Jewishness is passed on via the mother. If the mother is Jewish, the child is 100 percent Jewish. If someone's father is Jewish (but not the mother), then the child is 100 percent NOT Jewish.

Jewish identity passed on through the mother has been universally accepted by Jews for 3,000 years, and was decided by God, as recorded in the Five Books of Moses in Deut. 7:3-4. The Talmud (Kiddushin 68b) explains how this law is evident from those passages.

The first place to start to learn about Judaism is with the all-time bestseller, the Bible. I recommend the "Stone Chumash" (artscroll.com), because it will give you a proper Jewish translation plus extensive commentary.

Jewish life is based largely around the calendar year. "The Book Of Our Heritage" by Rabbi Eliyahu Kitov (feldheim.com) is a classic work, featuring a lively and scholarly explanation of all the laws and customs of the Jewish holidays.

An understanding of history is also integral. Rabbi Berel Wein has written a number of excellent books filled with facts and anecdotes. A good place to start is "Triumph of Survival" (artscroll.com), which traces the Jewish experience from 1650- 1990.

Finally, a personal favorite of mine is "The Bible for the Clueless But Curious" by Rabbi Nachum Braverman (leviathanpress.com). This book uses the Bible as a springboard to explore Jewish wisdom on society, spirituality, parenting, personal growth and more.