where are jewish people from jewish? Israel?

Question

does a person have to be from israel to be jewish? Can a person have no relationship with the country of israel and still be jewish? I really dont know what jewish means.

Answer 1

Jews are a nation people, Israel ( tribal origin ) bound by an eternal covenant of the faith (religion) of Judaism.

Now let me explain.

The Jewish people are considered both a nation and a religion. Our connection is primarily one of faith (religion) through the covenant of Israel, yet membership is also conferred by birth, through matrilineal descent .One may also become a part of the nation Israel by adoption of the faith of Judaism and formal procedures of conversion.

One who converts to Judaism is considered as FULLY Jewish as one born Jewish and their children are Jews. This has been the case since the times of the Torah.

However one can be a Jew and not belong to both. One may technically be a Jew if their mother is a Jew, but apostate to the covenant of Israel and no longer be considred a member of the nation.

There are different Jewish cultures that have developed over the millenia in Diaspora lands as well as from the Mizrahi (from the Middle East and North Africa) The Sephardi (Spanish) Ashkenazi, (German, Polish, Russian and other Eastern European) are all slightly different, even within those three designations as to cultural practices and foods, but it is the faith and covenant that binds them all together as Klal Yisrael.

We are Klal Yisrael, the community of Israel, and have a shared " destiny" and history, while still having developed throughout history, many DIFFERENT Jewish cultures developed in the Diaspora. The Diaspora refers to the Jewish presence outside of Israel after the destruction of the First and Second Temple periods and the Bar Kochba revolt.

The Jewish nation began as a group of tribes and our connection to one another is still from the perspective of a tribal nation. One may join through adoption of the covenant or one may be born into it.

One born into the covenant may become apostate to it ( be an atheist, convert to another religion ) and still be considered a Jew, but for all intents and purposes, they're not given the status of a member because they're not counted in a minyan, can't be buried in a Jewish cemetary, etc. They CAN however, return ( teshuvah) without formal conversion should they so desire. ( rather like someone who leaves the country, if they don't give up citizenship, can return without going through citizenship application all over again )

The only way one who isn't born to a Jewish mother can become Jewish is through adoption of the faith, dedication to living AS a Jew through the eternal covenant. Then the children of a Jewish woman who converts is considered every bit as Jewish as one whose ancestry came from Sarah. A convert TO Judaism who becomes fully a Jew does not have the option of becoming apostate to Judaism and still being considered Jewish. You don't have atheist Jewish converts.


Am Yisrael Chai ( the people Israel live!)

Here are some Jewish sources to discuss this issue that may help you.

These two links explain from the Jewish perspective, Jewish identity. Jewish law determines who is and who isn't Jewish.

I highly recommend reading both of these,

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

http://www.beingjewish.com/identity/race...

http://www.whatjewsbelieve.org/ < This is always a good place for comparative study, too.
This is a link to a source that is a scholarly study of the development of Jewish languages. It will help you if you are interested in studying the different Jewish cultures.

http://www.jewish-languages.org/

Jews are in NO way a RACE..other than as members of the human race. For those of you who want to claim Judaism doesn't accept converts as fully Jewish, how about Ruth in the Bible? She was a member of a nation that was condemned to be separate from God for their evil. However, she was a righteous woman who converted and adopted the faith of Israel and was the ancestor of King David. The New Testament depicts her as being an ancestor of Jesus, too. I like to bring this up when some Christians want to declare that converts aren't "real Jews" or that Jews are a race. (something that isn't up to them to decide one way or another anyway)
It is Jewish law alone, not Christianity or any other entity that determines the status of who and what is Jewish.

One cannot be Jewish and Christian at the same time. One may be an apostate Jew who is Christian. A Jew who converts to Islam is a Muslim. A Jew who converts to Christianity is a Christian.
Let me give you a hypothetical to better illustrate:
Let's say a Jew decides to invent a new religion that makes Google it's ORACLE and everyone must consult Google for every aspect of their life and pay obeisance to Google..Does that make Google worship a Jewish religion? Are Googles now Jewish? Or is that Jew apostate to Judaism and by identifying himself as Jewish, misrepresenting the Jewish nation/people?

You can become a member of a tribe or nation if you meet the criteria of citizenship. And the covenant people, Klal Yisrael, remain as in the earliest days of the covenant..a nation. It hasn't changed.

Regarding Israeli citizenship..this article from the Israeli government answers in detail how one aquires Israeli nationality ( state of Israel as contrasted to covenant of Israel)

http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2001/8/Acquisition%20of%20Israeli%20Nationality < Recommended reading here

Answer 2

Being Jewish means that a person:

a) was born to a Jewish mother
or
b) has converted to Judaism.

You can find Jews in most countries; originally we did live in Judea, but the Romans kicked us out, changed the name to Palestine, and these days a tiny part of that region is Israel.

Israel is the Jewish homeland, but 30% of the citizens there are not Jewish.

So yes someone can be Jewish even if they never visit Israel. And a person can be Israeli, without being Jewish!

As Jews we are a religion, a people, a nation ,and a family. Sorry if this sounds confusing :)

If you'd like more details about the core Jewish beliefs, then check out http://www.whatjewsbelieve.org/

Shalom :)

EDIT - JUST TO CLARIFY

Jews are NOT a 'race'. Anyone who says this is totally and utterly wrong. If we were a 'race' then nobody could convert to or from Judaism - and clearly both happen. Ruth in the bible is an early example of a convert TO Judaism.

There are Jews of all ethnic backgrounds, again proving that we are not one 'race'.

Perhaps it's easiest to think of us as Israelites! Our ancestors, the Israelites, were led by Moses out of slavery in Egypt. So that's what we are: a nationality that shares also a religion but that also lives in other countries as well.

Hope that helps, I know it can be confusing! :)

Answer 3

One has absolutely nothing to do with the other.

Israel is a Jewish country but not all of its citizens are Jewish (76% of the population). On the other hand, not all Jews live in Israel: only 40% of the world's Jews.

Judaism is both an ethnic group and a religion. Most Jewish people are both, but you can also be Jewish either by ethnicity (if you're born to Jewish parents but don't pracrtice the religion) or by religion (if you convert to Judaism).

Answer 4

While the historical roots of the Jewish people are in the Land of Israel, the majority of Jews in the world today were not born there. Still, all Jews share a deep spiritual connection to the Land of Israel, as is evident in all aspects of Jewish tradition (seriously, name pretty much any tradition, and I can find a connection to Israel. Although we're all connected to the Land of Israel, that doesn't mean we have ties to the modern-day STATE of Israel. Suffice it to say that Jewish stances on the State of Israel vary from blindly supporting it in everything, to supporting the state but evaluating its actions critically, to blindly condemning it in everything. But again, it is our people's historic home, and as such, every Jew has some sort of relationship with the land, whether or not they have set foot upon it yet.

As for your questions on Jewish identity, I've found a couple of essays on Judaism 101 (www.jewfaq.org) that you might find useful:

"Who is a Jew?" - http://www.jewfaq.org/whoisjew.htm

and

"What is Judaism?" - http://www.jewfaq.org/judaism.htm

Considering the level you seem to be holding at in terms of Jewish knowledge, I think you'll find those articles really helpful. So, enjoy, and if you have any further questions about Jews or Judaism, feel free to contact me directly.

Answer 5

I'm from Israel and I'm not Jewish.

Most Jewish people aren't from Israel, but live in Europe, America, Australia, and S. Africa. Many of these people have never been to Israel. Jewish isn't a nationality, it's a race and a religion.

Answer 6

What does Jewish mean. mirrors, a many little mirrors like that TV projecting a big picture.

A covenant, and oath between a people and G-d, Ha-Shem will mourn with his people yet be a lion for his people.

Fire or spark, warmth but can be used for so much more. A people that know how to use,radiate and pass out such a thing.

A formula I feel can't be written but by the Torah. To read,understand and apply I suppose you most be Jewish. Yet what is it? Is it DNA? Is it more? Is it strictly the seed of Abraham and is it supposed to be read literal? Is everything literal and allegorical? Something can be said about heart and mind being both needed.

Answer 7

Ok. Do christians have to be from Rome, Athens, or Dallas?
Judaism is a religion, and it is really hereditary, and worldwide. Just so you know judaism started roughly 5000 years ago, and israel as a country is only about 65 years old. the Jewish people exist there because in the old testament, it is a very holy land to the jews, with the origin of the holy books being there, among other things. In fact, a culture of Jews very recently came forth who were living in China for 2,000 years (no joke). I myself have a very large family in israel, but I also have family in Korea.

Answer 8

Judaism is trifold. There is the Jewish religion, the Jewish race, and the Jewish nation.

In order not to assimilate and to maintain their cultural identity, Jews strongly tend to marry within their religion. As such, they maintain a distinct gene pool. In fact, there are several. For example, there are Ashkenazi Jews who are from Europe. But, there are also Sepharidic Jews who are from North Africa, Spain, and the middle-east. Nonetheless, racial Jews come in all shapes and sizes, including Chinese, red-heads, blondes, etc. This is mainly due to intermarriage over time with surrounding populations. In this respect, one is born Jewish.

There is also the Jewish religion. Although Judaism is not a missionary religion, there are people who join the faith through conversion.

There also exists the Jewish nation. Jews are a people like Italians and Germans and comprise racial Jews and those who follow the faith. The history of the Jewish people is quite long and is intimately associated with the land known today as the state of Israel and the Palestinian territories. Oversimplifying, the Jewish nation was finally conquered some 2000 years ago and the majority of the people disbursed throughout the world. The land has gone through many owners and residents over the millenia but has been consistantly referred to as Israel, Judea, or Palestine. This land is under dispute between the recent Arab residents and the modern Jewish nation which returned to the land starting in the mid to late 19th century.

Currently, part of historical Israel has been re-made as the modern state of Israel. It is often referred to as the "Jewish state". It has a population of about seven million people, with about five-and-a-half million being Jewish and one-and-a-half million Arab-Muslim, Arab-Christian, Circassian, and Druze citizens.

Although the majority of Israeli citizens are Jewish, the majority of the Jewish nation of thirteen-and-a-half million was born and lives outside of Israel.

Answer 9

Being Jewish means the person is of the Jewish faith.

People from Israel are called "Israeli." There are Israelis that are not Jewish.

It's like being a Christian American, or British Muslim. One's a nationality, one's a faith.

Answer 10

As I understand it, Jews are know as Jews because they believe in Judaism, from the land of Judah - Israel.
That is their inherited religion passed down. Their history like Muslims goes back to the time of Abram who was later named Abraham. His parents were pagans and he was the first to start the belief in one God as a religion.
They originally had twelve tribes of people who were known as Hebrews. Their blood line has been mixed with many. You do not have to be of Hebrew bloodline decent to be Jewish. that is a religion Judaism.
Rev. TomCat

Answer 11

Being Jewish has to do with your religion not necessarily where you are from. There are Jewish people all over the world.

Have you not heard of the Holocaust during World War II? 6 million Jews in Europe were killed by the Germans.....