I’m half-Ashkenazi (on my father’s side). Can I be part of the Jewish community?

Hello all,

I know that the rule is that your mother has to be Jewish in order to claim Judaism, but in reality how strict is that? My great-grand parents came to America from Poland, Latvia, and Russia in the early 20th century. My Grand-father helped liberate Auschwitz after the Holocaust ended (I have his soldier memorabilia). I celebrate the holidays with my family, eat the food, worked at my father’s Jewish deli in Miami since I was 6 years old. I fully claim the culture and my heritage. I’m not part of any Jewish community outside of my immediately family because I am afraid I won’t be accepted (I’m also half-black/west African). What should I do?