, marries a Jewish man, and has children. She has told her children that she was converted by an Orthodox beit din, to be sure that her children are all ...
Rebeccah's user avatar
  • 171
26 votes
2 answers
5k views

"Am I Jewish​?"

How can one tell if one needs to convert in order to be Jewish or if one is already Jewish? Would one's or one's ancestors' conversion to another religion or their lack of knowledge about Judaism ...
Double AA's user avatar
  • 101k
3 votes
1 answer
247 views

The situation of a lost Jew

Someone who is adopted to a Christian family, but has some indication of a Jewish ancestry - such as a mezuzah, and who is interested in studying and practicing Judaism, what would it take to ...
Mordekhai's user avatar
10 votes
2 answers
9k views

My great great grandmother was Jewish - am I? [duplicate]

I've discovered that my great, great grandmother was Jewish - i.e. my mother's mother's mother's mother. She converted to Catholicism upon marriage. Are matrilineal descendants of a Jewess who ...
NinaTheNinja's user avatar
14 votes
3 answers
791 views

Can a convert to Judaism have a Jewish mother?

The Mishna, Bikkurim 1:4, speaks of converts to Judaism who bring their first fruits to the temple, or who pray within a synagogue: אלו מביאין ולא קורין הגר מביא ואינו קורא שאינו יכול לומר אשר נשבע ...
Shimon bM's user avatar
  • 19.1k
2 votes
2 answers
2k views

Matrilineal descent & Zera Israel

Would someone with Jewish heritage from a distant foremother on their maternal grandfather's side be considered Zera Yisrael? In other words, does the person fit the definition of Zera Yisrael since ...
Malka S's user avatar
  • 2,179
4 votes
4 answers
522 views

Are those who reject idolatry Yahudim (Jews)?

I found the following quote referencing Gemara from a book on converts in Judaism: The Gemara (Megillah 13•) states that we find the appellation “Yehudi” in Nach only three times: once for ...
knowit's user avatar
  • 2,013
9 votes
3 answers
451 views

Were the eirev rav Jewish?

Were the eirev rav Jewish? If they were in fact Jewish why are they described by the term eirev rav instead of just referring to them as we would any other Jew? If they were not Jewish why were they ...
none's user avatar
  • 4,008
13 votes
3 answers
3k views

Why Do Converts Change Their Names?

Rabbi Avigdor Miller said that it used to be that gerim (converts) and baalei teshuvah (repentants) who had been given non-Jewish names did not change their names when they became part of the Jewish ...
Adam Mosheh's user avatar
  • 6,059
27 votes
6 answers
2k views

When did Avraham Avinu become Jewish

Avraham Avinu is often called "the first Jew". When did he become Jewish. Was it when: He recognized G-d? G-d spoke to him for the first time? Covenant Between The Parts? When G-d changed his name? ...
Menachem's user avatar
  • 44.8k
51 votes
9 answers
8k views

Can a Jew lose their Jewish Status?

Can a Jew lose their status as being a Jew by performing any action (example: performing idolatry, disavowing core beliefs, converting to another religion, etc)? Or once a person is a Jew then they ...
Yaakov Ellis's user avatar
  • 5,293
31 votes
5 answers
7k views

Is it possible for a Gentile to convert to Judaism? [closed]

Is it possible for someone who is Gentile to convert to Judaism? What is the prevailing belief of Jewish people on this subject? What scripture backs up this belief? What do prominent Jewish ...
going's user avatar
  • 1,106
14 votes
2 answers
563 views

Does our literature discuss invalidating a conversion because the convert would not put his/her lot with the Jewish people?

When a person is interested in converting, there are really two questions they are asked: Are you prepared to accept the theology and observance of Judaism? Are you prepared to accept your identity ...
Shalom's user avatar
  • 136k