Welcome to Gaia! ::

One of us as far as I'm concerned.

On that note, if anyone declares themselves a follower and a believer of HASHEM, G-D of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.

Anyone who hears the call to prayer and answers the call,

Anyone who calls out the Shema as an act of devotion,

Anyone who keep the traditions and intends to teach it to their children,

Are as Jewish as I am.

Because I know LOTS of Jews who do not, yet they are still Jews.

And if that's wrong, then I don't want to be right.

I don't think Neuf is trying to say that a non-practicing Jew isn't Jewish to him. But consider those who can call themselves Jewish because their mother was while still only doing the bare minimum (and sometimes following another religion completely). At the same time, however, their are goyim who fully comprehend and practice Jewish Law but can't be considered Jewish just because their mother wasn't. I see where Neuf is coming from.

Behatz, I think you know deep down exactly where you stand religiously, especially if you've been wanting to be a Jew your whole life. Don't let your father's hurtful words hinder your faith and spirituality.

It's wonderful that you want to raise your kids jewish, but honestly the mudblood concept is somewhat insulting.

You say you want to raise them jewish yet you are removing a major aspect of Judaism before your starting. There is exactly one prerequisite to being born jewish, a jewish mother.

Yes my flaw in spelling a word in English is clearly an example of how little I know.

The mother thing isn't recent. It's as old as Sinai and according to Ramban and many other Mifarshim the a portion of the debate between Joshua and his brothers. (Rashba holds as old a Avraham, ergo Avrahams children when he remarried hagar were not any more jewish the esav or Yishmael. Although this is a complicated opinion, its easier to simply understand since sinai)

Sure, mistakes happen. I'll readily admit my knowledge of asian jewery is horribly limited.

Seriously though, have you studied any aspect of Tanach, Gemarah or Kitzer? Are you claiming the asian jewery has a deeper understanding of Judaims then the rest of the jews in the world? Including many I know of who trace there lineage back eight or more generations? Native Americans also practiced matrilineal descent, are you going to suggest we stole it from them?

The first example (Rashi point this out) in the Torah of the proof of martilinial descent was a child born from a Mitrey (egyptian) who had a child with a jewish woman. He was taken as Moshe's student and is recorded as the one responsible for giving the golden calf life (he used the paper that said "arise ox" moshe used to recover Josephs body from the nile)

Mom has the religious identity, Dad has tribal identity.

If you're mom or dad isn't Jewish, technically neither are you.

You're half-Jewish. Much like in Harry Potter, a mudblood.

Also... behave you two!

Moshe was married pre-Sinai so I don't see your argument

Talmud started being complied then into set forums. This was because before then all laws were passed orally. Where do you get your argument that matrilinial descent started in the 2nd century?

If your disagreeing with what is commonly referred to as oral law then we have no basis to argue as our presuppositions are inherently in argument with one another. One who does not follow oral law is as inherently different from one who does as an muslim is from a christian.

If this is the case say so and our argument can reach a swift end.

This got crazy, fast.

Very few of us in this guild were raised Orthodox, but that doesn't mean anyone's opinion is less valid. Remember G-d gave us free will for these exact reasons. We formulate our own opinions while using the Talmud and Torah as a guide, but that doesn't mean we're always going to agree.

Neuf I have to ask, but please don't take this wrong. Why is it that you care enough to raise your children Jewish but not enough to find a Jewish girl? Most people, while tolerant at heart, start to get iffy when it comes to their children and religion. I'm not saying you couldn't find a girl who could care less if your children were Jewish or Pagan, I just don't want you to be surprised if there are a few rifts involved.