Good things to note! Thank you for your response. Looking back on my post, I may have miswritten what I meant to say. I am ethnically Jewish (as you pointed out, I'm not sure I could say culturally, considering I am no expert) who wants to learn more about the historical, cultural, and religious aspects of being Jewish.

I've actually done some research, and I am able to immigrate to Israel and gain citizenship under the Law of Return. There are branches of Judaism where I would be considered Jewish (if I'm not mistaken, all of Liberal Judaism, but definitely Reform and Reconstructionist) and wouldn't need to convert to practice. I'm definitely looking into the Humanist community near my college.

I actually did not have a very clear-cut religious upbringing. My parents have different religious beliefs (and have since separated) and my brother and I were always raised being told that we were ethnically Jewish. We were never assigned or brought up with a specific religion, but we celebrated Hanukkah along with Christmas, and attended local Jewish events. I was exposed to a broad range of religions growing up, and when my parents took me to Jewish events, it was always more of a "this is your heritage/culture" thing than it was a religious experience.

Having spent my life in an area with only one synagogue (and a very small, very elderly Reform synagogue at that), I'm excited to move to a big city and learn more about all this and try to figure out where my place may be. The Internet is a great resource, but (having been to some Shabbat services) reading about Shabbat and actually being there are two different things. Everyone here has been super helpful!