How does this complex web of laws, rules and social circumstances affect adult children and other descendants of intermarriage living in Israel?
MATRILINEAL JEWS IN ISRAEL Adult children and other descendants of a Jewish mother (your mother was Jewish, or your mother and your mother’s mother were Jewish, etc., and your father was not Jewish) — the matrilineal Jews — who make aliyah as adults — or are born to interfaith Israeli couples — are considered to be fully Jewish, and have the same rights as any other born Jews (Jews with two Jewish parents) who are citizens of Israel. But while some matrilineal Jews report being heartily welcomed by secular and Orthodox Israeli groups, others experience some social discrimination and harassment — ridicule and other negative experiences — in some segments of Israeli society, both secular and Orthodox, for having a non-Jewish father. They may be expected to produce paperwork proving that their mother was Jewish. They report being asked foolish questions about having non-Jewish fathers. Some of them report being treated as second-class citizens. Others settle comfortably into Israeli
