why do people see jews as a race?

Question

i was watchin the dave chappelle show and they were classifying jews as their own race which bothers me because jews are white there is no race called 'jewish'

Answer 1

maybe its because they have got their own language

Answer 2

"Jews are white?"

Says who? Sure, there are white Jews. But there are also black Jews, Hispanic Jews, Persian Jew, Indian Jews, North African Jews, and I know of at least three Japanese Jews out there. I think you're making an assumption because the Jews YOU'VE seen were white, but there are Jews of pretty much every race.

To answer your question though, the idea of a Jewish race is indeed an archaic one, but one that has left an indelible mark on people's perception of Jews. Part of this stems from the fact that that being Jewish is passed from mother to son, and people tend to view this as a matter of blood. This doesn't really fit though, since you get just as much DNA from your father as from your mother, and of course, the existence of Jews-by-choice (converts) negates the racial assertion. There is no denying, however, that the Jewish way of life is nothing more than a religion. There are cultural elements (some shared by Jews the world over, some more specific to Jewish subgroups, like the Spanish Jews, or German Jews, or what have you), and Jews could certainly be thought of as an "ethnicity" of sorts. One of those quirky things about Jews is that people have a hard time categorizing them, err, us. We don't fit into our modern definitions of race or religion, which can be frustrating. Simply put, the Jews are a "nation," or a "people." Until recently, the Jews were a nation without a state. Now they're a nation with a state (once again), though of course the majority of Jews do not live in that state.

If you look back just half a century or more, you'll find plenty of textual sources, written by both Jews and Gentiles, that speak of Jews or Hebrews as a race. In one sense of the word which is not the standard usage today, race could refer also to a specific cultural group. Under that archaic definition, Jews could be rightly be called a race - just not not in the modern sense of the word.

I hope this helps.

Answer 3

I've always wondered that as well, there are a lot people that do that. Not all Jews are White by the way, but the majority are. Jewish is a religion just like Christian or Muslim.

Answer 4

The Jews have distinct features such as the classic Jewish nose. They also have certain stereotypical personality traits. Not all of them even practice the actual Jewish religion but still have those defining characterizes. Whites are usually refereed to people from Europe. Jewish people originated from the Middle Eastern Area's so really are White.

Answer 5

Jews are all races. Actually "sub"-races. There is really only one race=humans. There are sub-races like white, black, red. and yellow. However the Jews were dispersed in 70 A.D. and went to many countries. A priestly tribe was found in SouthEast Africa about 20 years ago-all very black. Now I hear that a tribe has been found in India, again all very dark.
BTW Chapelle is a black racist idiot, I would not pay any attention to anything he had to say.

Answer 6

I think most people consider Jews white people.
Jewish is a religion anyway not a race.

Answer 7

I find this confusing also because my religion isint jewish but my fathers dad is of jewish descent... we come from the tribe of Levi.. at least that's what I am toled.. but I cant be pure Jewish anymore bcause I didnt inheritate it from my mom but my dad. So I'm a confuzed half Jew :) I'm a Sephardic Jew

Answer 8

Race is not the same thing as color. A race is a group of people related by a common descent. that would make Jews a race.

Answer 9

thats a good question!!!!
nobody has ever asked that.
its funny cause jews come in all races i know black jewish people white jewish people latino jewish people etc.
so those who see jews as a race lmaoooo is dumb!!!!!!

ty for asking that question.

Answer 10

Maybe b/c of all the old stories about Jewish people.

Answer 11

Good question. There are three races, or stocks, of human beings: Caucasoid (White) Mongoloid (Asian) and ******* (Black). The Hebrews (Jews) are of the Caucasoid or white race.