Can anyone tell me why when Jews are asked what they are they answer Jewish?

Question

as opposed to their families nation(s) of origin. Is it due to the harsh treatment that they have historically dealt with in a Christian dominated European world?

Answer 1

Different people feel parts of their identity is most important to them. A Mormon, Muslim, Jew, or Fundamentalist Christian is most likely to think that their religion is their most important feature of their identity.

Different people identify different geographical points in their history as what they are. If one's family has lived in the US for many generations they may identify as an American, but if they have lived here only a few they may identify as Irish, Columbian, or Haitian. If they are a first or second-generation American they may say Irish-American. People who are descendants of African often have no idea who their ancestors are - so they might say African American.

Some people identify what they are by their jobs. Other by their most important relationships - like being a mom.

I've been a Detroiter, an Upper West Sider, an ExPat, a disability activist, a mom, a daughter, and more.

Answer 2

I've never heard a Jew respond like that. In fact, I've found just the opposite. Jews are VERY hesitant to identify themselves as Jews because there is still so much hatred and anti-Semitism in the world. How many Christian churches have to hire security guards for services and special occasions?

One reason Jews might not identify themselves as being from a European nation is that they were never accepted as citizens of those countries. If they were indeed citizens, why were they expelled from every European country?

Thank God they now have relatively "safe" havens in both Israel and the U.S.
.

Answer 3

When a Jew tells you he's a Jew, he IS identifying his "nation of origin." Being a Jew is not the same thing as being a follower of Judaism. Judaism is a religion, and it is usually associated with Jews. But not all Jews practice that religion. Some Jews have converted to other religions, and some Jews are atheists; however, Jews are still Jews, no matter what their religion is or isn't.

Jews are a People composed of several minor and hybrid races. The major component of the Jews, both in numbers and in political influence, are the Ashkenazim, also known as "Ashkenazi Jews" and as "East European Jews." Racially, the Ashkenazim are an ancient melding of Persian and Turk bloodlines, to which certain European strains have been grafted in more recent times.

Jews have devised a mode of living that some observers regard as parasitic encystment. They immigrate into a country, often en masse, but they do not truly assimilate into the native culture - though they sometimes strive mightily to seem to have so assimilated. (There are Jews who, while travelling internationally, can switch languages, mannerisms, and espoused allegiances as fast, or faster, than a chameleon can change color.)

Rather than assimilate, however, Jews form a "state within a state" and, with their penchant for business rapacity and political organization, steadily gain power within, and eventually take over, the country of their hosts. Sooner or later, the hosts wake up to what's going on and try to get their country back from the Jews, and the Jews don't want to let it go. So there's trouble of the sort that Jews have been having, and complaining about, for thousands of years.

Answer 4

OK, how about if someone who is Jewish (like me) answers this one? It depends upon how you ask the question, of course. If you simply say, "What are you?", I would respond, "What do you mean?" since I truly have no idea what you would be talking about. If you ask, "Where do you come from?" I would tell you that my family came from Eastern Europe. If you ask me, "What religion are you?" I would answer Jewish. It doesn't have anything to do with the harsh treatment, etc., as far as I'm concerned. Am I missing something???

Answer 5

Because thats thier nationallity. Like French, German Polish,
Spanish, Cubin . It was the only nation under the Egyption rule that still recongnised Jehovah as the one and only true God and was going to free them from slavery. all other nation around the world at that time had thier own gods and forgot about Jehovah God and what he did for thier past ancestors and didn't care. they were happy living the way they were. Just like it is today. But you are going to see a great change that the wold has never seen before nor will ever see again. Dan2 :44, Rev 12:2,3,4


Sincerely Yours,
Fred M. Hunter

Answer 6

Yes because we are the chosen ones, and we have been persecuted for it from the beginning of history. But we are still here, and always will be till the end of time, and beyond.

We stick, and bond together in a united front. We are a PROUD PEOPLE, and when a person is proud of themselves they tend to identify themselves as such.

Answer 7

Jewish people have had harsh treatment in every country of the world..including the United States..we answer Jewish because that is what we are...that is our true identity

Answer 8

I'd suppose that's part of it. One people, one God (Elohim). Even though we may live in or have been born in a country, other than Israel, that is still our home. Everywhere else is the Diaspora, or, the lands we are in exile in. So, regardless to where we were born, we are still Jews above all else.

Answer 9

I think they identified more with other Jews than with their fellow countrymen. Jewish people had their own communities with distinct customs and beliefs within these countries and were often secluded from outsiders. Over centuries, they'd just relate more to other Jews than their European neighbors, who frequently persecuted them anyways.

Answer 10

I'd say you are right, for the most part. European and Asiatic countries treated the Jews so badly, they saw themselves less as citizens of those countries, and more as simply people of the Jewish faith.