If a person's grandmother is of Jewish descent are they a Jew?

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Duke of Tudor

For centuries, while Orthodox Judaism was the only form of Judaism, the law of matrilineal descent was unquestionably accepted. Orthodox Judaism even believed that anyone with a Jewish mother had irrevocable Jewish status; in other words, even if someone with a Jewish mother converted to another religion, that person would still be considered Jewish.

With the birth of alternative branches of Judaism and the rise in intermarriage in the 20th century, questions about the law of matrilineal descent arose. Children born to Jewish fathers and non-Jewish mothers, in particular, were asking why they were not accepted as Jews.

In 1983, the Reform movement made a patrilineal descent ruling. The Reform movement decided to accept the children of Jewish fathers as Jews even without a conversion ceremony. In addition, the movement decided to accept people who were raised as Jews, such as adopted children, even if it was not certain that either of their parents were Jewish.

Reconstructionist Judaism, which values equity and inclusivity, also adopted the idea of patrilineal descent. According to Reconstructionist Judaism, children of one Jewish parent, of either gender, are considered Jewish if raised as Jews.

In 1986, in contrast, the Conservative Movement's Rabbinical Assembly reiterated the commitment of the Conservative movement to the law of matrilineal descent. Furthermore, the movement stated that any rabbi who accepts the principle of patrilineal descent will be subject to expulsion from the Rabbinical Assembly. While the Conservative movement did not accept patrilineal descent, it agreed that "sincere Jews by choice" should be warmly welcomed into the community and that "sensitivity should be shown to Jews who have intermarried and their families." The Conservative movement actively reaches out to intermarried families by offering them opportunities for Jewish growth and enrichment.

As of today, Judaism is divided on the issue of "Who is a Jew?" via descent. Orthodox Judaism stands unequivocally behind Judaism's almost 2000 year old law of matrilineal descent. Conservative Judaism has stayed loyal to the traditional matrilineal descent law, but, compared to Orthodoxy, is more open in its acceptance of potential converts, more sensitive in its approach to intermarried Jews, and more active in its outreach to intermarried families. Reform and Reconstructionist Judaism have expanded their definition of a Jew from one with a Jewish mother to also include one with a Jewish father.

Mark S, JPAA

Good question! First of all, there's no such thing as "part Jewish". You either are or you aren't.

Now, if the grandmother is the maternal grandmother, then the daughter (your mother) would be Jewish. And, thus, you would be too. This is true for all streams of Judaism.

If the grandmother is the paternal grandmother, then your father certainly would be Jewish. If your mother is Jewish you are, too; otherwise, you're not. This is the traditional (Orthodox) view. However, other streams of Judaism, such as Reform Judaism, hold that if *either* parent is Jewish, then you are. So to a Reform Rabbi you'd be Jewish, but not to an Orthodox one.

[edit] As a side note, the **tribe** to which one belongs is transmitted exclusively via the father. The best example today is those who are Levites or Kohanim; if your father's name is Levi (or a derivative) or Cohen (or a derivative), then you're a Levite or a Kohan, respectively, irrespective of what your mother is. This brings up an interesting issue with regards to what is said with regards to the lineage of Jesus--he is a tribal descendent of Joseph's tribe, not Mary's.

paperback_writer

If it's their mother's mother, then that means their mother is Jewish, and that means they are also Jewish.

But if either the grandmother or mother have converted to another faith, I'm not sure how it works for the grandchild. I'm sure someone with more knowledge than I have will answer you, though :)

SMARTYPANTS - er, well, actually that's not how it works. Jewish religious law defines who is Jewish, and it clearly states that a Jew is:

a)someone born to a Jewish mother

and/or

b)someone who converts to Judaism

People can dismiss it all they like, but that doesn't change the way that Judaism works.

MARK S - great answer, as always :)

DeeZee

If the grandmother is Jewish and the grandchild in question is from her daughter (not her son), then this grandchild is considered a Jew according to Judaism!!! You determine being a Jew through the matriarchal lineage only. The matriarchal lineage can not be broken!!! If this grandchild is a woman - also her children will be consider Jews - according to Judaism, of course.

paperback and Mark S. and st gave you correct answers. All the others, no offence, are wrong!!!

Mark S. - Also according to the Conservative movement, which is a very big community in the USA - you define being a Jew through the matriarchal lineage. And regarding Reform Judaism - I think that on some issues they go back to more traditional concept than in the past because of the growing detachment of this movement from mainstream Judaism over the years.

kismet

Only if she is the mother's mother...
Judaism is passed on through one's mother, so if your mother's mother was Jewish, then your mom is Jewish, and so are you.

Only if the persons mother is the daughter of that Jewish woman.

riviva

According to the law of return... however, if they convert they are obviously no longer a Jew.

libbyl

it depends on the mother.s line---if the mother is jewish all her children are jewish,If the grandmother( the mother's mother was not Jewis0neither is she,It is the same case of a man.If his mother was Jewish .but not his father he is jewishThe line stems from the mother,h

C.J.

If it is your maternal grandmother then yes, you are a Jew of ethnicity regardless of Religious Practices

DANIEL W

Jewish descent is matriarchal and if your entire family is Jewish except say your mother's mother then you aren't.

That's religiously, however Jews are a race as well as a religion and therefore you can be culturally Jewish as well as relgiously.

In the UK Jews and Sikhs are the only two Religions that are also races because mostly the people in them have married inside the religion for millenia.

iHelp

Well, I'd guess that person is part Jew.

Marina

If the grandmother is Jewish, they are considered a Jew by the Jewish religion. What they consider themselves, is another matter.

UPDATE: I forgot to mention maternal grandmother and have been corrected by other answers.

shalimar001

Origin comes from father side in most religions, specially jewism is the oldest religion with christianity and islam and in my experience i have always seen people belonging to these religions have father's side as original descent.

Paul L

grandmother? usually you look at who the grandfather was.

smartypants909

Judaism is a religion, not an ethnic background, you are Jewish if you practice the Jewish religion.

Joe C

They would be part Jewish, and this whole thing about "the mother being Jewish makes them Jewish" is a lot of bunk in the sense that matriarchy doesn't prevail over patriarchy, except according to the liberal mode of thought.

I see that people don't like hearing this, but there is no sound basis for matriarchy predominating over patriarchy when it comes to making this determination. Please answer me with dignity and make a valid argument instead of spewing insults.

Let's do this grade school style: Matriarchy should determine someone's religion, and should dominate over patriarchy because (you are intstructed to fill in the blank, "smartypants"):_____

And please don't think that you're in my league when it comes to debating.

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