Jews- Race Vs. Religion?

Question

Can someone explain to me if it is a race or religion? I need help explaining it in a speech I have to give to my class.

Answer 1

Judaism is a religion, and Jews are the adherents to the religion. Jews come from every population group on earth, there is a shul in Shanghai which used to have a Chinese congregation (unfortunately they have left though the shul is still maintianed), there are Indian Jews from India, black Jews from Ethiopia, Yemen and Morocco, Cauacasian Jews from Eastern Europe, Arab Jews from Israel, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Yemen and Morocco. Hmm- I must admit that there are few, if any, Eskimo Jews!

Another indicator that being Judaism is a religion, rather than a race, is the fact that you can CONVERT TO BEING A JEW! COnversion can only be done to a religion, a race is genetically imprinted and cannot be changed!

Answer 2

I appreciate why you ask this; somehow defining 'Jewishness' can be tricky :) As Jews we are a religion, and a people, and as someone suggested in a similar post, a 'family', which I feel is a nice way of putting it. But we are not a race, for the reasons already outlined in other answers here. And yes, a person can be Jewish yet not be at all religious; they are still Jewish though, in terms of culture, affinity, sense of humour, etc. Jews come from all sorts of ethnic backgrounds; there are Jews from Japan, Iceland, Yemen, China, India, Ethiopia, and so on and so forth. A note to the person who lied about Israel: Israel is no more racist than any other country, and probably less racist than for instance Saudi Arabia where the only religion allowed legally is Islam. In Israel, almost 30 per cent of citizens are not Jewish and they have the same rights and freedoms as their Jewish friends and neighbours. There are Muslim politicians, for example. Everyone is free to worship as they please and follow whichever religion they want. Hope this helps. Ask any other questions you have if it's still a bit unclear, I know it can be confusing! EDIT TO ASKER I doubt anyone would answer 'Jewish' if asked which nationality they were; it doesn't make sense. We say we are Jewish if asked which religion we are, or which ethnic group sometimes. And of course, if you are Jewish and live in Israel, then your nationality is 'Israeli' and your religion is 'Jewish'. But you can also be a Christian or Muslim or Catholic and also be Israeli by nationality. Does this help clarify? :) Hey, 'it's a type' - good answer! You'll see I have referenced your comment that we Jews are a family, as I liked it so much :)

Answer 3

Jews are not a race because race is in your DNA and cannot be changed. If Jews were a race no one would be able to convert to being Jewish. Just like no one can convert to being white or black. Jews are a family (peoplehood). We speak the same language (Hebrew), we are connected by the same land (Israel), we practice the same religion (Judaism). It's really hard to explain. Jews are a group of people who follow certain customs, mostly tied to Israel. Our religion is Judaism.

Answer 4

Judaism is a religion. Anyone can convert to Judaism so it cannot be a race. Jews come in all shapes and sizes. African Jews look like Africans, South American Jews look like South Americans, European Jews look like Europeans. American Jews look like Americans.

It is also a culture much like any other culture. We share common languages -- Hebrew and our national language. We share common holidays with Jews all over the world. We share Jewish foods and Jewish musice.

It is the majority culture, Catholics, who started the race myth in order to define exactly WHO is Christian and who is NOT Christian. In the early years of Christianity when they were defining Orthodoxy, Jews and other non-believers were the first to be exterminated for not being Christian. During the Inquisition, converts were accepted but were never "trusted" that they were true converts.

Christians still insist on defining who is or isn't a Jew. They "know" that anyone born of a Jewish mother is a Jew regardless of any other circumstances. They "know" that the only way to be a Jew is to be "born" to a Jewish mother.

One day Jews will have the same privilege that most Christians have -- each of us will be able to define ourselves as we wish. I say "most" Christians because I often see Christians defining each other as "real" or "fake" Christians! LOL

Perhaps you should substitute the word "Christian" for "Jew" and write your speech that way. Explain to the class whether Christianity is a race, a religion, or a culture.
.

Answer 5

Jews = race or culture

Judaism = religion

Answer 6

It is both.
It is a race of people descended from Judah that son of Israel/Jacob along with some of the other tribes of Israel.
It is a religion that the Israelite people lived until about 600 BC when they were taken into captivity by the Babylonians. With most of Israel gone it became the Jewish religion.

Answer 7

To be politically correct, Jew would be the religion and Isrealite would be the race. However, the term "Jew" can be used to mean someone who is of the lineage of Abraham, thusly it means a race. Or it can mean someone who follows the law given by G_d to Abraham, thusly it means a religion. You can be a Jew (race) and not be a follower of Abraham's law or you can be of another race and follow Abraham's law (Jew).

Hope this helps.

Answer 8

The Jews are not a race. They are a religion. Hitler thought they were a race like whites and blacks are races

Answer 9

stick a european, african, arab, and asian jew beside each other, take a good look at them, and then maybe you'll have the answer to your question of whether or not jews are a race.

Answer 10

Judaism is a religion with Jewish culture.
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