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Just curious what are everyone's thoughts about DNA tests for ascertaining Jewish ancestry. Are there situations where it should be done? If so, why? Or is it just a distraction? Any thoughts?
Depends for what purpose... it is interesting to know where you came from and trace your ancestors. I think a lot of gentiles looking for Jewish ancestry, don't understand who they are in the Messiah, they are having a type of identity crisis and are secretly hoping they are Jewish, maybe even to justify their passion for Torah, they think they must have some ancient ancestry drawing them, instead of simply God's plan and purpose for those who serve Him. The reality is, they are putting more stock in ethnicity, rather than what matters most and I think that is sad and it makes ethnicity hold more weight than anything else. We are seeing this from gentiles who are wanting to be Jewish and we see this from Jews in the Messianic Movement, who put their ethnicity above everything, ethnicity in the Messianic movement seems to be the biggest priority, which is sad and disturbing. I think I read more articles from people like James about Jewish ethnicity, more than anything else. It creates division and isolation. There is nothing wrong with being Jewish or gentile, it simply more important that we seek God, instead of ethnicity, sadly these should not be a competition, this should not even be an argument, however it is and it seems to be growing.
I think motive is important, is this to find out if one is Jewish or simply to research someones heritage... I think many people would never have gotten these DNA test if it was not for the possibility that they could claim Jewish identity... revealing the problem.
It would certainly be wrong to announce that one is a Jew if one is not recognized by any denomination of Judaism as being a Jew. And the fact is that a DNA test is not dispositive halachically speaking. So, in a sense, the results of a DNA test are irrelevant because the individual wishing to claim Jewishness status would still have to submit to whatever denominational halacha before acquiring that status.
Depends for what purpose... it is interesting to know where you came from and trace your ancestors. I think a lot of gentiles looking for Jewish ancestry, don't understand who they are in the Messiah, they are having a type of identity crisis and are secretly hoping they are Jewish, maybe even to justify their passion for Torah, they think they must have some ancient ancestry drawing them, instead of simply God's plan and purpose for those who serve Him. The reality is, they are putting more stock in ethnicity, rather than what matters most and I think that is sad and it makes ethnicity hold more weight than anything else. We are seeing this from gentiles who are wanting to be Jewish and we see this from Jews in the Messianic Movement, who put their ethnicity above everything, ethnicity in the Messianic movement seems to be the biggest priority, which is sad and disturbing. I think I read more articles from people like James about Jewish ethnicity, more than anything else. It creates division and isolation. There is nothing wrong with being Jewish or gentile, it simply more important that we seek God, instead of ethnicity, sadly these should not be a competition, this should not even be an argument, however it is and it seems to be growing.
ReplyDeleteDo you think that for a strong Messianic to get a DNA test would be to place a stumbling block before a weaker brother?
ReplyDeleteI think motive is important, is this to find out if one is Jewish or simply to research someones heritage... I think many people would never have gotten these DNA test if it was not for the possibility that they could claim Jewish identity... revealing the problem.
ReplyDeleteIt would certainly be wrong to announce that one is a Jew if one is not recognized by any denomination of Judaism as being a Jew. And the fact is that a DNA test is not dispositive halachically speaking. So, in a sense, the results of a DNA test are irrelevant because the individual wishing to claim Jewishness status would still have to submit to whatever denominational halacha before acquiring that status.
ReplyDeleteHmm....
That's correct Peter.
ReplyDelete