Mrs.Bernstein, here's what you need to know in the new year 2011 : There is no Jewish people according to Shlomo Sand ,rather only a Jewish religion.

One thing is religious halakhic consideration: who belongs to the "People of Covenant" according to the interpretation of this or that denomination of Judaism. Another pair of shoes is the feeling of nationality which in short was awaken about XIX century together with national awakenings of other nations. I always felt: let's allow for a wider tent. There should be a "religious-halakhic Jewishness" and a "secular Jewishness". Intermarriage, especially in diaspora, after leaving shtetls or ghettos, is a fact. But even if you are not halakhic, you are my brother. Even if you are not Jew by Halakha, then you are Jewish in a secular sense of this word: culture, nationhood, ancestors, language(s), tradition, literature etc. Take it, foster your Jewishness as much as you can, light candles on Shabbat, read Jewish literature, pass the "J" to your children.

and learn anything about Judaism and Jewish history. Even in Halakha you clearly have the rules of inheritance. According to it, if you are matrilinear descent and are atheist or even worship Flying Spaghetti Monster, then yes you are the Jew. For example, for hundred years Jews in Europe had their own language (some still speak Yiddish), alphabet, culture, traditions, political parties, literature, even sense of humour, theatre. Merry Christmas :)

what if your mother was jewish and your father was an idol worshipper, and you had fond childhood memories of bowing down to idols...would you still be making the same arguement? do you realize how absurd you sound?

Your mum jewish?

There is no "aliyah" for those not Jewish; thereis no need to "deal with our communal definitions", everything is written very clearly. What is needed for people to read what is written and learn to deal with who they really are.

Palestinians and Palestine have never existed!

you are Jewish if your mother was Jewish. However, you are considered to be a member of Clal Yisrael is you accept the basic principles of Judiasm as outlined by the Rambam. Your soul may depend on it.

Dear Emily - you say - "If we are so concerned with interfaith marriages abroad, shouldn’t we try to make the people who choose a Jewish life feel welcome?" - and of course you are perfectly correct in your assessment. However, your viewpoint is also rather naive within the context of Israeli reality. As long as the orthodox retain a stranglehold on the Ministry of the Interior then there is no chance of the situation improving and all that in the name of coalition politics. Personally I would say that citizenship entitlement and religion should NEVER go together, as they don't in any other Western democracy, but alas I am banging my proverbial head against the proverbial wall on that one. Others would say that being "Jewish" means belonging to a nation rather than just a religion, but it really depends on your personal interpretation I think. Whichever way you look at it Emily - you are dealing with an overtly racist regime which won't listen. If I were you I would go back home.

The article raises some very interesting points, which suggest other issues not addressed. First, I am an oleh whose marriage began as an interfaith marriage. But my wife chose for herself an Orthodox conversion, so we are now a fully Jewish family. Like the author, my wife had Christmas as kid-and I'm guessing much more of it since her upbringing was entirely Christian, not interfaith. But my wife, as a Jew, does not celebrate Christmas here. She does not see it as part of her choosing Judaism. As is the case both with many converts and many children from interfaith homes. I question why we should make room for Christmas among some interfaith olim when so many others with arguably stronger childhood memories of Christmas have specifically not included it because it doesn't fit within Judaism. Second, it's wonderful that the author made aliyah. Sadly, children of interfaith families making aliyah (at least from Anglo countries) are in the very distinct minority (regardless of whether they are halachically Jewish). Perhaps if thousands of similarly situated people made aliyah, they would have a much greater voice. Third, as the child of a Jewish father (I'm assuming that from your description), you absolutely are considered Jewish for the Right of Return, which is why you are here. No distinction is made between what the State gives you and what it gives someone born of a Jewish mother. However, as you pointed out, halacha has a specfic definition. Patrilineal descent only came about with the American Reform movement about 30 years ago (My understanding is that even the Reform movement in Israel has not adopted this definition). It is unreasonable to expect people to change their religious definition for you, especially when others in your situation have chosen to become halachically Jewish. You are under no obligation to do so; neither can you expect others to adopt your definition of Jewishness because you choose not to do so.

then people. Very much like Hezballa.

Well written. But you know there are those who will never except us, regardless of how much of ourselves we give.

And, as Salma well knows, Sand has been debunked by every reputable expert in the world. One thing is for sure, the "Palestinian" people are a complete fiction. The notion of giving what would be a terrorist state to a people who don't exist is the very definition of lunacy. Naturally, like all decent Jewish people, it is something I oppose with every fibre of my being. If this non-people want a state let them go to Jordan.

Who are Jewish christians? Those who are memebers of our tribe and really enjoy following the teachngs of a different rabbi - they are jews - and will be welcome

It is not an issue of making one welcome or not. Either you are or not. A scenario situation. I am a heart surgeon. I performed many procedures. I FEEL like a good Doctor, I feel comfortable among others in this profession, BUT GUESS WHAT, I am not a REAL CERTIFIED Doctor. I have no REAL license that REALLY allows me to even touch a patient.....but I feel like a good Doctor, I know what it takes to be a good Doctor. Why can't you except me or Make me feel welcomed. I think you get the POINT here. ONE GOD - ONE TORAH. One way of becoming JEWISH, is the TRUE HALACHIC WAY. Any true person wanting to convert and who does it Halachically, why don't we hear them complaining. It is only those, whose have a doubt, complain about their way of wanting to convert.

