2006-12-13 11:23:05 · 17 answers · asked by sorneez 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
It's a religion, a system of belief.
It can be dangerous to define Judaism as a race. During the early stages of the Germany's Third Reich, the Nazi government legally defined the Jewish "race," which made it easier for German Jews to be targeted and segregated into ghettos.
On somewhat of a side note, the concept of "race" is an entirely social construct. Species are the narrowest a group of animals can be defined--"race" simply refers to members of the same species that have adapted varying characteristics due to differences in environment.
2006-12-13 11:52:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Religion
2006-12-13 19:26:38 · answer #2 · answered by Sammie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religion. It's also a community. Some communal Jews don't necessarily follow the Jewish religion. They thrive on keeping the Jewish culture alive. On the other hand, Judaism spans more than just once race of people. There are white Jews, black Jews, middle eastern Jews...it's not a race.
2006-12-13 19:25:44 · answer #3 · answered by robtheman 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Being a Jew can be both. Jewish is an ethnicity's, just as Caucasian, or black, or Latino. It is a genetically traceable group of humans.
Being Jewish can also be a religion. It is a belief system. If you are not ethnically a Jew, you can follow the faith.
If you are ethnically a Jew, you do not have to follow the faith.
You cannot, however, change your heritage.
2006-12-13 19:29:55 · answer #4 · answered by damndirtyape212 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's both. I am either an eighth or sixteenth Jewish, depending upon whether or not my great-great-grandma Wiesenthal was ethnically Jewish or German. My ancestors that came over here that were Jewish were not practicing Jews. I'm not sure when they became Lutherans, but they didn't practice Judaism here.
2006-12-13 19:28:36 · answer #5 · answered by Purdey EP 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is actually both. Like I am Jewish, but not the religion, i have it in my blood.
2006-12-13 19:26:25 · answer #6 · answered by Heather W. 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well it's not a race because Jews come in all colors Judiasm is a religion. Many Jews have traditions that unite them culturally.
2006-12-13 19:26:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Jews native to Israel are of the Hebraic RACE. Judiasm is a religious tradition. One can renounce Judiasm but one can not get rid of Hebraic blood coursing through one's veins.
2006-12-13 19:42:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religion, hebrew is as close as it gets to a race but thats more of a culture.
2006-12-13 19:30:06 · answer #9 · answered by bluedevils2302 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Religion.
Do you think when people convert to Judaism, they change their race too? You can't convert to Irish.
It is more of a culture.
2006-12-13 19:31:19 · answer #10 · answered by drummerzac1 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