Passing of Jewishness

[Guest orwhatuwill]

Philosophical question: Do you think transwomen who have had children prior to any SRS can pass Jewishness to their children?

Personally, that would explain a lot for me.

[Guest Elizabeth K]

Transwoman? My understanding is the Law says it is passed by the mother. I would assume that is strictly the birth-mother.

But I am not Jewish through the Law, because my line is great great grandmother- great grandfather - grandmother - mother - me, so it is broken.even though I am 1/16th. My great grandfather had no sisters and was an only child - so the line died out

Anyway, perhaps Carolyn Marie or someone else can help you.

Lizzie

[Carolyn Marie]

If I'm understanding your question, hon, your asking if the legal status as a Jew within Judaic law can be inherited from a trans parent, in this case a biological male parent? If I've stated it correctly, my answer is that it probably needs to be asked of a Rabbi. Making it even more complicated, it may depend on whether the Rabbi is Orthodox, Conservative or Reform.

My guess is that, outside of Orthodox, the answer is yes. It's my understanding that Orthodox Rabbi's do not accept transfolk in their Temples, and transmen are not allowed to pray at the Wailing Wall.

You might try Googling the issue, but I'll be surprised if you find anything. Sorry I couldn't be of more help. I am Jewish, but haven't practiced the faith in a long time.

HUGS

Carolyn Marie

[Drea]

I hadn't intended to respond but in my tupor apparently I did. I am no authority, I am Christian, but I do have a great deal of respect to judiasm. It has always been my observation that elements of the faith, dietary rules, etc are rooted in very pragmatic traditions that makes a great deal of sense. Maybe not in modern days, but in the past were reflective of practical realities. This may be a case of my just not knowing enough however.

The inheritience thru the mother always made sense to me because there was never any question who the mother is while there could be doubt about who the father is. If that is indeed the deep down root for the inheritince, I would tend to think that the interpretation when it comes to trans parents, forgetting about trans being accepted or not, would come down to who actually gave physical birth to the child. Thus the answer to the question raised would be no, it wouldn't pass thru a MTF parent.

I think Carolyn's response is good. This is just what had occurred to me.

Edited February 19, 2012 by Drea
Fixed some comments made while I was sleeping

[Carolyn Marie]

... would come down to who actually gave physical birth to the child. Thus the answer to the question raised would be no, it wouldn't pass thru a MTF parent.

But, Drea, if we're talking about an FtM parent, wouldn't the answer be "yes," if inheritance is via the birth mother? I have to admit, it's confusing.

Carolyn Marie

[Carolyn Marie]

I've asked Moses for an answer (no, silly, not THAT Moses ). The AskMoses.com web site. I'll let you know what they say.

Carolyn Marie

[Drea]

... would come down to who actually gave physical birth to the child. Thus the answer to the question raised would be no, it wouldn't pass thru a MTF parent.

But, Drea, if we're talking about an FtM parent, wouldn't the answer be "yes," if inheritance is via the birth mother? I have to admit, it's confusing.

Carolyn Marie

Yes if it were a FTM prior to transition (or after as in the "pregnant man" stories) that person would pass along the inheritance is my supposition as to the rationale were accurate. The question was about a "transwomen who have had children prior to any SRS" which I interpreted as MTF since that would be what a trans woman would be. Of course that may not have been what was intended by Orwhatuwill who identified as FT?

[Guest orwhatuwill]

I'm interested in people's philosophical opinion of the possibility of jewishness passing to children through feminine energy, as opposed to only by only through a female body... I understand that Jewish law commands the passage of jewishness from Mother to child(and I understand the historical reasoning)....but, what if the "father" was actually really always a mother inside their heart/soul/mind...could that father's true feminine energy have passed jewishness...could it be argued? I wonder if any Rabbi's read these pages?

[Carolyn Marie]

That's a far different question than what I had thought, hon, and gets into metaphysics and all kinds of stuff. The problem with asking that question is that any answer would be based on supposition, personal philisophy, and feelings about transsexuals, and less on Rabbinical teachings or Judaical law.

Concerning the question that I thought you were asking, here is the reply I received from someone identifying themselves as Rabbi Loschak, on the AskMoses.com web site:

"As far as I know, if the person is Jewish any offspring are automatically

Jewish, regardless of what transitions will or will not be made."

That seems like pretty good and authoritative news for our Jewish members here.

HUGS

Carolyn Marie

[Carolyn Marie]

That's a far different question than what I had thought, hon, and gets into metaphysics and all kinds of stuff. The problem with asking that question is that any answer would be based on supposition, personal philisophy, and feelings about transsexuals, and less on Rabbinical teachings or Judaical law.

Concerning the question that I thought you were asking, here is the reply I received from someone identifying themselves as Rabbi Loschak, on the AskMoses.com web site:

"As far as I know, if the person is Jewish any offspring are automatically

Jewish, regardless of what transitions will or will not be made."

That seems like pretty good and authoritative news for our Jewish members here.

HUGS

Carolyn Marie