I know it can be a chosen faith? but when asked people say they have a jewish last name, doesn't that make them jewish by nationality?
I just find this confusing, and sorry if I've asked something already asked.
2007-02-18 10:05:01 · 11 answers · asked by Mystee_Rain 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
it's both. ethnicity is probably more accurate that nationality, since there have jews longer than there has been a jewish nation, and not all jews are nationalists. someone with a jewish last name who is not a member of the jewish community is jewish by ethnicity. unless they were born into the community and left. then no matter how much time passes they are an apostate jew, meaning a jew in all respects who no longer practices judaism.
to make things more complicated, it's also a culture, the food, the music, etc. is all part of it.
when you convert, or choose judaism, you become a part of all of it. in fact, you have to study all those things in order to convert.
hope that helped and wasn't just more confusing!
2007-02-18 10:21:19 · answer #1 · answered by mommynow 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I believe the answer would be both. The Jewish people were chosen by God to be the people who would bring Jesus to us. Because of the Jewish people all of us benefit. Jesus himself was a Jew. I however don't want to get into all of that. The answer to your question is both. If you are Jewish it is your faithe as well as you nationality. I may be wrong about this. I would like to hear the answer from a person who is Jewish.
2007-02-18 18:18:04 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
it's both.... you can be jewish in nationality and not religion and vice versa. a friend of mine is jewish on his fathers side in nationality and was not raised to practice the faith. someone who is any nationality can elect to become Jewish in faith.
2007-02-18 18:26:41 · answer #3 · answered by Marysia 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's both; Jews were a people (and still are, though they are now spread throughout the world). These people had (and have) a religion which they call(ed) Judaism [jew-day-ism]. Those who follow Judaism are called Jews. Those who are descendants from the Jewish people may also be called Jews, though usually when a person is called a Jew nowadays it is because he follows Judaism.
Anyway, just as you can say, "That person looks Italian/Irish/French/Japanese...", it can also be said, "That person looks Jewish."
2007-02-18 18:16:20 · answer #4 · answered by Anne W 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Religious Faith. Jews live have different nationalities and live around the world and represent different races too.
2007-02-18 18:30:49 · answer #5 · answered by copestir 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
It is confusing, and made more so by people pushing lies about Khazars and things like that.. Jews are Jews, and others trying to dictate who is a Jews does not help things...
2007-02-19 09:46:53 · answer #6 · answered by XX 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
armpit is right . . . and wrong.
One can convert to Judaism, and those born to Jewish parents are considered Jewish . . .
But Christians consider themselves wild olive branches grafted in to the domestic olive tree of Judaism.
Good question, by the way, even if it has been asked before.
.
2007-02-18 18:12:55 · answer #7 · answered by s2scrm 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The real Jews were wiped out in 70AD by the Romans when the Temple was destroyed. 98% of the ones who exist now are adopted immigrants from elsewhere like Germany USA Russia who have moved to Palestine
2007-02-18 18:32:23 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
religious faith, They mean middle-eastern, Israeli. I understand what you mean but Jews don't come from a certain place...
2007-02-18 18:11:06 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Both and neither.
http://www.jewfaq.org/judaism.htm
2007-02-18 22:02:04 · answer #10 · answered by LadySuri 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