# DNA results im 1.4% Ashkenazi Jew. Can this fact alone make me be considered Jewish? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 12, 2020, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dna-results-im-1-4-ashkenazi-jew-can-this-fact-alone-make-me-be-considered-jewish/847828 "2020-02-12T17:38:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jonpluc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/fbc32d/32.png) [@jonpluc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jonpluc)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dna-results-im-1-4-ashkenazi-jew-can-this-fact-alone-make-me-be-considered-jewish/847828/1 "2020-02-12T17:38:35Z")
Just a few acedemic questions. Does having 1.4% Ashkenazi Jew DNA qualify me for Right of Return and get Israeli citizenship if i wished? Is that only for practicing Jews in the religious sence that gets Right of Return or does having genetic jewish blood grant you Rights of return but you need to have a higher amount of purity? How does it work? Say if i was 100% Ashkenazi Jew genetically, not born in israel but decided i was non practicing, could i be an israeli citizen by Right of return? ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dna-results-im-1-4-ashkenazi-jew-can-this-fact-alone-make-me-be-considered-jewish/847828/2 "2020-02-12T17:48:22Z")
Only Hitler would think you were Jewish. as per Wikipedia, the current law of return permits the following: Those born Jews according to the orthodox interpretation; having a Jewish mother or maternal grandmother. Those with Jewish ancestry – having a Jewish father or grandfather. Converts to Judaism (Orthodox, Reform, or Conservative denominations—not secular—though Reform and Conservative conversions must take place outside the state, similar to civil marriages). But Jews who have converted to another religion are not eligible to immigrate under the Law of Return, even though are still Jews according to halakha. ---
**Author:** ![jonpluc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/fbc32d/32.png) [@jonpluc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jonpluc)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dna-results-im-1-4-ashkenazi-jew-can-this-fact-alone-make-me-be-considered-jewish/847828/3 "2020-02-12T17:59:12Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Only Hitler would think you were Jewish. LOL i was curious how long an innocent question about Jews and genetics would go before we got to a Hitler reference 😉 ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dna-results-im-1-4-ashkenazi-jew-can-this-fact-alone-make-me-be-considered-jewish/847828/4 "2020-02-12T17:59:21Z")
Wow, Godwin’s Law kicked in awfully fast on this one. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dna-results-im-1-4-ashkenazi-jew-can-this-fact-alone-make-me-be-considered-jewish/847828/5 "2020-02-12T18:14:21Z")
By Elizabeth Warren logic, absolutely! ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dna-results-im-1-4-ashkenazi-jew-can-this-fact-alone-make-me-be-considered-jewish/847828/6 "2020-02-12T18:36:30Z")
No. Firstly, the 1.4% is statistical noise. You don’t have any Jewish heritage based on that. Even if that meant that you had some Jewish blood, you need a Jewish mother or to convert to be considered Jewish. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dna-results-im-1-4-ashkenazi-jew-can-this-fact-alone-make-me-be-considered-jewish/847828/7 "2020-02-12T18:41:11Z")
> [@Ashtura](#): > > By Elizabeth Warren logic, absolutely! **Moderator Note** Let’s keep the political cracks out of General Questions. No warning issued, but don’t do this again. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dna-results-im-1-4-ashkenazi-jew-can-this-fact-alone-make-me-be-considered-jewish/847828/8 "2020-02-12T18:49:23Z")
> [@jonpluc](#): > > LOL i was curious how long an innocent question about Jews and genetics would go before we got to a Hitler reference 😉 > [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Wow, Godwin’s Law kicked in awfully fast on this one. Although the OP refers to the Right of Return, since the Nazis spent a lot of time defining who was a Jew, the reference in this case is actually relevant. In fact, it is factually incorrect, since according to the [Mischling test](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mischling_Test) someone with such a small proportion of Jewish ancestry would not be considered Jewish unless some other factor (such as being a Jewish convert or married to a Jew) applied. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dna-results-im-1-4-ashkenazi-jew-can-this-fact-alone-make-me-be-considered-jewish/847828/9 "2020-02-12T19:25:41Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Even if that meant that you had some Jewish blood, you need a Jewish mother or to convert to be considered Jewish. That’s not the only question asked here, so of course it’s more complicated. The OP specifically asked if he could move to Israel under the Law of Return. In that case, he needs a Jewish parent or grandparent, male or female, to qualify. The Orthodox Israeli Rabbinate wouldn’t recognize all of those who qualify as Jews, but they’re not the only people who’s opinion matters. To the OP, it really matters if your parents or grandparents qualify as Jews. Did they consider themselves Jewish? Did their parents? In some ways, it’s turtles all the way down, but if you can document it and carry it forward, you would qualify. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dna-results-im-1-4-ashkenazi-jew-can-this-fact-alone-make-me-be-considered-jewish/847828/10 "2020-02-12T19:47:32Z")
