Isaac Kight – Jewish Identity – Matrilineal Vs Patrilineal Descent
Who is a Jew? Rabbinic Judaism follows the matrilineal rule while Karaite Judaism maintains a patrilineal position. What is the scriptural evidence to support either position? If it was one and now the other what was the catalyst for change? Also, is it possible for a Jew to cease being a Jew? Listen as Isaac and Jono discuss these hot topics and more!
Silver Trumpets – Who Is A Jew?
Fascinating but I’m still confused about Moabites being forbidden FOREVER from entering into the assembly. How does David escape this law?
Hi, Charles, being that the Tanakh follow a consistent patrilineal rule, the fact that Ruth is David’s great grandmother poses no problem because David’s fathers are of the line of Judah. The real question is were the sons of Naomi at liberty to marry a Moabitess considering Deut 23:4?
The problem is Karaite Judaism cannot trace it’s tradition back to Moshe. Where as classical Judaism can. There is no break in Jewish tradition since the giving of the Torah. Jono what is your official position on this? I’ve listened to much of your work which i love, and I’m surprised you would question matrilineal descent. When you gueat says this is a great debate…it’s really not.
Thanks for your comment, Danny. Karaites take their ultimate authority from the written Torah. “Only your fathers the Lord desired, to love them, so that He chose you, their lineal seed, out of all peoples, as it is this day.” – Deut 10:15
Is it not through A MOTHERS blood comes your DNA?That would be throught the mother that you would be Jewish?
How does one convert according to scripture?
G’day Bob, That’s a great question. The Tanakh has no prescription for conversion. The reason for this is because one cannot convert their DNA/heritage (see Deut 10:15). The closest thing you will find to “conversion” in the Torah is Exodus 12:48. I concur with the commentary in my Jewish Study Bible on this verse, that one must “first become a quasi-Israelite in order to identify with Israel’s defining national experience. …this ceremony is unique in the Bible; there is no other reference to a formal procedure for conversion foreigners to Israelites, even quasi-Israelites.” Conversion today is outside of scripture. It is a conversion to an institutionalised expression of religious Judaism. It exists out of bureaucratic necessity.