Am I Jewish?
Hello rabbi(s). It is me again.
For the last two and a half years, I’ve been very very drawn to the nation of Israel and the Torah and God. I’ve even kind of tried to convert to become a Jew several times (but that never went through).
As of yet I just keep the seven commandments for the descendants of Noach.
I also know that my mother’s mother is Italian, and both her father and mother’s side (my grandmother’s mother is from a town near Rome) have Jewish DNA, according to my grandmother’s DNA test.
(My father is definitely Jewish, however.)
What is your tradition/advice regarding this (ascertaining one being Jewish or not)?
Thank you and may God bless you.
Answers
DNA is not an acceptable way of proving whether anyone is Jewish or not. According to Jewish Law a person is Jewish if their mother is Jewish because the Jewish status of a child is passed through the maternal line.
Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team