My family doesn't accept him because his father is not Jewish

[Yamba Yoon]

Hi all!

This is my first post.  I just came onto this website because I just broke up with my boyfriend of 2 years because he is half-Jewish (Jewish mother) and my family will not accept him.  I know he is my beshert and he is Jewish because of his mother but also by choice.  He has chosen to practice and is willing to become more observant. 

My main problem is that I live in a really closed minded society (Mexico City) where the Jewish community is always talking about others.  My parents are a part of this and I am positive they will not accept him.  Plus, I still live in my parents' house so I must obey their rules. 

I know the facts are in my favor but I don't know how to deal with this.  My parents are not even that observant and I am sure they miss many of the important things to follow in our religion.

I need help, I don't want to lose him, he is everything a woman could hope for.

[Benjamin Maron]

Yamba Yoon,

Having a Jewish mother makes him Jewish. Full stop. (It gets a bit more complicated if it were his only father who was Jewish.) It sounds like your parents are more concerned about the "appearance" of him being a non-Jew, rather than the halakhic issues (as there are none; with a Jewish mother he is considered as fully Jewish as someone with two Jewish parents). Perhaps you can talk with them about their concerns? Ask them why they think he's not "Jewish enough," and find out if it's their own concern or their perceived concern of the community.

Good luck!