Am I considered to be part Jewish?

Question:We found out that my grandmother's father on my mother's side was a Jew. He changed his last name because apparently it would be "bad for business." My mother's family isn't very open, and my mother just found this out not too long ago. Since it was my great grandfather and not my great grandmother, am I considered to be part Jewish, since he was in my family tree a few generations ago? My grandmother would have been half Jewish. Would I be considered an eighth Jewish? Are there any special rules in calculating Jewishness? Just curious.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: We found out that my grandmother's father on my mother's side was a Jew. He changed his last name because apparently it would be "bad for business." My mother's family isn't very open, and my mother just found this out not too long ago. Since it was my great grandfather and not my great grandmother, am I considered to be part Jewish, since he was in my family tree a few generations ago? My grandmother would have been half Jewish. Would I be considered an eighth Jewish? Are there any special rules in calculating Jewishness? Just curious.

According to Jewish laws, if your mother is Jewish, you are Jewish. Since your grandmother was at least partially Jewish, your mother is considered Jewish, therefore, you are considered Jewish under Jewish law, as well.

My Grandfather on my mothers side was a Hungarian Jew. My whole fathers side are Eastern Orthodox. If that makes me any fraction of anything, then I think all religions should interbreed because I don't give a damn. That could evetually stop all these wars. In the end , we will all be in this together.

Being Jewish is a religion, not a nationality. You could be part Israeli.

you could possibly trace it through your grandmother. but you might not be 'official' without going through some kind of initiation process. course there is probably a difference between being jewish and being hebrew. i don't know.

It appears that your great grandmother broke the maternal line.

Orthodox and Conservative Jews define a Jew by the mother, not the father. Since your great grandmother apparently was not a Jew, then your grandmother wasn't according to Orthodox and Conservative Judaism. Reform would have considered your grandmother a Jew if she was raised Jewish and adhered to the Jewish faith.

I had a Jewish grandfather but my grandmother wasn't so their children would not be considered Jews by Orthodox and Conservative Judaism.