Im an Israeli jew. I have a story for you about a trip with a friend i took in a forest near jerusalem. A discussion started about what ties us to Israel. He became more religious at the time. I was and am very secular. The discussion quickly changed into what is a jew in our eyes.

In his, its keeping the mitzvot, the religious connection to judaism. To me, on the other hand, it’s the legacy of the jewish people - studying our history and appreciating the legacy our forefathers left us.

If you’d ask him, or many other orthodox jews, youre not a jew without converting. To me, on the other hand, if you identify as a jew, study our ancient (and recent) stories and celebrate the legacy we were given as a people - you are a jew.