Why are Jews the only religion to have a “homeland” Israel?

Question

Iv been informed that every Jewish person is entitled to citizenship of Israel…

Judaism is the only religion I can think of that entitles you to citizenship to a state or province purely based on your beliefs……. (To my knowledge).

Why is this, and am I looking at Judaism all wrong, should I regard Jews as a race of people rather then a religion?

Disclaimer-
This will be one of several questions I will be asking about Israel and Judaism tonight, I apologies if any of my question come across as offensive as this is not my intention.

paperback_writer – I post the question where yahoo suggests…there is nothing sinister about it and regards the 22 Islamic countries, none of them will give someone citizenship purely based on religious heritage such as the “law of return”

I think you possible misinterpreted my question….I apologies if I offended you

I don’t so much have a tone of 'disapproval' over the fact that Jews get automatic citizenship in Israel. – how ever I do have issues with the occupation of Palestine….but this is wholly based on my limited knowledge and studies of Jewish history from the Balfour Declaration and the British conquest of Palestine To date
(I really hope you don’t regard me as anti-Semitic for this as my reservations are on political grounds not religious)

Answer 1

We are not a race - and I find it slightly odd that you are asking questions of us in the Israel forum and then coming here and asking for them to be either redefined or challenged...!

You seem to be forgetting the 22 Islamic countries; are they not homelands for Muslims? They must be, as Islamic law is enshrined in the political machinery of the countries.

To return to your other query:

We are not a race; if we were, how could anyone convert to Judaism? Clearly people do - think of Ruth, in the bible. People who convert to Judaism are as Jewish as those born to Jewish mothers. Judaism is a matrilinear heritage; if the mother is Jewish, so is the child.

We are a religion, a people, a family, and a nation.

Israel has always been the Jewish homeland, Jews have lived there for 3000 years - continuously.

I have a feeling you will be asking more questions.... :)

EDIT TO ASKER

No worries at all, I haven't found anything you say offensive in the least. Though there appears to be a distinct note of 'disapproval' over the fact that Jews get automatic citizenship in Israel.

I think you have to see it in the context of our history. Nobody would deny that we need a state of our own - albeit a tiny one that takes up 0.01% of the middle east :)

So, what's your next question?!

EDIT TO ASKER

No, I don't regard you as in the least 'anti semitic' - I recognise the difference between genuine interest and racism, don't worry :)

In terms of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; I can give you a potted history but it probably requires a separate post.

Suffice to say: if the Arab world had not rejected partition back in 1948, then today there would BE a Palestinian state, existing alongside Israel. I want the Palestinians to have their own state - they have suffered terribly.

But their suffering is mainly down to their Arab brethren who told them to leave their homes so that FIVE Arab armies could attack Israel, again in 1948.

Jews have lived in what is now Israel for 3000 years - continuously.

The very term 'Palestinian' used to refer to Jews, Arabs and Christians, to all that were living there.

Answer 2

Well many Arab countries do the same thing: they make it extraordinarily easy for Muslims or Arabs to get citizenship, it's almost automatic. In those same places, many times Jews or other minorities are simply flat out denied citizenship.

Judaism is not a race. However, this does not stop people from treating it as such, often in the case of "them Jews need to be gassed." This creates a need for a Jewish homeland.

Judaism is also not solely a religion. When people convert, they join a covenant, they join the family of Judaism. That's kind of what we are, a family. More explanation can be found here: http://www.jewfaq.org/judaism.htm

Answer 3

The real Jews come from the Hebrew race which is a Semitic people. Hebrew is both a language and a nation of people who descended from the patriarch Abraham. Yes, Israel is their ancient homeland.

Answer 4

For 2000 years, Jews were pretty much singled out for pogroms, burnings, torture, forced conversions, public humiliation, confinement to ghettos, almost indescribable and unbelievable villifaction in every way possible, having their children taken away (such as when Jews were expelled from Spain in the 15th century), and finally a methodical, industrialized program of extermination. After this long period of being members of the only religion to be subjected to these kinds of ordeals, it only makes sense that it be the only religion to have its own homeland -- to protect its members from the "tolerant" majorities in other countries.

The only people other than Jews who ever got it as bad are the Gypsies -- and they haven't asked for a homeland because "practicing" Gypsies are by definition nomadic.

Answer 5

Not being Jewish myself this may come across a little skewed. It would seem to me that any religion reviled by literally everyone as the Jews have been really deserve to be able to legitimately claim to belong to a country other than the one they were born in where they are welcome with open arms. The world and I mean that literally has not been very nice to the Jews. One half of my own family came from eastern Europe including Ukraine. Need I say more?

Answer 6

One simple answer is that there is nowhere else on Earth where Jews can go to practice their religion and be in the majority. Israel is the only place which we can call "home" in a spiritual sense. If you are Christian, there are many countries; same is true for Muslim, same for Buddhists, and so on. But only one place in the world for Jews: Israel.

Answer 7

A Jewish homeland is a fulfillment of biblical prophecy.

"Who is a Jew" is a question with various answers, not all of which completely agree. Generally it is agreed that if your mother was a Jew, then you are a Jew. But there are many ways of looking at it.

There are many answers, and many people who will say that many of those answers are incorrect.

When people ask me whether I am a Jew, I ask what their definition of a Jew is, so that I will know how they think and what answer to give. I guess I could just say "If you say so." : )

Answer 8

They were the only religion that was presented with this land by G-d therefore they are entitled to it. Jews are both a people and a religion. Even if a jew does not practice anything he will always be a Jew.

Answer 9

You are right and wrong. All people of the Jewish faith are welcome to become citizens of the State of Israel though it's not guaranteed. Judaism is a religion and it's people were Hebrews. Israel welcomes anyone that wishes to become a citizen...there's only a preference that the person be of Jewish heritage. PEACE!

Answer 10

Well, they are. It's not something you can explain, it's either true or it isn't.

Israel has been occupied by conquerors, but it has been identified as that place where the Jews live for more than 3000 years.

It's not necessary to try to identify the land with any specific group of people. Jews live there legally now, and that's good enough.