Oliver Levanson
01-19-2012, 11:18 PM
Ok, this my first thread so if it's in the wrong place please be gentle! :(
My problem is I was born into a family of which I know little about. As far as I know I am the only person in my family left. I never knew my father or his adopted parents as they died before I was born and my father when I was three. My mother died last year, but never spoke much of his past as they had split up just after I was born, she told me plenty about her own past and can be traced to Northern Scotland. Unfortunately her passing was before I became really interested in my history.
What I do know though from my research is that my surname 'Levanson' is Ashkenazic Jewish in origin and my fathers adopted parents were Jewish. From what photos I have of my father he doesn't seem Jewish. He was blonde and fair skinned. My mum had red hair and was quite freckled, her maiden name was MacAllen. I was not brought up in the Jewish faith and was taught quite a nasty view of it from my mothers Catholic parents and from what I've seen on the news and such Israel isn't a very nice place. I don't have a very positive view of it as it stands right now and have some preservationist views.
Now I am not sure whether my father was Jewish or not or just his adopted parents, who gave him their name. I look very British and alot like my father.
To be honest, I am quite afraid of doing genetic testing just in case I have Jewish genes. That would make my views a based on fallacy would it not.
If I was to do genetic testing and was of Jewish origin would my views change? Would I be honourable enough to accept it and move to a place I dislike to save those I love? What should I do? It's a moral minefield I'm sure and any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
My problem is I was born into a family of which I know little about. As far as I know I am the only person in my family left. I never knew my father or his adopted parents as they died before I was born and my father when I was three. My mother died last year, but never spoke much of his past as they had split up just after I was born, she told me plenty about her own past and can be traced to Northern Scotland. Unfortunately her passing was before I became really interested in my history.
What I do know though from my research is that my surname 'Levanson' is Ashkenazic Jewish in origin and my fathers adopted parents were Jewish. From what photos I have of my father he doesn't seem Jewish. He was blonde and fair skinned. My mum had red hair and was quite freckled, her maiden name was MacAllen. I was not brought up in the Jewish faith and was taught quite a nasty view of it from my mothers Catholic parents and from what I've seen on the news and such Israel isn't a very nice place. I don't have a very positive view of it as it stands right now and have some preservationist views.
Now I am not sure whether my father was Jewish or not or just his adopted parents, who gave him their name. I look very British and alot like my father.
To be honest, I am quite afraid of doing genetic testing just in case I have Jewish genes. That would make my views a based on fallacy would it not.
If I was to do genetic testing and was of Jewish origin would my views change? Would I be honourable enough to accept it and move to a place I dislike to save those I love? What should I do? It's a moral minefield I'm sure and any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks