http://judaism.about.com/od/orthodoxfaqenkin/f/convornot.htm
Dear Rabbi,
I have not been brought up Jewish,
but have always known that my mother
came from a Jewish family.
Over the last few years I have been
drawn more and more to Judaism,
and I would now like to become
part of the Jewish people.
I understand that,
according to orthodox Judaism,
one is either Jewish through
the mother's line or by conversion.
While there is a female line in my case,
neither my mother nor her mother were
practicing Jews.
What do***ents do I need to present
to joining the Jewish community.
Or should I undergo conversion to Judaism?
Eli.
Answer: Dear Eli,
As long as you can prove beyond any
doubt that you come from a matrilineal
line of Jews,
then you will be accepted as
Jewish and need not worry
about anything else.
It does not matter what level of
observance was practiced by your
mother and grandmother.
Ideally one should be able
to present the Ketuba,
marriage contract,
of one's parents showing
the ceremony to have been
conducted by an orthodox rabbi.
In other instances the certificate of brit,
cir***cision, will do for boys as well.
In strenuous cir***stances some
rabbis have been known to allow
for photos of the tombstones of
deceased maternal relatives which
show a clear Jewish lineage or
even signed affidavits from
reliable and observant Jews.
If proper proof is lacking,
most rabbis will want you to
go through a conversion.
Best of luck,
Rabbi Ari Enkin
Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel
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