> [@jonpluc](#): > > Just a few acedemic questions. I’m pretty sure that a real Jew wouldn’t misspell academic. > [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Wow, Godwin’s Law kicked in awfully fast on this one. The thread was Godwinned right in the title. Ashenazi has “nazi” written right into it! ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dna-results-im-1-4-ashkenazi-jew-can-this-fact-alone-make-me-be-considered-jewish/847828/11 "2020-02-12T20:03:39Z")
> [@jonpluc](#): > > Just a few acedemic questions. Does having 1.4% Ashkenazi Jew DNA qualify me for Right of Return and get Israeli citizenship if i wished? Is that only for practicing Jews in the religious sence that gets Right of Return or does having genetic jewish blood grant you Rights of return but you need to have a higher amount of purity? How does it work? Say if i was 100% Ashkenazi Jew genetically, not born in israel but decided i was non practicing, could i be an israeli citizen by Right of return? Below is the Law of Return itself, based on my own codification of the law from [https://knesset.gov.il/laws/special/eng/return.htm](https://knesset.gov.il/laws/special/eng/return.htm) [SPOILER] **1.** _Right of aliyah_\*\*\*\*\* Every Jew has the right to come to this country as an oleh\*\*\*\*\*. **2.** _Oleh’s visa_ (a) Aliyah shall be by oleh’s visa. (b)An oleh’s visa shall be granted to every Jew who has expressed his desire to settle in Israel, unless the Minister of the Interior is satisfied that the applicant INDENT is engaged in an activity directed against the Jewish people; or (2) is likely to endanger public health or the security of the State; or (3) is a person with a criminal past, likely to endanger public welfare.[/INDENT] **3.** _Oleh’s certificate_ (a) A Jew who has come to Israel and subsequent to his arrival has expressed his desire to settle in Israel may, while still in Israel, receive an oleh’s certificate. (b) The restrictions specified in section 2(b) shall apply also to the grant of an oleh’s certificate, but a person shall not be regarded as endangering public health on account of an illness contracted after his arrival in Israel. **4.** _Residents and persons born in this country_ Every Jew who has immigrated into this country before the coming into force of this Law, and every Jew who was born in this country, whether before or after the coming into force of this Law, shall be deemed to be a person who has come to this country as an oleh under this Law. **4A.** _Rights of members of family_ (a) The rights of a Jew under this Law and the rights of an oleh under the Nationality Law, 5712-1952\*\*\*\*\*\*, as well as the rights of an oleh under any other enactment, are also vested in a child and a grandchild of a Jew, the spouse of a Jew, the spouse of a child of a Jew and the spouse of a grandchild of a Jew, except for a person who has been a Jew and has voluntarily changed his religion. (b) It shall be immaterial whether or not a Jew by whose right a right under subsection (a) is claimed is still alive and whether or not he has immigrated to Israel. (c) The restrictions and conditions prescribed in respect of a Jew or an oleh by or under this Law or by the enactments referred to in subsection (a) shall also apply to a person who claims a right under subsection (a). **4B.** _Definition_ For the purposes of this Law, “Jew” means a person who was born of a Jewish mother or has become converted to Judaism and who is not a member of another religion. **5.** _Implementation and regulations_ The Minister of the Interior is charged with the implementation of this Law and may make regulations as to any matter relating to such implementation and also as to the grant of oleh’s visas and oleh’s certificates to minors up to the age of 18 years. Regulations for the purposes of sections 4A and 4B require the approval of the Constitution, Legislation and Juridical Committee of the Knesset. \*\*\*\*\* Translator’s Note: Aliyah means immigration of Jews, and oleh (plural: olim) means a Jew immigrating, into Israel. \*\*\*\*\*\* Sefer Ha-Chukkim of 5712, p. 146 ; LSI vol. VI, p. 50.[/SPOILER] ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dna-results-im-1-4-ashkenazi-jew-can-this-fact-alone-make-me-be-considered-jewish/847828/12 "2020-02-12T20:31:47Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > I’m pretty sure that a real Jew wouldn’t misspell academic. > > … > The thread was Godwinned right in the title. Ashenazi has “nazi” written right into it! Gaudere strikes again!😃 ( **Gaudere’s Law** : Any post made to point out a spelling or grammar mistake will itself contain spelling or grammar mistakes.) ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dna-results-im-1-4-ashkenazi-jew-can-this-fact-alone-make-me-be-considered-jewish/847828/13 "2020-02-12T20:48:29Z")
