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A person who is born to a non-Jewish mother and a Jewish father is regarded as Zera Yisrael (lit. ' Seed of Israel ') and will only be accepted as ethnically Jewish and not as religiously Jewish. Thus, being Jewish through the paternal line typically necessitates conversion to Judaism to validate one's identity as a Jew in the fullest sense.
Matrilineality in Judaism or matrilineal descent in Judaism is the tracing of Jewish descent through the maternal line. Close to all Jewish communities have followed matrilineal descent from at least early Tannaitic (c. 10–70 CE) times through modern times. [109] The origins and date-of-origin of matrilineal descent in Judaism are uncertain.
Traditionally, Rabbinic Judaism has understood Jewishness to be passed down matrilineally.Although contemporary denominations have varying precedents regarding lineal descent, Orthodox and Conservative Judaism maintain that only those born from a Jewish mother are considered to be Jewish by birth.
Gender has a bearing on familial lines: in traditional Rabbinic Judaism, Jewish affiliation is passed down through the mother, although the father's name is used to describe sons and daughters in the Torah [2] and in traditional Hebrew names, e. g., "Dinah, daughter of Jacob".
Accordingly, Jewish identity can be ethnic or cultural in nature. Jewish identity can involve ties to the Jewish community. Orthodox Judaism bases Jewishness on matrilineal descent. According to Jewish law , all those born of a Jewish mother are considered Jewish, regardless of personal beliefs or level of observance of Jewish law.
Etching (Germany, c. 1731) illustrating the uncleanliness of the mother after giving birth, according to Jewish law. The Book of Leviticus states that a mother should be considered unclean for 40 days after giving birth to a boy and for 80 days after giving birth to a girl. The scene shows a mother in bed eating, surrounded by women and children.
Judaism emphasizes family. Gender affects familial lines: in traditional Judaism, Jewishness is passed down through the mother, though the status of belonging to one of the three groups within Judaism (kohen, levite, or Israel) is inherited through the father.
Jewish genealogy is the study of Jewish families and the tracing of their lineages and history. The Pentateuchal equivalent for "genealogies" is "toledot" (generations). In later Hebrew, as in Aramaic, the term and its derivatives "yiḥus" and "yuḥasin" recur with the implication of legitimacy or nobility of birth. [ 1 ]