The question of “Who is a Jew” has been a matter of concern to Israel and the rest of the Jewish world for decades. It has led to political, social, and legal crises. The purpose of the following questionnaire is to find out how you would decide on the “Who is a Jew” issue. How should it be done? First we will play around with a few fictional characters, and try to figure out which of them you consider to be Jews. Then we will present you with a list of questions. When the data has been collected and processed, we will know “Who is a Jew” in the opinion of Israeli Jews.

In our first question, we will introduce you to 12 fictional characters, and give you a few facts about each one. Do you consider them to be Jews or non-Jews? Please indicate what you think about each character:

Ilya Born in Russia, Jewish mother, non-Jewish father, no contact with any organization or institutions belonging to the Jewish community, doesn’t consider himself a Jew but rather a Russian atheist.

I consider him a Jew

I consider him a non-Jew

It’s very hard for me to decide

Betty Born in Chicago to non-Jewish parents, came to Israel for love, is serving in the IDF, hasn’t converted but feels Jewish.

I consider her a Jew

I consider her a non-Jew

It’s very hard for me to decide

Geva A Born in Jerusalem to Jewish parents, emigrated to Australia, considers himself a non-Jewish Australian

Geva B Born in Jerusalem to Jewish father, emigrated to Australia, considers himself a non-Jewish Australian.

I consider him a Jew

I consider him a non-Jew

It’s very hard for me to decide

Dana Born in Berlin to Jewish parents, married an Israeli Arab, lives in Nazareth

I consider her a Jew

I consider her a non-Jew

It’s very hard for me to decide

Helena Born in Amsterdam, married a Jew, converted by a Chabad rabbi, is divorced from the Jew, and no longer considers herself a Jew.

I consider her a Jew

I consider her a non-Jew

It’s very hard for me to decide

Vlady Born in Lithuania, Jewish mother, father unknown, considers himself a Christian.

I consider him a Jew

I consider him a non-Jew

It’s very hard for me to decide

Zamir Born in Netanya, non-Jewish mother, converted by a Reform rabbi in Israel.

I consider him a Jew

I consider him a non-Jew

It’s very hard for me to decide

Chemi Born in Tel Aviv, Jewish parents, married a Jew and they live in Israel, considers himself a non-Jewish Israeli

I consider him a Jew

I consider him a non-Jew

It’s very hard for me to decide

Tavi Born in Paris, non-Jewish parents, converted by a Reform rabbi in France, married a non-Jew.

I consider him a Jew

I consider him a non-Jew

It’s very hard for me to decide

Yael Born in Los Angeles to non-Jewish parents. Decided to live according to Jewish ethical values.

I consider her a Jew

I consider her a non-Jew

It’s very hard for me to decide

Daniel Converted to Christianity in order to survive the Holocaust. Remained a Christian and came to live in Israel, considers himself both Christian and Jewish.

I consider him a Jew

I consider him a non-Jew

It’s very hard for me to decide

Miriam Athlete of Bosnian extraction, grew up in Israel, earned a gold medal in the Olympics, wants to be recognized as a Jew (without conversion).

I consider her a Jew

I consider her a non-Jew

It’s very hard for me to decide

Please indicate whether you agree or disagree with the following statements:

1. In my opinion, those who serve in the IDF and self-define as Jews, are Jews.

2. In my opinion, only those who believe in (the Jewish) God are Jews.

3. In my opinion, those who have married Jews and self-define as Jews, are Jews (even if they do not have a Jewish parent and have not undergone conversion).

4. In my opinion, only those who observe mitzvot (religious commandments) are Jews.

5. In my opinion, only those who raise their children as Jews are Jews.

6. In my opinion, only those who care about other Jews are Jews.

Please indicate what, in your opinion, all Jews should do (and if they don’t do these things, they are less Jewish in your opinion):

1. Fast on Yom Kippur

2. Support Israel

3. Circumcise their sons

4. Observe the holidays

5. Lead an ethical life

6. Remember the Holocaust

7. Care about the disadvantaged members of society

8. Study Torah

9. Love Jews (especially)

10. None of the above

Of the following definitions, do you think that Jews are mainly defined in terms of (choose one definition that you view as most important):

1. Their religion

2. Their nationality

3. Their ethnicity

4. Their values

5. Their culture

At this point the questionnaire is split. For each question the relevant respondent group is indicated.

For those who answered “Their culture”

When you said that Judaism is mainly culture, to what elements of culture were you referring?

1. Observing holidays and festivals

2. Studying Jewish texts and Jewish history

3. Eating Jewish foods

4. Using the Hebrew language

5. Leading an ethical life in the spirit of the prophets of Israel

6. Mostly-Jewish surroundings and friends

For those who answered “Their religion”

When you said that Judaism is mainly religion, to what elements of religion were you referring?

1. Full observance of all the mitzvot

2. Observance of some of the mitzvot

3. Observing Jewish holidays and fasts

4. Belief in God

5. Torah study

For those who answered “Their nationality”

When you say that Judaism is mainly Nationality, to what elements of nationality are you referring?

1. Living in Israel

2. Support for Israel

3. Feeling connected to all Jews, whoever and wherever they are

For those who answered “Their values”

1. Caring about the disadvantaged members of society

2. Caring about all Jews

3. Caring about all human beings

4. Aspiration to justice

5. Safeguarding democracy

6. Adhering to the truth in all areas

7. Non-conformity

8. None of the above, I had something else in mind

For those who answered “Their ethnicity”

You said that Jewishness is a matter of ethnicity. Which of the following conditions are necessary in order for someone to be considered ethnically Jewish in your eyes?

