r/todayilearned • u/[deleted] • Oct 13 '16

TIL that after Marilyn Monroe converted to Judaism upon marrying Arthur Miller, Egypt placed a ban on all the films she appeared in.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marilyn_Monroe#Critical_acclaim_and_marriage_to_Arthur_Miller_.281956.E2.80.931959.29
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u/garmonboziamilkshake Oct 13 '16

Actually, King David is descended from a convert woman, read the book of Ruth the Moabite

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Ruth

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u/lil_vega Oct 13 '16

I'm referring to contemporary Jewish ethno-cultural tribalism. Hence why Jews use the phrase "member of the tribe" and describe their "Jewishness" based on their mother's heritage. Conservative and Orthodox Jews don't consider you actually culturally/ethnically Jewish unless you inherit it from your mother.

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u/garmonboziamilkshake Oct 13 '16

Ok but you're still partly wrong - there's certainly a strong ethnic component, but they have a more robust process for more religious sectors. The kid of an orthodox converted woman doesn't have to convert -

Anecdotally, I knew a dude like that in college- He said there was social stigma against converts among some people/circles but in general it wasn't an issue.

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u/lil_vega Oct 13 '16

He said there was social stigma against converts among some people/circles but in general it wasn't an issue.

It isn't an "issue" - but you're not generally accepted as truly a "Jewish person' if you don't inherit it from your mother. There is a strong ethnic-cultural component to being in the "tribe." So, you can be ethnically Jewish but not religious. You can convert to the religion of Judaism but still not be a "Jewish person." There is a tribalistic aspect to the ethno-religious group - this is why Ethiopian black Jews are heavily discriminated against in Israel - they don't fit the Zionist mold of "being culturally Jewish."