A person whose mother was a Jew or who has converted to Judaism. According
to the Reform movement, a person whose father is a Jew is also a Jew. Although
the term is derived from the term "Judahite" (meaning a member of the tribe
of Judah or a citizen of the kingdom of Judah), it
has historically been applied to the patriarchs,
the matriarchs and all of the descendants of Jacob
and all converts to their faith.