2007-09-14 02:09:26 · 11 answers · asked by JayRust 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
To the people that said that jewish is only a religion, not a nationality/heritage are wrong. I used to think that, so I don't blame you, but it's incorrect. I should have been more specific with my original question. I know that the reason a person (for example) may say that they're half italian and half jewish is because for a period of time the jewish people did not have 1 specific geographic location due to persecution (I'm referring to the original fight for the promised land, not recent events). My question is what exactly was the cause of them fleeing the promised land and what other details can be provided on these events in general. Thanks.
2007-09-14 05:14:35 · update #1
Ok....let me reiniterate.....again.......I understand that "jewish" is a religion. However, it can also refer to an ethnicity. If you do not understand the question, then you do not know the answer to the question. Don't try to fake knowledge please.
2007-09-14 06:33:34 · update #2
L'Chaim is on the track of what of looking for. If more details could be provided (with cited sources if possible) along these lines about the original b.c. excile I would appreciate it. Thanks.
2007-09-14 06:36:12 · update #3
I am Jewish and I have never in all my 60 years of life did I ever hear any Jewish person say that their nationality is Jewish. You are wrong about that. Yes, we say it is a heritage, a tradition, a culture. That is not the same thing as a nationality. My grandparents came to America from Russia, Armenia, and Hungary. Russian, Armenian, and Hungarian were their nationalities. They were also Jewish which was their religion. I have never heard anyone say "I'm half Italian and half Jewish" because it's simply not possible to be half Jewish. You are either Jewish or you are not. Okay, can someone please explain to me why all these answers got thumbs down? Are they offensive? Are they inaccurate?
2007-09-14 06:19:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
I have never heard a Jewish person say their nationality is Jewish. It's a religion, not a nationality. However...
There are people who believe their religion is more important to them than their nationality, although that certainly isn't limited to Jews. I suppose a modern Jew might say their nationality was Jewish to show thier affiliation to their religion is greater than to the country of their birth.
Additionaly, there have been times in history when Germany, Russia and other countries have not allowed Jews living there to be citizens. This was so that rights allowed to other citizens wouldn't need to be applied to the Jews. During those times Jewish people living there were in fact considered to be of Jewish nationality.
2007-09-14 02:14:02 · answer #2 · answered by mycathouse 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It means ignorance.
Jewish doesn't refer to a nationality but to a religion. It's like saying I'm catholic or christian.
You could be Jewish and be from any nation of the world.
P.S. Israel is where the religion started. That's why is called "the Jewish state".
2007-09-14 02:19:15 · answer #3 · answered by Mike R 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The Hebrew word "Israel" means two things -- the land, Israel; and the people, Israel. Therefore, Jews think of ourselves as a group of people, just as Americans consider themselves a group of people. Our "nation" is Israel, but we have been living in exile for 2000 years. In 585 BCE, we lived in exile in Babylon for 50 years.
One of the reasons you will never hear Jews speak of their heritage as a nationality is because they were hated so much in Europe that they were never accepted as citizens of those countries where they had resided for centuries. During the Holocaust, they had no rights as citizens, yet other nations would not grant them asylum so they were condemned to burn in ovens. You can read about one incident here:
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/stlouis.html
.
2007-09-14 06:32:50 · answer #4 · answered by Hatikvah 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Jewish is not a race or nationality. It's a person that is a part of a religious movement. Who ever said this to you doesn't know what they meant either.
2007-09-14 02:16:46 · answer #5 · answered by Gwin 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Nationality has to do with where your ancestors came from. When people say their nationality is Jewish, their parents probably came from Isreal.
For example, I'm Romanian, Russian, German, Polish, English, and American. My ancestors came from Prussia, Poland, Germany and Romania, and England. I hope that helps.
2007-09-14 02:14:35 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I didn't know Jewish was a nationality.
I know it is a religion, but not a nationality
hmm weird.
2007-09-14 02:14:53 · answer #7 · answered by floweramongthorns 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
they mean their nationality is jewish dahh
2007-09-14 02:14:31 · answer #8 · answered by Bambie 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
that they are jewish... they have nationallity and religion confused... nationallity is the nation you come from...
2007-09-14 02:14:14 · answer #9 · answered by Stephie M. Babii 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
that they r jewish??
2007-09-14 02:14:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