Is someone willing to educate me on jewish ethnicity? For my IB History HL IA, I'm researching about the Malayali Marxist Movement post-1947 independence, and learned about the Cochin Jews. I'm assuming they're under the Law of Return in Israel, so they're considered ethnically Jewish (right?). For example, is an American who decides to convert to Judaism considered ethnically Jewish after they convert? Educate me 🙏
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At least from what I've heard, Jewish ancestry is matrilineal, meaning that ethnicity goes always through the mother. However, I think they accept converted people as well, but I guess they aren't ethnically Jewish then, but rather Jews by faith. Karl Marx, for example, was an Ashkenazi (European) Jew, but an atheist.
Here in Brazil, in the Northeast region, we've been having a lot of conversions to Judaism, but not all of them have the matrilineal right, so they are considered Jews by faith.
If I'm wrong, please correct me. This is what I've heard from the Jewish people I know and what I found by my research.
from my friend who converted to judaism: "yes to both questions. ive seen people compare conversion to judaism to becoming a naturalised citizen, in the sense that when when you convert to judaism you become a jew with all the implications around it just as when you for example become a citizen of canada you become a canadian"
@cyberneticwanderer and @bottomfeeding, thanks for the clarification
No problem @arandomsite!