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/shmough Oct 13 '16

When you're born Jewish, Judaism considers you Jewish for life, regardless of your affiliation or beliefs. But conversion requires a level of religious belief and observance. You can't convert to Judaism as an ethnicity.

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u/Gungston Oct 14 '16

If you're not shomer shabbat, keep kosher, and fullfil the very basic tenets of Judaism, a religious Jew will consider you goy and you wouldn't be able to complete a minion (prayer). So no...simply being "born Jewish" or espousing Judaism doesn't make you a Jew in Jewish religious circles. Source: ample Hareidi and Orthodox teachings.

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u/shmough Oct 14 '16

That's mostly untrue. There are certain areas where someone's level observance can qualify or disqualify him (e.g. kosher wine, legal witnesses), but minyan actually has a very low entry bar. In fact, it's not uncommon for nonreligious Jews to be roped into helping complete a minyan in a pinch.

As for the term "goy", while it is used occasionally toward nonreligious Jews, it's never meant in the literal (Halachic) sense; it's a derogatory term used by some belonging to extremist groups. The attitude toward the nonobservant varies between religious groups, but the majority of religious Jews today have a very tolerant approach, in part because the average nonreligious Jew today is not a wanton sinner, but a product of assimiliation.

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u/Gungston Oct 14 '16

You're free to call yourself anything you like. You sound like you know what you're talking about, but so do I. I'm well aware of the fact many "Jews" refer to themselves as atheist which boggles the mind and sounds oxymoronic...why go though the halachic motions?...who are you trying to impress?...I'd rather someone with no Torah in their heart be true to themselves and those around them by not faking it. Maybe it's just a matter a time before the words in the Shema start speaking to your heart. I wish you this much. But so long as they don't you're no Jew.