My father is Jewish (Ashkenazi), my mother is not. I am, obviously, half Ashkenazi. (And, to prove it, I have the ulcerative colitis and high risk for breast cancer that comes with being descended from a people whose gene pool was made smaller through pogroms.)
I grew up in a predominately secular Jewish area in the Northeast and the only grandparents a car drive away and with whom I regularly spent holidays were my Jewish grandparents. I am fully aware, though, that I am not Jewish.
However, I am finding it very troubling that some adult Jewish friends of mine dismiss my Ashkenazi heritage. Since I am not Jewish, it is as if my Ashkenazi ancestors do not exist to them. I happen to know more about some of my great x6 grandparents than they do of their great grandparents, but it isn’t a competition. It’s simply a fact that our ancestors are our ancestors, and we are a reflection of them and it is tantamount to a miracle that their bloodlines exist today through us.
A couple of nights ago, I was sharing with one of these friends some information I learned about an ancestor and spoke about where in Eastern Europe they lived. My friend knows very well my mother is not Jewish. Her response to me sharing this information was, “Is this on your mother’s side?” I said no. Conversation ended there. It’s a bit mindboggling to me. Anyone have thoughts on this dynamic?
submitted by /u/Sea-Discount-4421
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Source: Reditt
