Jewishness isn’t determined by a DNA test. While it is true that Jewish ancestry can be strongly determined by a DNA test, but it is a common misnomer that Jewish ancestry equals being Jewish. That’s like saying because I have some sub-Saharan African ancestry (Senegal), that therefore I’m African American. Ancestry, ethnicity, culture, and nationality are each distinct from the other. They are interrelated, but distinct.
“Jewish” genetic markers only refer to genetic markers that are mostly associated with Jews of a particular community. If it shows up on someone’s DNA test, it means they are descended from people from that community, but it doesn’t mean they are Jewish, any more than if a Hamas terrorist in Gaza finds out he has Native North American ancestry would it mean he is a US citizen or a member of a Native American tribe. Of course, if someone embraces the culture and identity of a particular group and joins that group according to that group’s laws for joining, then they would be a member of that people, but this would be because of personal choice and because they joined them according to their laws, not because they had genetic markers showing they have some ancestors from that community.
DNA tests are fun and can have some very real life practical uses. Discovering that you have Jewish ancestry can certainly be exciting if you value Jewish history, but it is contrary to Torah and contrary to norms of Jewish law to imagine this makes one a member of the People of Israel. Neither lack of “Jewish DNA” nor presence of “Jewish DNA” has any bearing on membership to the People of Israel at all, other than possibly motivating a person to join the People of Israel — but if they do so, it would be due to their choosing and following through with their choice in accordance with Jewish law, and not due to their ancestry. Imagining otherwise is akin to myself imagining that I can decide black African Senegalese law just because I have some Senegalese ancestry, despite my having never been part of a Senegalese community. To imagine that my opinions represent Senegalese culture or the Senegalese people just because I have some Senegalese ancestry is, frankly, audacious and disrespectful to Senegalese people. If I want to be Senegalese, in whatever way that might be possible, it will have to be in accordance with the laws and procedures of the historical Senegalese people, and not according to how I think it “should” be just because I have some Senegalese ancestry. No different regarding “Jewish DNA”.
“ka-khem ka-ger” (as you, the native born are, so is the immigrant who immigrates unto you) – Numbers 15:15-16. When it comes to the Covenant of Torah, God doesn’t care about DNA.
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