Ask The Rabbi
January 29, 1994, Issue #8

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This edition contains:
1.	Why Judaism only accepts matrilineal descent.
2.	Spend the summer in Israel for as little as $599.

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J. from Pittsburgh writes:

>Dear Rabbi,
>
>I recently had a conversation with a Reform acquaintance of mine who  
>told me that they accept patrilineal descent in determining Jewishness.  
>I know that Judaism only accepts matrilineal descent, but what are the 
>sources on this matter so that I can be more informed at further 
>discussions?

* * * * * * * * * *

Dear J.,

First of all, let's explain what Judaism uses as the source for 
Matrilineal descent.  The Mishna in Kiddushin 66b states that 
if a child's mother is not Jewish, then the child is "like 
her," (i.e., not Jewish).  This Halacha is codified in the 
Shulchan Aruch, Even HaEzer 8:5, without mention of any 
dissenting opinion.  No source in the Torah teaches otherwise, 
and this question has never been raised in any classical 
Halachic text.  It is an obvious and accepted axiom given to us 
at Sinai.

What happened in the Reform movement?  For reasons know to 
them, they decided to "change the rules" regarding patrilineal 
descent.  Since they did not feel bound to the Halacha, or even 
the literal _Written Law_, the Torah, they felt justified in 
doing this.  Since Reform Judaism "plays by different rules," 
it makes it difficult_if not impossible_to debate patrilineal 
descent with them.

Clearly, we are discussing this question based on purely 
_Halachic_ considerations, and therefore our discussion is not 
to be confused with the more political issue of "Who is a Jew?" 
regarding that person's status in Israel.

Source:
	 Mishna, Tractate Kiddushin page 66b	

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      with demonstrated academic achievement 
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For information: 
o	send E-Mail to Rabbi Zalman Corlin 				
		<ny000586@mail.nyser.net>
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