Is the Law of Return that critical, though? Can’t the OP simply apply for an Israeli work permit based on a job offer without invoking the Law of Return or claiming to be Jewish (or any other specific ethnicity)? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dna-results-im-1-4-ashkenazi-jew-can-this-fact-alone-make-me-be-considered-jewish/847828/14 "2020-02-12T20:54:17Z")
My wife had the same result on her DNA test. Her family emigrated from Poland, so it’s possible. I tried to explain to her about statistical error, but she’s convinced. And so we put out a menorah every Hanukkah. :rolleyes: My DNA test showed about a 2% possibility of Native American ancestry. The only possible factor there is that my maternal ancestors arrived very early (Mayflower onward), so a liaison could theoretically taken place seven generations ago. But I’m not quite ready to live in a hogan or use a sweat lodge just yet. Maybe peyote? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dna-results-im-1-4-ashkenazi-jew-can-this-fact-alone-make-me-be-considered-jewish/847828/15 "2020-02-12T21:08:53Z")
Isn’t the Law of Return ultimately based on the standards the Nazis used, though? The idea behind it was that Jews are often persecuted, and Israel was to be a safe haven for persecuted Jews. If you’re Jewish enough to be persecuted for it, then you’re Jewish enough to need a safe haven. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dna-results-im-1-4-ashkenazi-jew-can-this-fact-alone-make-me-be-considered-jewish/847828/16 "2020-02-12T21:53:45Z")
Apparently there’s a backlash now against DNA testing, on the grounds that trying to find out your ancestry is “racist” since your genes don’t determine who you are. :rolleyes: Or such is the gist of an op-ed published in the Washington Post last week. The op-ed was written by a Jewish guy whose DNA supposedly came back as 100% European Jewish, which made him feel guilty for some reason. So the OP should only feel 1.4% as guilty. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dna-results-im-1-4-ashkenazi-jew-can-this-fact-alone-make-me-be-considered-jewish/847828/17 "2020-02-12T22:04:12Z")
Based on a single op-ed? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dna-results-im-1-4-ashkenazi-jew-can-this-fact-alone-make-me-be-considered-jewish/847828/18 "2020-02-12T22:14:19Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Apparently there’s a backlash now against DNA testing, on the grounds that trying to find out your ancestry is “racist” since your genes don’t determine who you are. :rolleyes: Or such is the gist of an op-ed published in the Washington Post last week. > > The op-ed was written by a Jewish guy whose DNA supposedly came back as 100% European Jewish, which made him feel guilty for some reason. > > So the OP should only feel 1.4% as guilty. **Moderator Note** Let’s leave political opinions out of General Questions. If you want to discuss this, do it in IMHO or GD. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dna-results-im-1-4-ashkenazi-jew-can-this-fact-alone-make-me-be-considered-jewish/847828/19 "2020-02-12T22:23:44Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Isn’t the Law of Return ultimately based on the standards the Nazis used, though? The idea behind it was that Jews are often persecuted, and Israel was to be a safe haven for persecuted Jews. If you’re Jewish enough to be persecuted for it, then you’re Jewish enough to need a safe haven. The concept, perhaps, but not the standards. The Law of Return accepts those with only one Jewish grandparent. Under the [Nuremberg Laws](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuremberg_Laws) those with only one Jewish grandparent could qualify as Mixed Race/Second Degree, and still be eligible for German citizenship. (In practice, they might well have been looked on with suspicion.) The percentage in the OP represents one ancestor out of 64 six generations ago, so way below anything considered by the law. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2020, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dna-results-im-1-4-ashkenazi-jew-can-this-fact-alone-make-me-be-considered-jewish/847828/20 "2020-02-13T04:27:21Z")
Note that due to [pedigree collapse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedigree_collapse), most people who were alive in Europe in 1000 AD who have living descendants are ancestors of anyone alive today who has European ancestry. While there were strong proscriptions against intermarriage between Jews and others, some mixing did take place. Since there were substantial numbers of Jews present in Europe by 1000 AD, this means that most people of European descent have at least some Jewish ancestry, even if only a small amount. Some years ago I attended a lecture by an Italian geneticist who had investigated his own ancestry. As far as he knew, his family had lived in the same small town in Italy for hundreds of years. Yet his mtDNA, inherited maternally, turned out to be from the Middle East, and was probably Jewish. His Y-chromosome originated in Central Asia, and had probably come in via some Hun. My family is from Ireland and Germany, and most of our genetics aligns with that. But there seems to be 6% from Italy or Greece, and a trace (less than 1%) of Jewish. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dna-results-im-1-4-ashkenazi-jew-can-this-fact-alone-make-me-be-considered-jewish/847828.md?page=2)