The best Genealogy tests?

I would also recommend Family Tree DNA, because they have the biggest gene pool - apparently 90% of genealogists choose them. I have had several DNA tests done with this company, and set up two DNA surname projects and I would recommend them - their customer service is good, and their website has plenty of explanations.

One thing I would say though, is that to get the best out of a DNA test, you do need to know a bit about your family history to make it worthwhile - i.e. have done some paper trail work first. There are a lot of adoptees in the Family Tree DNA gene pool, I have matched with over 40 people some of whom are adoptees, but we have no idea how we are related and probably never will - because they don't know who their ancestors are. Many of the DNA tests trace back hundreds of years, so even two people with well documented ancestry may not be able to work out the connection.

There are basically 3 types of DNA test - Y-DNA (father's father's father and so on), mt-DNA (mother's mother's mother and so on), or an autosomal test which traces ALL your lines but can't tell you which line of descent you have in common. Your mother's line is always the hardest to trace, as the surname changes with each generation, and because the way mt-DNA mutates makes it harder to determine how far back your most recent common ancestor was.

DNA, in my opinion, is better used when you have a specific question to ask - like are these two people related? Are all people with the same name related?

Just cut to the bottom line and go with www.familytreedna.com, which does the DNA testing for the National Geographics Genotype Program, which in turn traces human migration patterns worldwide.

Me, I would avoid reviews; they are usually made by people who have too much time on their hands and no expertise in what they "review".

So, go to Family Tree, read what it is about, the tests they offer, the results you can expect, watch their online tutorials, and go to your local public library and read up on the various DNA tests and programs.

No Orthodox Rabbi might want to settle for DNA attempting out to instruct Jewishness. The Orthodox move has set up rules for determining if someone is a Jew as you would possibly want to comprehend in case you've been to talk to any rabbi affiliated with that move.