Why do you treat Judaism as nationality?

Question

Judaism is a religion, isn't it? Some people treat it as a nationality.
Jews are people from all over the world, they are Polish, German, American...etc.

Some people say "I am Irish"; yes, this your nationality, but you are christian as the German, the American... And you don't say "my nationality is Christianity"..

Isn't it true???!!!!!!

Palestinians were forced to immegrate from Palestine, OK. But when you ask about their nationality they say "Palestinians" not "My nationality is Islam & Christian"

Answer 1

OOO got it... its because of the zionists, the zionists changed judaism into a nationality so that they cood play the anti semite card u no and lik move all the jews into israel... very good point u made ur a genius

Answer 2

It comes from the time when the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. Many were scattered throughout the world, but believed that someday, when the temple was rebuilt, they would return. They consider themselves to be a wandering nation, as they wandered in the desert so long ago. The fact that they also share the same religion and language, doesn't change, to them, that they were removed from what they considered their native lands, although they removed others when they first took it over.

It is like the Palestinians today. They were removed from their lands, so no matter where they go, or where they are born, they believe they are Palestinians, and entitled to go back to their ancestor's land.

The Jews and Palestinians are not the only wandering nations, the Roma or Gypsies also wander.

What is interesting to me, is the concept that Israel is actually not in the correct place. That when they came out of the desert, they went north into Canaan, instead of south east, into Sudan. According to some scholars, who mapped the old testament lands from before the Jews went into Egypt to live, the Sudan meets the biblical descriptions of their promised lands much better than present day Israel. If that is true, then Israel is in the wrong place, and Armageddon will never arrive.

Answer 3

Judaism is primarily a religion. However, it is Judaism itself which dictates who is considered a Jew. A Jew is anyone who was born of a Jewish monther or converted properly according to the dictates of Jewish religious law.

Thus, even if someone is not religious and does not follow Judaism at all, they would still be Jewish if they met the above criteria.

In that context, being Jewish is like a nationality is such that someone can be, for example, Canadian, merely by being born so or can become a citizen through their own will. Same here. Someone can become Jewish merely by being born so or by converting through their own will.

This would be different from many other religions who may dictate that in order to be a member of that religion they must be a practicing member of the religion. (e.g. if someone born to a Christian family grows up and becomes athiest, does Christianity still consider them Christian? I beleive the answer would be no.)

Answer 4

Jews refer to themselves because this is of greater importance than your nationality. Your nationality is technically nothing more than your geographical location and means nothing more than standing in the middle of a lake. This location is often used to describe certain feelings and beliefs, hence an American or Russian would mean imply very different attributes. Jews travel around, once did not have a homeland, and hold their spiritual beliefs in supreme importance. You would display none of this were you do say "I'm American," so are a couple hundred other people, and you still would not be making your point. If you want to show you have Jewish ethics, you say "I am Jewish". Furthermore, it connects you to the rest of your people, a small minority in the world, people you long to connect with in a world filled with those who differ in your beliefs and many who hate you.

Answer 5

It's a heritage concept...I am actually debating this with my Fiancee and we're both Jewish. Basically, we've agreed that expressions such as, "I'm Jewish" or "I'm Italian" are just ways that we go about justifying what we do, how we do it and why we do it.

To many Jews, just being Jewish is a Nationality. Even if you ask Jews from all over the world..."What are you?" You will get "Jewish"

Answer 6

There are Jews...people who practice Judaism...most of whom are Jewish...as in the Jewish race.

The campaign that the Nazi's had against Jews had nothing to do with the religion...it was the race...even Jews who were non practicing of their religious faith were carted away!

Answer 7

Its both a religion and a nationality. Those born from the tribe of Judah are Jewish by blood. Jesus and the Apostles were Jewish by blood.

Answer 8

because originally all the jews were fron isreal fso to be correct you would call them isrealites or hebrew like i'm hald hebrew ( saying i'm half jewish sounds better)

Answer 9

Idk people are crazy Judaism is a religion not a race, being an isrealite is a nationality/race

Answer 10

People are ignorant and don't realize they are wrong.