[PapaBear3625]

Interesting. The study seems to suggest that most European Jews are paternally descended from Israelites and maternally descended from European converts (presumably taken as wives by Jews in the Roman Empire).

Since "Jewishness" is transmitted along the maternal line, this could get complicated.

[ek_hornbeck]

If the women converted, does it matter?

[Never A Dull Moment]

No, it is not complicated at all.

Halachically, since the women converted, they are Jews.

The convert’s “merit” is that they CHOSE to convert to believe in HaShem and follow Torah, rather than being born into it. Rut ( Ruth), the Moabite was a virtuous woman who converted, married Boaz and became the great-grandmother of King David. She lived to see him crowned king of Israel.

There is no complication as long as the woman converts. Once she converts, she follows Torah and performs the Mitzvot. She is as Jewish as any other Jew. She may not be Israelite/ Hebrew. But, by marrying a Jew, her children will be of her husband’s tribe. By 3 generations, her descendants will be Hebrew lineage.