possibly cut

[SAO Pokemon Hunter]

So I'm uncut and Welsh/Spanish and found out that my past ancestors were Jewish, so my dad said that we can get registered as Jews but I was wondering if I will have to get circumcised? Also will I have to read the torah and have a bar mitzvah?

[Swimmer98]

Only if you want to follow the religion. You make it sound like because of your ancestors you have to register and get a part of your penis cut off. Being circumcised for them is equivalent to confirmation I believe for Christians. If you don't want to follow the religion you don't have to, it's completely up to you.

[Semi_IronMan]

Thnk itz u2u.(up 2 u)

[SAO Pokemon Hunter]

Well im not sure as ive been following the Christian faith so wouldn't it be weird going from a Christian to a Jewish faith follower?

[nklarke]

Hi, I'm a Jew and I know about a family with a situation like yours so I could answer you.

1) Firstly, you have to find out which of your past ancestors were Jews. The Jewishness comes from your mother side so the mother of your mother, the mother of your grandmother (mother side) has to be Jew.

2) If that's the case, you are a Jew "by default", so you don't need to do anything. Even if you don't "have a bar mitzvah" or you remain uncut, you would be a Jew anyway.

3) What happens sometimes is that the Rabbi will ask you to get circumcised (brit milah) and enter to a mikveh (like a swimming pool) as a "symbolic" practice that you will be starting a new life according to the Jewish commandments, but in fact, these events don't make you a Jew if you're already a Jew by birth (mother side).

4) I don't know what you mean with "we can get registered as Jews". You're a Jew or you're not a Jew, we don't have "registrations". Or maybe you mean that your father want to register you all in a Jewish community (synagogue).

5) What you can do is to ask for a meeting with an Orthodox Rabbi, show him the papers about your ancestors so he confirms that you're a Jew.

6) In your last post you say that you have been following the Christian faith. Well, in fact you could be a Jewish anyway but if your idea is to continue doing that, I don't see the point of "register as a Jew" for whatever that means.

Good luck and if I can help you with another question, feel free to send me a message. ;)

[Zanman11]

I think that nklarke is for sure the most knowledgeable in the subject, but I believe that orthodox and conservative Jews require circumcision, and reform jews don't... Again not sure because I only took one world religions course

[nklarke]

I think that nklarke is for sure the most knowledgeable in the subject, but I believe that orthodox and conservative Jews require circumcision, and reform jews don't... Again not sure because I only took one world religions course

What you are talking applies for conversions to Judaism.
In this case, he could be a Jew by birth so it's another history and circumcision is irrelevant.

[Zanman11]

What you are talking applies for conversions to Judaism.
In this case, he could be a Jew by birth so it's another history and circumcision is irrelevant.

Good point, it all depends on the mothers side for Jewish lineage in that case

[Swimmer98]

Well im not sure as ive been following the Christian faith so wouldn't it be weird going from a Christian to a Jewish faith follower?

it's completely up to you. Just because you had family members that are jewish does not mean that you have to convert. You can keep on being Christian if you want.

[Fireangel]

So I'm uncut and Welsh/Spanish and found out that my past ancestors were Jewish, so my dad said that we can get registered as Jews but I was wondering if I will have to get circumcised? Also will I have to read the torah and have a bar mitzvah?

I think it's pretty possible you must have to get circumcised.

[JustJordan]

Registered as Jews? If you are a Christian or any religion there isn't a need to change religion based on your ancestors. But if you are going to follow the Jewish religion I am pretty sure it's customary to get a circumcision.

[FaitoDayo]

I remember Jewish religion had their foreskin cut off (circumcision), so if I were you, I'd ask them first.