Question:
I chose to start approaching Judaism about 15 years ago. I studied with Chabad rabbis and the Internet. I recently finished a DNA history and discovered that I had a European Jewish ancestry on my mother’s side. Am I still required to perform the official conversion?
Thank you,
Jared.
Answer:
According to Halacha, a person’s Judaism is determined only when his mother is Jewish, the mother’s Judaism is also determined only if her mother is Jewish and so on.
Sequences of mitochondrial DNA are inherited only from the mother to her children, the father has no effect at all on the sequences of mitochondrial DNA, so when DNA sequences are discovered that are known to belong in very high percentages precisely and uniquely to certain populations of Jews, such as Jews of Ashkenazi European origin, this constitutes proof of Judaism, proof built on an absolute majority.
This proof constitutes admissible proof by most Dayanim for the clarification of Judaism, but usually this proof is sought for a few more signs on Jewish customs or documents, etc.
The most important thing is clearly Judaism according to DNA, to submit the DNA results to a Ortodexi rabbi who understands their reading and knows how to confirm to you if this result is indeed clear enough proof.
Attached to you a link to the Signs Institute that deals precisely in this field with the clarification of Judaism based on a DNA test, where they will gladly help you clearly your Judaism.
As a person who has approached Judaism and surely your identity is important to you, it is worthwhile and highly recommended that you find out about the origin of your mother, who your mother was, by documents or the stories of the relatives, who married them, etc. of course strongly recommends contacting Rabbi Ze’ev Litka from the Sign Institute in this link, https://www.sgenetics.co.il/#
With a blessing of success wherever you turn
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