I'm STILL waiting for Gilad Shalit to come home!!
Go Israel!
Jewish law states that if your mother was Jewish, you are Jewish. So I don't think you have to worry about proving your father converted (in terms of making aliya). As for proof that your mother was Jewish, you will need to have a birth certificate for yourself and I'm pretty sure for her as well. If you have your father's conversion papers, or know the rabbi or congregation that your father went to, they might be able to help you in gathering the necessary documents to show proof that you were raised in the Jewish faith. B'Hatzlaha (good luck) with making aliya. If you need any help with the process, I would suggest reaching out to the shaliach in your community or to Nefesh B'Nefesh (www.nbn.org.il). Am Yisrael chai!
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Ok, well the other glitch is this.... cannot find the papers and there are no further sources to look. No clue to how or where he converted as he traveled alot! He was buried in a Kosher casket per his request and he cried really hard as he requested/insisted. He also begged and pleaded for us not to cremate him. He really clammed up alot when we talked about the war. I remember him describing seeing a trainload of people headed for Auschwitz. He said he knew they were going to their death! It was so sad. I know in my heart he converted but can't find the papers and again, no way to know where he was converted. His burial marker at the Houston VA Cemetary has the Star of David on it.
As for my mother, she died suddenly when I was a baby and my maternal grandparents legally adopted me. My birth certificate shows them as my parents. And there is no connotation of religion. So now what? I am totally clueless and this is really digging at my soul! I feel desperate to find what I need! I know not what to do.... I have tried to get info from other family members and can't as they, too, are now deceased. I am the only person, except for some cousins, who are alive from our family. I know that my grandparents left Europe to escape the war and had moved around alot due to the killing of Jews. I found this out from my dad. But I have no way of proving anything! I was raised later by an aunt and uncle who were alcoholics and bigots (sorry, but true) and one was protestant and the other Catholic. They forced Catholicism on me but as soon as I was able, I quit attending the church. And never did find a niche. I just took advantage of being young and live my life "to the max" so to speak.
I only found out by what my dad told me about the Jewish background and his conversion, and by the DNA test results I received a few months ago that my family comes from the Ashkenazi tribe of Jews! I just have no proof except the DNA test results! Will that in any way stand?
I am not a practicing Jew. I have not even figured out how to convert! There is no temple close enough to me to even attempt going to. I believe what Jews believe. And want to be converted, but don't know what to do to achieve my goal.
I am 62 yrs old. and time isn't on my side much more either. My health isn't the best!
I used to live in Houston and now live in a small town near the Mexican border .. so most people here are Catholic or at best, Christians but protestant. Jews here are far apart, few between. I feel so very lost and want (must/need) to be found!
Thanks for any help you and others can give me..
Patricia
Patricia, I think your best option at this point is to contact an orthodox rabbi somewhere near you. I know you said there was not one, but there must be. Chabad is an orthodox organization that is located in every corner of the world. You can search for one near you at www.chabad.org. Explain to the rabbi what you've told us here, and the rabbi there will help guide you through the process you need to go through to get to Israel as a true Jew. Good luck!
