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<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" color=#000000 size=2
face=Arial>From: Daniel Bukingolts <A
href="mailto:bukin86@gmail.com">bukin86@gmail.com</A><BR><BR><BR>>>My
father and non Jewish step mom just had a baby girl on Friday. This is<BR>his
second non Jewish child from two different women. What is the status
of<BR>non-Jewish children born with Jewish fathers? Is there a different
or<BR>easier geirus for them if they decide to convert? Are they given a
choice<BR>at a certain age to simply be Jewish? Should we actively try to sway
them<BR>towards Judaism? My father had a bris for my non Jewish half
brother<BR>(details unknown, but I believe done by chabad rabbi). Would he
require<BR>hatafas dam if he decides to be Jewish?<<<BR><BR>Daniel
Bukingolts</FONT></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV>>>>>></DIV>
<DIV>The child of a non-Jewish mother and a Jewish father is not
Jewish. He is not half-Jewish. He does not get to decide for himself
whether or not he is Jewish.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>He is different from any other non-Jew only in this respect: if he
decides that he wants to convert to Judaism, he is not initially discouraged but
is immediately encouraged and welcomed to join the Jewish people.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I find it hard to believe that a Chabad rabbi performed a bris on a
non-Jewish baby. Probably he merely performed a circumcision. (Were you
paying close attention to any brachos or prayers that were said?) The
circumcision will certainly make it easier later on if that baby, when grown up,
decides to convert.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>He will, at that point, need a hatafas dam bris, as well as mikva and a
bais din.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff></FONT><BR><FONT color=#0000ff><STRONG>--Toby
Katz<BR>================</STRONG></FONT><FONT lang=0 color=#000000 size=2
face=Arial FAMILY="SANSSERIF"
PTSIZE="10"><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>_____________________
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