Abraham grew up with an idol worshipping family, but came to realize that there is only one true God and He is the Creator of all things. So does that sound absurd?

I wonder what David's ancestor Ruth the Moabitess would have to say to you.

Would you have said the same things to those living in the land during the time of the Pharisees & Saducees? You seem not to understand, that Emily has chosen Israel as her home, spite the religious bogus ruling (shepherding) Israel. God has sworn severe dealings with these hypocrites. Emily is home and God loves her!!

It is Jews like you, Emily Bernstein, who make me proud to be Jewish. You bring the light of our people to the world. Bless you.

You say your Jewish and that you practice Judaism, yet you refuse to convert. I don't get it. If your Jewish then make it official and if your not then what are you complaining about? That Jews don't treat you like a Jew even though you don't want to be a Jew, but simultaneously claim to be one? I'm very confused... or maybe your the one that's confused.

Matrilineal descent dates from the period about 200 - 500 CE. Prior to that both matrilineal and patrilineal descent was accepted.

any way, Shlomo Sand is an "Israeli" honest historian..

Unfortunately, loving Israel doesn't make you Jewish, either. If you've grown up in a Reform setting, maybe that's where you've gotten the idea that celebrating Christmas and "practicing Judaism" are not mutually exclusive but they are. Celebrating Christmas in Israel, after you've supposedly made Aliyah as a Jew, is just plain naive. I also became an Israeli citizen, based on the Law of Return from my father's side and I have never expected anyone to "welcome" me in any way. I also grew up in an interfaith home and celebrated Christmas and have "fond memories" of it but ultimately I made the choice to live an observant Jewish lifestyle, the right choice. People ask you if you're going to convert only because they want the adjustment to be easier for you. You aren't Jewish by Halacha so you present a problem by living here and your children are going to have even bigger problems. If you fundamentally believe in Israel and have no objections to leading an observant lifestyle, why don't you want to do a Halachic conversion? This is the only honest way of declaring you have the "right" to be here...

So called "Jews" who aren't Jewish according to halakha are the erev rav!!! No place in Israel for them!

Guess what? I don't FEEL like a soldier. I am one. You and your ilk sent your kids to drink coffee and bilk the system of tax dollars. You are liars and cheats. Meanwhile, you dictate who can get married, when buses can run, and how much an employer must pay his employees on a Saturday. It's unfortunate you have to stay in Israel because the rest of the world hates you, but in the meantime how about being a productive member of society? How about you shut your mouth and get to work! This country wasn't founded by pathetic religious Jewish weaklings, it was founded by strong atheists with little tie to more than traditional Judaism. So get your hand out of my life and my pocket!! If anyone in Israel wants a Christmas tree and a Hannukkah Menorah, what business is it of yours? If you want religious dictation, go to Iran, if you want representative democracy, go to America, if you want some semblance of respect and dignity EARN IT!! I did, and I still can't get married in the country I'm going to die for. Even for you Harry (who is most certainly American) I will put my life on the line, just so your kids can feel safe when they tuck in at their Yeshiva. I will still stand up for you, but don't be mistaken: I have ZERO respect for you. More than blood makes a Jew.

from other western countries. If you take being jewish as being part of a people not just the religion then it is no different from the criteria for British or French citizenship. In fact it is more lenient. As for the religious part, the orthodox only get a say if you are trying to convert. If you are lucky enough to have a Jewish mum you can party all Shabbat and eat pork ribs to your heart's content.

shlomo sand was refuted by all major scholars in the world. if you were not so ignorant and read more to stimulate your weak brain, you will know that his book has been ethnically, historically and dna refuted by all major authors that are both jews and non jews all over the world. maybe it is what you want to believe, but one author doesn't change reality. your reality is rediculous. thousands of historians, scientists, anthropologists and dna researchers have refuted and completely showed that sand is but one voice that is not based on any scientific research at all. that this book as his opinion and based on no evidence at all. if you as an uneducated arab insist on claiming that sand is an authority, i am not surprised that most arabs think the world is flat according to their imams or that the jews are not a people. i would say there are many books that say palestinians are not a people but simple arabs that lived in the ottoman empire and worked the lands in what is now israel for the rich missing landlords in palestine, which is likely the truth. read salma. read. do not be ignorant. one book suits your fantasy. but what about millions of books that refute and ridicule sand theory. read slama. read. you will never expose yourself as the ignorant arab that you are. hameed aboughaze, iranian

You are Jewish if your Mother is Jewish or if you have gone through a Halachically correct Orthodox Jewish conversion. Otherwise you are not Jewish. You can spend endless paragraphs discussing your feelings of being Jewish or being culturally Jewish. It comes down to the bottom line, are you Halachically Jewish? Is your Mother Jewish or did you have a Halachically correct conversion?

When I was growing up in Chicago; nice music. And I love Thanksgiving. But that's not Judaism. Being a good person, an Israeli, is wonderful, and you don't need to convert. Just go and learn. Don't let your Israeli or spiritual feelings get confused, or superficial. Life is about making decisions and being authentic