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"He who is strongly discouraged is never really accepted." My ol' college prof said that, Ross N. Ferrater.
The conversion is discouraged. The convert is treasured. They are considered as if they are a long lost sibling returning home.
If it's not genetic, how does one "trace oneself back" to that exodus? Sounds like a fashion statement. I "identify as" X, so I must "be" X.
Asking the question in that way makes me wonder if you would appreciate the answer.
Judaism asserts that everything is body and soul with only one exception. Genetics are "body" they establish tribal affiliation. Judah, Levi, Reuven, Simeon, Asher, Dan, etc... Being jewish is a quality of the "soul" not body. It is what processes the mitzvos ( commandments ) given "in the wilderness" at "sinai" into virtues or demerits. If the soul is not jewish, then these commandments are meaningless. That's, in part, the important point my new friend @Caliban is making.
The indicator that a soul is jewish is that is delivered via a jewish womb or if an individual will not let anything stop them from completing a conversion per jewish law. Delivery via the jewish womb is the most common.
Time and space and genetics are material qualities. The soul is not limited by any of that. The exodus is on-going. The sinai event is on-going. Each and every jewish soul is simultaneously leaving mitzrayim ( egypt ) and receiving the torah ( teachings and laws ) bamidbar ( in wilderness ) always and forever. It is being engraved on us.
That is how one traces themself back to an exodus from egypt. It's shedding the levushim ( garments ) of the soul.