I have had Jewish friends who swear that it is a race, others who swear that it is only a religion. Many say it is both. This has confused me. It has been said that Arabs and Jews are cousins so in that regard I believe that it is a race initially but also a faith, a belief of the Torah. Can someone please give me an intellegent, factual answer not a guesstimation? Thank you.
2006-12-12 04:13:41 · 8 answers · asked by tarita 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
My fiance is a Palestinian Muslim and often just by looking at someone, he'll say f*&kin Jew. ( We've been in many an argument over this ) I think what I'm understanding now is he is really angry at Israeli people and even more so if they are Jewish. When he looks at someone and judges them by the way they look, he is really assuming that they are Israeli. Thanks for your answers, they are inlightening me.
2006-12-12 04:31:38 · update #1
There are elements of both national origin and religion to Judaism.
The term 'race' really has little or no meaning.
Jews and Arabs are cousins...both are descended from sons of Abraham...the Jews from Isaac and the Arabs from Ishmael.
The Torah calls Israel (ie the Jews) a nation. Following the precepts of the Torah is called in modern day parlance, religion.
There ya go.
2006-12-12 04:37:54 · answer #1 · answered by mzJakes 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
To be Jewish is to have a specific religious belief. That is all. The part where it gets confusing is that, in Jewish faith, you can be born into it if your mother is Jewish. But it is only a religion, not a race. Tell your fiance that he is a biggot and that most jews would love for their to be peace in the middle east.
2006-12-12 18:41:15 · answer #2 · answered by Existence 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Judaism is not a race. Neither connotatively nor denotatively is it a race. It's a religion. I can see how one might also consider it a culture, but that varies greatly depending on what type of Judaism one practices and where one's family comes from, so it cannot be considered just a single culture either.
Frankly, though, when it all comes down to it... what difference does it make what someone calls it? Labels are just labels.
Remind your fiance that not all Jews are Zionists. And not all Zionists are extremists. Does he like it when people paint all Muslims with a broad brush???
2006-12-12 12:21:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Judaism is not a race: Some Jews are African, some are Arab, Asian, European, etc.
Judaism is a way of life more than it is a religion.
You can either be born into Judaism if your mother is Jewish, or you can choose to live a Jewish lifestyle and convert to Judaism.
2006-12-12 14:38:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is a people that share a religion. There is two ways to be Jewish:
If your mom is Jewish or if you convert to Judaism that is what makes you a Jew.
It is not a race (there are Indian, Chinese, European etc... Jews)
2006-12-12 12:22:12 · answer #5 · answered by Quantrill 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Jews are not race or nationality , here we call them American Jews or German Jews or Arab Jews. There are many who converted or belief in Torah and they are called Jews too.
2006-12-12 12:35:22 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is having a Jewish MOTHER.
Israel is the Country.
Jewish is a RELIGION.
Hebrew is the Official Language of the JEWS.
Yiddish is a form of High German spoken by many.
PALESTINE is in reality THE HOLY LAND!
2006-12-12 12:18:23 · answer #7 · answered by whynotaskdon 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the first and the only rule of being a jew is killing innocent people in Palestin
2006-12-12 12:20:25 · answer #8 · answered by fbalpfb 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