Comments on: Me and my Israeli relatives

By: Stephanie Gutmann

Stephanie Gutmann — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:53:44 +0000

As proof of confusion over last names: There is the writer Arieh O’Sullivan who is Jewish. (He used to be military correspondent for the Jerusalem Post) And me, who everybody assumes is Jewish but is not, by law, Jewish (just Jewish-identified.)

And that’s because by Jewish law it all depends on the mother. If your mother was Jewish; you’re Jewish. If not, fuggedebodit unless she converts. In Jewish law there is no such thing as a “half Jew”; that is a goyish construct.

By: evaM

evaM — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:47:27 +0000

Chas I wont hold it against you that you that you are a goy
My best friends are, and horror of horrors is my hubby.wink

BTW I dont have a hook nose ,but my SIL has who is not Jewish wink lol

By: Chas Newkey-Burden

Chas Newkey-Burden — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:28:34 +0000

Yes my mother is Latvian. Everything about that side of my family is fascinating and quite moving in parts. I’m enjoying looking into it all.

By: Chas Newkey-Burden

Chas Newkey-Burden — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:26:40 +0000

Well, I guess my parents are CofE by default.

By: Avi

Avi — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:20:16 +0000

Hmm.. so what are you ?
And which religion you was born into ?

By: Lynne T

Lynne T — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:08:43 +0000

Chas:

A person’s surname means little when it comes to determining ethnic heritage. I have a friend whose family immigrated to Ireland in the early 1800s from somewhere in eastern Europe. The family always insisted they were Catholics, but also claimed to be related to the great composer Jacques Offenbach who was Jewish. Recently, members of her family, whose surname is MacDonald, immigrated to Israel and had some old family documents translated by neighbours who could read Cyrillic and confirmed that the family was, indeed, Jewish and on both sides. Former Ontario premier Bob Rae’s paternal grandfather was named Andrew Cohen, but the children ended up bearing his Scottish Protestant grandmother’s surname instead.

As I recall, you have some eastern European heritage. Chances of you having at least some Jewish heritage a few generations back aren’t all that remote. There was far more intermarriage than going on, especially in Poland, than people realize.

By: Chas Newkey-Burden

Chas Newkey-Burden — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:04:39 +0000

It is a play on the exasperated saying ‘oy va voy’. I am a goy, so I called my site ‘oy va goy’ as a play on words.

I’m not a Christian, Muslim or Hindu.

By: Avi

Avi — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:58:56 +0000

By the way I am the one who made that video to BUYcott Israel..
Oh and another question..
Chas are you a christian or a muslim or hindu …… ?

By: Avi

Avi — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:43:23 +0000

Oh…
Im glad because I don’t like racism..
And also why did you call your site “oyvagoy” ? lol

By: The Fogel

The Fogel — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 10:51:11 +0000

“I never approve for publication any antisemitic or anti-Muslim comments.”

Ah, fair play to you Mr NB.