Is Judaism both a religion and an etnicity?

Question

I hear people refer to it as both.

Answer 1

No, it's not true. Judaism is not a race or ethnicity because there are Jews of all races and ethnicities. There are Irish Jews, Chinese Jews, Polish Jews, Israeli Jews, Spanish Jews, Ethiopian Jews--all kinds of ethnicities and races in there. They all contribute a little of their own ethnicity into their religion and family, Judaism, so it's got traditions from everywhere.

I think this page/paragraph explains it best:

t is clear from the discussion above that there is a certain amount of truth in the claims that it is a religion, a race, or an ethnic group, none of these descriptions is entirely adequate to describe what connects Jews to other Jews. And yet, almost all Jews feel a sense of connectedness to each other that many find hard to explain, define, or even understand. Traditionally, this interconnectedness was understood as "nationhood" or "peoplehood," but those terms have become so distorted over time that they are no longer accurate.

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz has suggested a better analogy for the Jewish people: We are a family.

Like a family, we don't always agree with each other. We often argue and criticize each other. We hold each other to the very highest standards, knowing that the shortcomings of any member of the family will be held against all of us. But when someone outside of the family unfairly criticizes a family member or the family as a whole, we are quick to join together in opposition to that unfair criticism.

When members of our "family" suffer or are persecuted, we all feel their pain. For example, in the 1980s, when Africa was suffering from droughts and famines, many Jews around the world learned for the first time about the Beta Israel, the Jews of Ethiopia. Their religion, race and culture are quite different from ours, and we had not even known that they existed before the famine. And yet, our hearts went out to them as our fellow Jews during this period of famine, like distant cousins we had never met, and Jews from around the world helped them to emigrate to Israel.

http://www.jewfaq.org/judaism.htm

Answer 2

There is truth in the claim that Judaism is a religion, a race, and an ethnic group. But, although most Jews feel a sense of connectedness to each other that they find hard this to analyse, define, or explain. Traditionally, this interconnectedness was understood as "nationhood" or "peoplehood," but these terms have become less meaningful today. The majority of Jews do not believe in any God and therefore argue that Judaism, in a religious sense, does not exist.

Answer 3

You're partially correct. Judaism is certainly a religion, and with proper education, anyone can convert to Judaism.

However, it isn't an "ethnicity" per se but rather a "people with a common heritage." Someone may be born Jewish but is non-observant.

Answer 4

Judaism is the reiligion of the Jewish Community. Look at the definition on wikipedia for a non bias answer to your question.

Answer 5

i think your refering to the term "Jewish".

Because it is general concensus that you can be of Jewish faith and race.

the term "Judaism" refers exclusively to the religion.