Do people who believe in the Jewish Faith not like to be called Jews?

Question

In other words, is "Jew" insulting?

Answer 1

Depends really on how you use it. The word Jew comes from Judah which means "praise". I think it is a beautiful name for a people.

Answer 2

I'm Jewish and, as others, have noted, it depends upon its use. A good explanation is taken from Google's website:

If you use Google to search for "Judaism," "Jewish" or "Jewish people," the results are informative and relevant. So why is a search for "Jew" different? One reason is that the word "Jew" is often used in an anti-Semitic context. Jewish organizations are more likely to use the word "Jewish" when talking about members of their faith. The word has become somewhat charged linguistically, as noted on websites devoted to Jewish topics such as these:


http://shakti.trincoll.edu/~mendele/vol01/vol01.174
http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/jonah081500.asp

Personally, I would say, "Are you a Jew?" is fine; "What do Jews think?" is fine, provided it's not followed by an anti-Semitic rant; however, "Hey Jews" or "Do Jews really...", that kind of thing, would be insulting. Hopefully these examples, and those cited from Google above, will help.

Answer 3

I have quite a few Jewish friends, and they proudly identify themselves as Jews. They might also specify which type (Reform Jew, Orthodox Jew, and so on), but I can't think of a single one of them who would shy away from being called a Jew. There is, of course, a way of using it as a derogatory term, in which case, it's insulting. But when simply used as a way to describe someone religiously or culturally, no, it's not an insult.

Answer 4

It depends on how it is used. In general, it is not insulting at all. I am a Jew. But sometimes people say things like "a Jew laywer" or "he tried to jew me down" or "why don't you Jews believe....." That's when it becomes insulting.

Answer 5

We're usually not offended by it unless you're using in a derogatory manner. "Jewess" is offensive because it carries negative connotations (it was usually only said in contempt). Jewish person is not offensive. On Yahoo answers I have many times been called a "Jewish" though, which I personally find irritating and a bit offensive. Jew or Jewish person is fine, whichever you prefer.

The person beneath me has no idea what s/he is talking about.

Answer 6

It depends on the context. But for the most part, no, it's not considered an insulting term.

Answer 7

Being a student of the truth,I have come to understand that there is not a "J" in the hebrew alphabet. So I pose this question to you. Why would a person of the hebrew decent want to be called a "Jew". It doesn't make sense to me how bout you?

Unless they are trying to hid the Creators true name which is Yahweh to their damnation. This is the only conclusion that I can come to.

It is time that we no longer deny the name of the Creator Yahweh and His Son Yahshua, look at what it has lead the world to today by following after gods which did not create the heavens or the earth.

Stand up to these wicked imposters and demand that they give reverence to Yahweh and stop being referred to as Jews. It is quite embarrassing to be honest. Even a child could figure out that the term "Jew" is not the chosen ones of Yahweh.

Please take the time to read the following article that I found on the website to try to find out where this term "Jew" came from and what is behind this obvious form of deception........

Jew, Jews, Jewish (modern and erroneous usage of the word in many English Bibles)

Generally speaking, a Jew is a person named after his/her religion called Jew-ism or Jew-dah-ism, as a Christian is named after his/her religion called Christianity.

The word Jew is not found in the Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek texts of the Sacred Scriptures, but in many English Bibles the word Jew has become associated with a rendering of the Latin word Judaeus, which was a translation of the Greek word Ioudaios, the Aramaic word Yahdaim, and the Hebrew word Yahdah. Although not found in either the Hebrew, Aramaic or the Greek Scriptures, the word Jew is an incorrect English rendering most often translated from the Latin word Judaeus, a Latin translation of the Hebrew word Yahudah. As translated, it is referring to one of the tribes of Israel (Yisrayl) named after one of the 12 sons of Jacob. The word Jews, the plural of the word Jew, is incorrectly translated most often from the word Hebrew Yahdi, descendants of the tribe named after Yahdah.

It must be noted, that the letter 'J' was not in general use until after the 16th century as is now used in many English Bibles to form the incorrect Biblical word 'Jew.' In some English Bibles we have received from the translators, the word Juda. This is also an error in translation because the word derives from the Greek Iudaios, which in the English would be Judaios. Judaios was none other then a Greek pagan diety (see W.H. Roscher's lexicon of mythology).

The term 'Jew', has come to be used synonymous with the term 'Israel, or Israelite', however, this is error. Scriptural "Yisraylites," the collective descendants of the 12 tribes of Jacob/Israel (the Northern Kingdom) were never called Jews. Modern Jews are not of the tribe of Yahdah, and are not a part of the Yisraylites of the Scriptures. They take the name Jew because the name is in the name of their religion i.e. Jew-ism. Jews have deceived may Christians into thinking that Jew-ism is a continuance of the Scriptural worship system of Yaaqob/Yisrayl, but it is not.

Jew-ism, is a cultic (ritual-istic) religion which originated approximately 1000 CE, and is traced to Rabbenu Gershon a Khazar/Jew of Mainz Germany through the publishing of his 'halachic creativity' (interpretation of Old Covenant laws), he thereby established the beginning of the modern cultic religion of Jew-ism. Today the religion is also greatly influenced by the Babylonian Talmud, an ancient Pagan ritual-istic system of various extreme opinions, interpretations, codes, rules, and regulations.


It is an incontestable fact that the word "Jew" did not come into existence until the year 1775. Prior to 1775 the word "Jew" did not exist in any language. The word "Jew" was introduced into the English for the first time in the 18th century when Sheridan used it in his play "The Rivals", II,i, "She shall have a skin like a mummy, and the beard of a Jew". Prior to this use of the word "Jew" in the English language by Sheridan in 1775 the word "Jew" had not become a word in the English language. Shakespeare never saw the word "Jew" as you will see. Shakespeare never used the word "Jew" in any of his works, the common general belief to the contrary notwithstanding. In his "Merchant of Venice", V.III.i.61, Shakespeare wrote as follows: "what is the reason? I am a Iewe, hath not a Iewe eyes?"


Luk 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's righteous pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Yahshua was not speaking of Christianty or the Jewish faith in this verse, who are the largest group of so called believer.

Both are joyously living in deception

This litte flock who are known as Yadiam can be found in Abilene Tx, and we are know as the House of Yahweh.