Jewish Genes vs. Jewish Identity

I am a non-Orthodox convert, and I find the whole situation with regard to conversion in Israel upsetting. My understanding that my conversion is considered enough to immigrate to Israel but that once there, I wouldn't be considered a Jew or something like that. I see people here in America who also have the attitude that there is something to a Jewish bloodline and who are suspicious of converts in general. The odd thing is they often don't know I'm a convert (and in Orthodox settings, I don't tell them!). Still, that attitude seems to be much more prevalent among Israelis. I think the direction Israel has taken on Jewish identity is disturbing, and I am also disturbed when Jewish organizations in the U.S. try to push Zionism on Jews (especially young Jews) as a Jewish identity with little to do with Judaism. I've considered converting (again) Orthodox, but I feel to do so would violate my principles. I find it ironic that people who prioritize acceptance over sincerity are considered by some to be more Jewish than me. For example, one major problem with Orthodoxy is that they don't allow women to become rabbis. (I've thought about becoming a rabbi myself, so I couldn't do that as an Orthodox Jew.) How ironic that some would consider me not a Jew because I want to be a rabbi! Ultimately, it is not just non-Orthodox converts but non-Orthodox Judaism and, by extension, all non-Orthodox Jews that Orthodoxy does not accept. I wish more Jews would question not just their support of Israel but also their support of various Jewish organizations that claim to be open to all Jews but quietly reject non-Orthodox converts. The other movements in Judaism shouldn't be relying on Orthodoxy to fill niches for us at that expense--we should offer our own programs. Maybe there should be a Birthright America trip like there is a Birthright Israel. Americans shouldn't cede the title of Torchbearer of Jewish Tradition to Israel. I would like to see converts like me take steps to organize and be visible in the collective rather than just blending in like so many of us choose to do. Some may be uncomfortable with converts' groups because of a desire to avoid making any distinction between converts and other Jews after conversion is complete, but the present circumstances leave us little alternative. We must be visible and insist that conversion is the act of joining the Jewish people rather than pledging allegiance to any particular Jewish group or movement and that converts are as entitled as any other Jews to change our views throughout our lives. Our voices are needed because many born Jews, even well-meaning and well-learned ones, seem to misunderstand the process of conversion--understandable considering they never went through it! One rabbi I studied with seemed to regard conversion as a magical event. Orthodox rabbis who believe every detail must be perfect to make a conversion valid should understand that their role is merely to oversee the process--they didn't ordain it! How could any conversion be valid, how could anyone be a Jew were it not God's will? So I would say Jews are God's chosen people *by definition*. Simple as that.

What about the idea, that Israeli PM Rabin said, that "A Jew is anyone who is willing to be called one"?

Children born to one or more parents of Jewish descent would be considered Jewish, according to the O.T. The only distinction made about Jewish mothers, was concerning Sarah, and her husband, Abraham. God promised them a son, thus Isaac, meaning Laughter, was the son of promise, and the son of a freewoman. Sarah decided on her own, that Abraham needed to have children, even though she didn't believe she could conceive and just plain didn't believe the Lord's promise at the time, so she gave her handmaiden to Abraham and she bore him a son, called Ishmael. That was Abraham's first son, born of a Gentile handmaiden of his wife, never was Hagar a wife to Abraham, and Ishmael was the son of slavery, born of a Gentile woman, not a Jew, and without God's promise or plan. Although, He allowed provision for Hagar and the son, Ishmael, blessing the boy and his mother, because of His love for Abraham and Abraham's love and obedience and faith in the Lord God. Ishmael was Jewish, I believe, given a promised blessing from God. Ruth, a Moabitess woman, married a son of Naomi and her husband, both Jews. She was claimed by God and accepted by the Jewish people as one of them, but was not ever called a Jew, much like people that are Christians are not called Jews, even though adopted and grafted into the vine, the Jews, Yeshua, called Jesus. We are called the wild olive shoot of the cultivated olive tree, or the Jews, but we are not technically called Jews, unless a parent is of Jewish descent. Which, I don't think matters to God, so long as we get a long with one another, and love one another.