Outside of some sorta cracker “I’m 10% Irish” blood quantum bullshit, “half Jewish” could mean that they are Zera Yisrael I.e. their dad was Jewish but not their mum and thus they aren’t considered entirely Jewish by some of the more orthodox sects.
That is exactly the reason I have seen people in my own life call themselves half jewish. Jewish father, non Jewish mother. Idk how strictly it’s actually followed but even my more reform based friends follow that logic
Outside of some sorta cracker “I’m 10% Irish” blood quantum bullshit, “half Jewish” could mean that they are Zera Yisrael I.e. their dad was Jewish but not their mum and thus they aren’t considered entirely Jewish by some of the more orthodox sects.
That is exactly the reason I have seen people in my own life call themselves half jewish. Jewish father, non Jewish mother. Idk how strictly it’s actually followed but even my more reform based friends follow that logic