1. Son/daughter of a Jewish parent (father or mother)

2. Son/daughter of a Jewish mother

3. Some kind of Jewish ethnic background (grandparent is sufficient)

For everyone except those who answered “Their ethnicity”

Do you agree that all those who self-define as Jews are Jews (and that there are no other conditions that determine Jewishness – self-definition is the sole deciding factor)?

1. Yes

2. No

For those who answered “Yes” to the previous question

Let’s assume that someone self-defines as Jewish but says s/he also has another identity (such as Buddhist, atheist, Catholic, or anything else that s/he considers comparable to Jewish). Is this person a Jew in your opinion?

1. Yes, a person can be Jewish while also having another identity

2. It depends on what the other identity is

3. No, a Jew is someone who is only Jewish

For those who answered “A Jew is someone who is only Jewish”

You said that “those who self-define as Jews are Jews.” We would like to know, just for clarification purposes: Does this mean that, for you, a Jew can also be someone whose parents aren’t Jewish, who hasn’t undergone conversion, and who has simply decided (for reasons of his own, and in his own way) to identify as a Jew?

1. Yes, this is what I meant

2. No, this isn’t what I meant, I’d like to change my answer

For those who answered “Yes, this is what I meant”

We would like to clarify what is meant by “self-identifying as a Jew”

1. It’s enough for the person simply to say that s/he is a Jew

2. There has to be a sense of belonging to the Jewish religion, nationality, or culture

3. It refers to a Jewish way of life (ceremonies, holidays, and the like)

For everyone else

In your opinion, what other identities can a person have in addition to a Jewish identity (mark all those you consider appropriate)

1. Christian and Jewish

2. Muslim and Jewish

3. French and Jewish

4. Buddhist and Jewish

5. Atheist and Jewish

6. Agnostic and Jewish

7. Scientologist and Jewish

For those who answered the previous question

When a non-Jewish person wants to become Jewish, do you think a conversion process is required?

1. No, I consider personal decision and personal behavior to be enough

2. Yes, conversion is necessary

3. In my opinion, it’s altogether impossible for a non-Jew to become a Jew

For those who answered that “it’s impossible to become a Jew”

Although conversion has been practiced for many generations among the Jewish people, and although a number of the great rabbis have been converts, you have said that, in your view, it’s impossible for a non-Jew to become a Jew. We would like to clarify your position:

1. I made a mistake, would like to change my answer

2. In my view, Judaism is solely a matter of ethnicity (one’s parentage), and that cannot be changed in any way

For those who answered “No” to the self-definition question

Which of the following conditions must obtain in order for you to consider someone a Jew (choose the answer that is closest to what you think):

1. Son/daughter of a Jewish mother, or conversion

2. Son/daughter of a Jewish parent (father or mother), or conversion

3. Jewish ethnicity (a grandparent is sufficient) or conversion

4. Sense of belonging to the Jewish nationality or culture

5. Leads a Jewish life (ceremonies, holidays, and the like)

6. Both Jewish mother and sense of belonging / way of life required

7. Both Jewish parent and sense of belonging / way of life required

8. Both Jewish ethnicity and sense of belonging / way of life required

For all those who gave answers that included “or conversion” (others referred to the question “Is conversion required?”)

Let’s focus on conversion. Does conversion to Judaism have to be Orthodox conversion, or are other forms of conversion (such as Reform, Conservative, or a secular ceremony) valid in your eyes?

1. Only those who have undergone Orthodox conversion are Jews

2. Those who have undergone Orthodox or Conservative conversion are Jews

3. Those who have undergone any form of conversion are Jews

For those who answered as stated in the question

You’ve confused us a little. One the one hand you said that someone of Jewish ethnic background (a grandparent is sufficient) is Jewish. This is not an Orthodox view. On the other hand, you said that for conversion purposes, you require Orthodox conversion. What exactly do you mean?

1. I also got confused. I’d like to update my answer regarding who is a Jew, from someone of Jewish ethnicity to someone with a Jewish mother

2. I also got confused. I’d like to update my answer regarding conversion

3. There’s nothing to be confused about. That’s exactly what I meant. For ethnicity purposes I accept grandparents as well, but for conversion purposes I specifically require Orthodox conversion

For those who answered “Orthodox conversion”

You said that in your view, only those who have undergone Orthodox conversion may be considered Jews by conversion. Please clarify: Do you think that any Orthodox conversion is sufficient, or are there some Orthodox conversions that you accept, and others that you don’t?

1. Accept all Orthodox conversions

2. Accept some Orthodox conversions (depends which rabbi)

3. Accept only conversions authorized by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel

For those who answered “Orthodox or Conservative conversion”

You said that in your view, only those who have undergone Orthodox or Conservative conversion may be considered Jews by conversion. Please clarify: is any Orthodox or Conservative conversion sufficient, or do you accept only Orthodox or Conservative conversions by specific rabbis (for example, those recognized by the institutions of those streams)?

1. Accept all conversions of these types

2. Accept some conversions of these types (depends which rabbi)

For everyone

We are nearly done. In your opinion, should the Jewishness of Israeli Jews and of non-Israeli Jews be determined in the same way and according to the same rules?

1. Both the same rules, and the same deciding entities

2. The same rules, but each community should have its own deciding entities

3. No need for uniformity: each place should have its own rules and decision-makers

For those who answered “No need for uniformity”

Just to make sure we understand: According to your response, someone could be considered Jewish in one place but not Jewish in another place. Is this what you meant?

1. Yes, that is what I meant

2. No, I’d like to go back to the previous question and change my answer

For everyone

In your opinion, is being Jewish a Yes or No situation, or can one also be part Jewish or Jewish to a certain degree?

1. Either you’re Jewish or you’re not. There aren’t different degrees

2. One can be Jewish to a certain degree, more Jewish or less Jewish