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Archiver > GENEALOGY-DNA > 2010-07 > 1280610834


From: Jim Bartlett <>
Subject: Re: [DNA] Jewish DNA
Date: Sat, 31 Jul 2010 17:13:54 -0400
References: <4C53F0B9.8070006@tadaust.org.au><4F43E806-16BB-4629-9484-09020E91446C@verizon.net><4287009.39638.1280592177451.JavaMail.www@wwinf1h08><4C547C75.7050304@tadaust.org.au>
In-Reply-To: <4C547C75.7050304@tadaust.org.au>


I have always been told that there are several definitions of Jew: one based on religion (could be any DNA); one based on descendancy (DNA); one based on homeland or clan (which could include other DNA); and I'm sore there are others.

Jim - Sent from my iPhone - FaceTime!

On Jul 31, 2010, at 3:41 PM, patrick holland <> wrote:

> Hi Didier,
>
> Yes, I can, seriously say, being a Jew, has nothing to do with DNA
> because the definition of Jewish identity is based on the teachings of
> the Torah , not on biology..
>
> Also there is the issue of conversion to Judaism to consider .
> According to this article, under the sub heading, Who is a Jew, it says,
> " A Jew is any person whose mother was a Jew or any person who has gone
> through the formal process of conversion
> <http://www.jewfaq.org/defs/conversion.htm>; to Judaism as performed by
> an Orthodox Rabbi.. Obviously , a Jew by conversion does not have any ,
> ' Jewish DNA ' .
>
> I would also make the point that if , ' Jewish DNA ' , exists then why
> are DNA tests for it not being used in contemporary Israel to define who
> is a Jew, for the purposes of the , " Law of Return " (1950 and
> amendments ) ? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Return
>
> Actually, I would be pleased if you could prove me to be wrong because
> I believe that I may have Sephardic Jewish ancestry and would be
> delighted if I could take a DNA test to confirm that I do indeed have
> Jewish ancestors.
>
> Regards.
>
> Patrick.
>
>
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