Who is a Jew?

According to halakha, the oldest normative definition used by Jews for self-identification, a person is matrilineally a Jew by birth, or becomes one through conversion to Judaism. Adherence to this definition has been challenged since the emergence of the Karaite sect, emergence of modern groups in Judaism since the 19th century, and the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. Issues that have been raised reflect:

Child's non-Jewish mother: i.e. whether a child born of a non-Jewish mother should be considered Jewish through the father's Jewish identity.

Conversion: i.e. what process of conversion other than the normative orthodox procedure should be considered valid.

Historical loss of Jewish identity: i.e. whether a person's or group's actions (such as conversion to a different religion) or circumstances in his, her or community's life (such as being unaware of Jewish parents) should affect his or her Jewish status.

Diaspora identity: identity of Jews among themselves, and by non-Jews throughout the Jewish diaspora.

Claim to Israeli citizenship: the examination of the three previous issues in the context of the Basic Laws of Israel.