There is considerable controversy over Jewish identity. The whole issue is really quite insane to be perfectly honest as it is merely a tool of disenfranchisement, which is used for the advancement and promotion of a particular stream of Jewish idealism. The writings of the Torah and the teachings of the Sages are quite clear on this matter but very few will take into consideration the entirety of this issues dynamics and conform them into a simple precedent that clearly defines the 'Who is a Jew' question. I am currently writing a paper of this very issue and cannot share all of my thoughts on this subject but I do have some important points that I want to bring out.
The fundamental of Jewish identity is the determination of whether Judaism is racial or religious. The all too prevalent idea by some Jews and the majority of non-Jews is that the Jewish people represent a chosen race. This is an obvious error in thinking that leads people to a false idealism of racial-centrism. If Judaism is a race then which race within Judaism represents the true race? There are many non-Jews who would love to provide their own narative to this by saying that the Caucasians are the authentic Jews and then there are those who assert that it is the Africans who represent authentic Israel. The plain Torah narrative provides a look at a very diverse populace of multi-racial lineages within the context of a collective Israel. Intermarriage from the time of Abraham to the days of Moses was quite common and these intermarriages were not based on racial specifications. In a modern context we have Jews of every descent: European, Asian, Ethiopian, African, Hispanic, Arabic, etc. The truth is that there is not a Jewish race, there is not a Jewish ethnicity as Judaism incorporates many ethnicities and Judaism is not a culture. The culture of Moroccan Jews for example has very little resemblance to the culture of Polish Jews.
One of the issues concerning Jewish identity which has become confused and even misleading is the popular refrain of the Chabad: "Once a Jew always a Jew." This line of reasoning states that a Jew who has been born according to matrilineal descent is a 'genetic' Jew and can never lose their particular status as a Jew. This line of reasoning has motivated the Chabad's evangelsitic Kiruv crusade to find way-ward Jews lost amongst the goyim and bring them back to the fold. This endeavor is not wrong per se but the philosophical motivation is what must be questioned. Is a native Jew a lifetime member of the Tribe by right of birth alone? What if a Jew converts to another religion, do they retain their Jewish identity? There are those who answer in the affirmative. In fact, the theme of the Jews for Jesus and Messianic groups has been that it is possible to practice Christianity while maintaining allegiance to the Jewish culture (not sure what culture they are talking about). The truth of the matter is that if a Jew leaves Judaism and embraces any other religion such as Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, etc. then according to Halacha (Jewish Law) they are no longer Jewish. This fact alone demonstrates beyond any doubt that Judaism is not a race it is a religion. A religion that 'anyone' can join and one that 'anyone' who leaves also leaves their Jewish identity.
Allow me to provide you with a basis for these statements within the context of Jewish Law. The last Gaonim, Chai Gaon, stated that any Jew who converted out of Judaism was no longer to be considered a Jew. This ruling has also been endorsed and ratified in the responsa literature of:
* Shimon ben Zemah of Duran,
* Shemuel de Medina,
* Judah Berab,
* Jacob Berab,
* Moses ben Elias Kapsali,
This ruling appears in the following halachic codes:
* Radbaz, Responsa III 415
* Moses Iserless to Yoreh Deah 268:12
* Hoffman, Melamed Leho-il II, 84
* Rambam, Hilchos Mamrim Perek 3, Halacha 1-3
* Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Avodat Kochavim 2:5
Modern Rabbonim who have ruled that a Jew is no longer a Jew who leaves Judaism:
* Satmar Rebbe
* Rav Aryeh Kaplan
* Rav I.M Lau
* Rav E. Bakshi-Doron
I would like to point out that the Biblical context states that we each have a choice to make. You are to either serve HaShem- the God of Israel or you are to serve the gods of the nations:
"How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the God of the Jews is God, follow Him! But if Baal is God, follow him!"
So what is Judaism? It has been asserted by more than one great thinker that Judaism can only be classified as a family. Within the context of any extended family you have those who marry in, are born in and divorce out. Judaism is a family that consists of a variety of individuals from a wide swath of racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The one thing that unites us is simply the Torah. Like all extended families there are unique expressions of immediate family customs and likewise there are unique expressions of the Torah laws and customs. Jewish unity can only be genuine when we come to a collective understanding of ourselves as a family and begin to relate to each other as such. Attitudes of racial superioroty, exclusiveness, genetic purity and cultural supremacy are divisive distraction that have obscure the authentic face of Judaism. It's time to remove the mask and behold the beauty that lies beneath.
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