Then what’s the truth? When is a small percentage just noise and when does it represent a distant ancestor? How do we know?

I’m curious because I’m Eastern European and I phased my 23andMe results with my mother and me, my brother, and mother all have Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry showing (in the 1 to 2% range at a 90% confidence level).

I uploaded my raw data on GEDMatch and a well known genealogist that has written books on the subject, that helps customers discover their Jewish lineage, informed me that most, if not all, 23andMe ancestry tests with small percentages, are just noise and are false. Should I believe him?

My 23andMe results connects me with my Jewish ancestors that are 4 to 7 generations removed. Are they actually my ancestors? 23andMe shows me where our DNA matches, but then GEDMatch tells me that this match is false. Why is that?

I totally understand that the question “who is a Jew?” has been debated for centuries. My husband’s family are Orthodox Jews, so their definition of who is a Jew is very strict. I’m not here to deny anyone of their Jewishness. I’m just genuinely curious when these small Ashkenazi Jewish percentages are, in fact, valid.