Why do people think jews are a race?

Question

all natives of the mid east are the same race there just not the same religion

all religions have people of different races

any jew you see that is a native of the mid east is arab and not white

people dont think all christians are one race so why should they for other religions. I've seen black, white, asian, arab, african and mulatto jews, muslims, christians, buddist

jews that are white didnt come from Israel / Palestine they came from Europe

In the bible the people are Semitic, and that basically covers everybody in north africa and south western asia

Answer 1

i am of the jewish faith and agree with you totally.
a semite is defined as someone born west of palestine
and that describes arabs and jews. also there are
arab jews.
when people say anti-semetic as meaning anti-jewish
they are incorrect, for as you smartly point out
that describes people other than jewish people.
i myself wonder why so few people realize what you said
is totaally true. you made a sharp observation and asked
an intelligent question too boot. good for you!

Answer 2

Jews are considered a race because Judaism is passed down by blood. Being born to Jewish parents is enough to make someone a Jew. This is not like other religions where simply being born does not make one a Christian or a Muslim or Mormon or whatever. In other religions, acting as a member of that religion is what makes you a member of it. In Judaism, even if a person does not follow the laws and keep the Torah, he is still considered a Jew. It is in his blood: it is his race.

Of course, people who were not born Jewish can become Jewish if they so desire.

And Jews do not necessarily have the physical characteristics that Ashley described. Both my husband and I have green eyes and light brown hair, and SHORT noses. Just FYI.

Answer 3

What is a race? When the term was first coined it was in England and it refered to a group of people with similar beliefs and wasn't racially based go figure! The understanding of the term has changed in western societies to now to reflect a biologically similar group.

Who knows if there is a Jewish race, one thing that is interesting with the Jewish faith is that a child is considered Jewish based on the faith of the mother. If she is Catholic for example, the child is not considered Jewish (by my limited understanding).

Jewishness is more complicated, race wise, than many of the other religions in this wonderful world. I hope we get input from some Jewish people.

Answer 4

Jews, Christians, and Muslims are all religions that pray to the same God, who has many names such as ''God, Jehovah, & Allah'' to name 3 of many. (Muslims believe there are 99 names) None the less, he IS only 1 God, our Creator. Allah created this world and put on it many races threw His beloved prophet Ibraheim, spreading them to the 4 corners of the Middle East. This created society as we know it. As you said, 'All religions have people of All races' because as HUMANS, Allah gave us the freedom of choice in religion without prejudgice. Just know that if you choose the wrong path, religiously, we ALL know where we will end up.. no matter WHAT race you are.

Answer 5

The Jewish people are a race. It is also a religion. The old testament from the bible belongs to the Jewish faith. Hitler killed millions of Jews during the Holocaust...... Hitler was trying to get rid of what he thought were inferior races.... The Jews are God's chosen people... Jesus was a Jew.

Answer 6

There are two separate groups of Jews. The historical Jews of the Bible were a race of people. The Jews who practice the Jewish religion are mostly descendents of the Jewish race but not all of them are descendents. There are Jews who are of the Jewish faith and not the religion.

Answer 7

In the Bible the Jews are clearly seperated as an individual unit, (ex. "the Jews and the gentiles"; "first go to the Jews, then to the rest of the nations" etc.) that's why I'd say they are a race.

Answer 8

it might be kind of amusing to have people try to define what a race is...before deciding who or what constitutes one and who or what belongs in one...it might be of interest to know that many anthropologists, you know, people who study humans, question even the notion of race...but hey, why introduce logic and science when we can use generalities and stereotypes...oh, btw...I am Jewish (as were my parents, grandparents and on and on) and I have light hair, eyes and a really really cute little nose..so maybe this is a little more complicated than previous answers suggest...

Answer 9

they arent a race. its like when i take an SAT or ACT or fill out paper work for loans and stuff, you have to check your race...i have not once ever seen check JEW? its a religion, not a race.people are black(african-american) white(caucasion) , never jew?

Answer 10

The definition of race itself is inadequate... What about you? Do you consider whites Caucasians? But what if they're not from the Caucasus? (like most americans... they're nordics, not caucasians). It's just a proof of how the masses chose dumb definitions... we just have to deal with it.