Ask The Rabbi!!

[TomHagen]

Originally Posted by kydsid

My family as long as is known, after immigrating to the US has been Christian. Yet my Great Great Grandfather Jacob Bez and his wife Mimi immigrated here from Germany during the time of the first Jewish persecution by the Kaiser. The one picture of him we have he looks very much like the Rabbi on page 2 of this thread. It has always been thought he was Jewish. I am descended from him through a complete female lineage. As I understand it then that would mean I am considered a Jew, correct?

Is there any Jewish registries or libraries to verify he and his family were indeed Jewish?

And if so should I be looking for a nice Jewish girl to marry? And if not verified will my memory be good enough for a Jewish mother?

And if I did find a nice Jewish girl would I need to practice Judaism too? I was raised Christian and believe and hold my faith as a core of myself so I don't think I could just change my faith for love.

If your mother is Jewish, you are Jewish. But, your mom's, mom's, mom's, mom's mom etc. etc. has to be Jewish. If that is the case a person is Jewish, and there is nothing a person can do to change that regardless of personal choice, circumstance, feeling etc.

There is a good website that one can trace their Jewish geneology through. Google it.

yes. a Jewish man should marry a Jewish girl, and vice versa.

yes. a Jew should practice Judaism according to the Torah. It might not be changing one's faith for love, but changing to be faithful to oneself.
(if in fact you are Jewish)