Jew Semantics
 

What does Jew mean?
Is it a matter of faith or birth?
If you are a born Jew but are not faithful post-Bar Mitzvah are you still a Jew?

Re: Jew Semantics
 

well there are really four types of jews if you ask me
1. the jews that get jewishness from heredity thats their race

2. the jews that are active in the jewish religion (note: you do not have be of the jewish race for this

3. there are messianic jews that have converted to christianity

4. there are jews that have left the jewish faith for religions other than christianity

Re: Jew Semantics
 

The quick and definite answer:
A Jew is defined in Judaism as someone who has either a) been born to a Jewish mother, or b) undergone a formal conversion to Judaism.

You cannot become Jewish simply by practicing and observing Jewish customs.

Additionally, even if the orthodox don't like what you do, if you are Jewish (by birth or conversion) then no matter what you believe or do you are still a Jew, and considered the same as all other Jews.

Re: Jew Semantics
 

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3. there are messianic jews that have converted to christianity

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True messianic Jews are not Christian converts. Most Jews that convert to Christianity use the moniker "Hebrew Christian" to denote their religious beliefs, though I have no doubt they still consider themselves Jews.