What is your basis for including him in the list of Jewish baseball players?

I know a lot was made when he was first called up about him being a Jewish ball player, but he’s been pretty upfront about claiming no religion, and his mom has been pretty up front about questioning the fact that he’s being called a Jewish baseball player.

I know it’s easy to include him, because his dad is Israeli, but if he doesn’t practice or participate in any Jewish religion or customs, how do we just his Judaism?

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We answered:

This is always a contentious issue.

I’m by no means a scholar on such matters. Some claim it’s the mother’s religion, now some say it can be the father’s as well. Does the fact that one doesn’t go to Hebrew school or have an “official” bar mitzva revoke his Judaism? There are those who would answer on both sides.

My “rabbi” on these matters is the Jewish Sports Review, a bi-monthly publication. “Right” or “wrong,” if the athlete is in there, according to their criteria, that’s what I go by.

Hope that helps a bit.

to which Mitch added:

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definitely fair. it’s been a tough issue here in Milwaukee. When Ryan was first called up, I wrote an article for the Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle about his Judaism. My interview with him was very basic, and he did mention he was proud of his heritage and history – although admitted he never had a bar mitzvah, or went to synnagogue ever, etc.

We ran with the fact that he was a Jewish athlete, but the more research I did, the more I have come to question it.

This past season, there was an article written that was picked up by The Forward and many Jewish newspapers, about whether Braun would play on Yom Kippur. It was an exceedingly funny concept to me – as Braun doesn’t even know when Yom Kippur is, or what it is. It’s just not on his radar, as it wouldn’t be for a non Jew.

so, those are my two cents.

Thanks Ron!