Question
If my father was a Jew and my mother not, then why would I not be considered a Jew? What is my status?
Answer
Shalom! According to Jewish law, a person’s status follows the mother. The reason for this is because the fetus is considered to be a part of the mother, so if the mother is Jewish so is the child, and if she’s not neither is the child. Good luck on your quest!
Rabbi Nisenbaum
Cleveland, OH