For the past few years there has been an increased interest in the subject of “Jewish Genealogy.” This interest is shown both by individuals and entire communities who are seeking to prove their status as Jews according to the Halacha.
Jewish “status” is passed by matrilineal descent. For centuries persons estranged from organized Jewish communal life would seek to establish their Jewish status by providing documentary evidence of their unbroken descent from a female Jewish ancestor. Recently a new tool has been suggested for establishing descent from a Jewish mother. This tool is mitochondrial DNA. Mitochondrial DNA is genetic material found in very cell. Unlike the genetic material found in the nucleus of the cell which is inherited from both parents, the genetic material found in the mitochondria is almost always inherited only from the mother.
It follows (at least in theory) that if someone has the identical mitochondrial DNA as a known Jew ( however that would be established) then this person could be accepted a s Jew.
In these two sessions we will discuss how the Halacha relates to and assesses developments in the sciences and their applicability to Halacha.