Does this mean I get double presents for Hanukkah AND Christmas?
"A person born to non-Jewish parents who has not undergone the formal process of conversion but who believes everything that Orthodox Jews believe and observes every law and custom of Judaism is still a non-Jew, even in the eyes of the most liberal movements of Judaism, and a person born to a Jewish mother who is an atheist and never practices the Jewish religion is still a Jew, even in the eyes of the ultra-Orthodox. In this sense, Judaism is more like a nationality than like other religions, and being Jewish is like a citizenship. See What Is Judaism"
Honestly, I had no idea. I know that my family personally believes that you are Jewish even if you don't practice and I know several people that do as well (my former best friend Victor had the same situation as me - his mother was born to Orthodox Jews but didn't practice nor did he but the entire maternal side still referred to them as being "Jewish by birth") but then again, I know several people that think Judaism is a religion and not a nationality. Nathan felt very strongly that you weren't a "true Jew" (sounds like the name of a kosher rap star) if you didn't practice and shouldn't claim to be one when asked about your heritage. Of course, he had no problem referring to me as Jewish when meeting his family because it was better for him to lie than admit that he, the wannabe rabbi and mentor at Jewish Youth meetings, was in love with a girl born to a non-practicing Jewish mother and a non-practicing Catholic father who raised their daughter to be a non-practing Lutheran with agnostic tendencies. There's more drama there and even with my parents but that's all the religious ranting, raving and reflecting I have in me for one day.
This all started because of Nicole - she was looking up brooms for her wedding and I asked what the hell she needed a broom for. Apparently, it's an African-American tradition to have the bride & groom jump over a broom to signify their moving on to a different stage in life. I told her I had heard about a Wiccan tradition that did the same sort of thing at handfastings but I could care less for most things pertaining to Catholics, Baptists and Wiccans so don't quote me on that. She asked me what traditions my religion had and I had to laugh because, in case you weren't reading up above, I don't have a religion. But I was curious to know what else happened at Jewish weddings beside the Mizinke (chair dancing) and breaking of the glass (you would think I'm smart and stuff for knowing the lingo but, really, I'm not - Nathan taught me everything I know about Jewish weddings and all the Yiddish terminology came from my grandmother who converted while was married to my grandfather for a short period of time) so I started looking up Jewish stuff and came across Jewish FAQ which had that little tidbit about being Jewish even if you're, well, not.
Somebody poke me with a fork because I'm done.
Honestly, I had no idea. I know that my family personally believes that you are Jewish even if you don't practice and I know several people that do as well (my former best friend Victor had the same situation as me - his mother was born to Orthodox Jews but didn't practice nor did he but the entire maternal side still referred to them as being "Jewish by birth") but then again, I know several people that think Judaism is a religion and not a nationality. Nathan felt very strongly that you weren't a "true Jew" (sounds like the name of a kosher rap star) if you didn't practice and shouldn't claim to be one when asked about your heritage. Of course, he had no problem referring to me as Jewish when meeting his family because it was better for him to lie than admit that he, the wannabe rabbi and mentor at Jewish Youth meetings, was in love with a girl born to a non-practicing Jewish mother and a non-practicing Catholic father who raised their daughter to be a non-practing Lutheran with agnostic tendencies. There's more drama there and even with my parents but that's all the religious ranting, raving and reflecting I have in me for one day.
This all started because of Nicole - she was looking up brooms for her wedding and I asked what the hell she needed a broom for. Apparently, it's an African-American tradition to have the bride & groom jump over a broom to signify their moving on to a different stage in life. I told her I had heard about a Wiccan tradition that did the same sort of thing at handfastings but I could care less for most things pertaining to Catholics, Baptists and Wiccans so don't quote me on that. She asked me what traditions my religion had and I had to laugh because, in case you weren't reading up above, I don't have a religion. But I was curious to know what else happened at Jewish weddings beside the Mizinke (chair dancing) and breaking of the glass (you would think I'm smart and stuff for knowing the lingo but, really, I'm not - Nathan taught me everything I know about Jewish weddings and all the Yiddish terminology came from my grandmother who converted while was married to my grandfather for a short period of time) so I started looking up Jewish stuff and came across Jewish FAQ which had that little tidbit about being Jewish even if you're, well, not.
Somebody poke me with a fork because I'm done.