Question about Jewish people

Anonymous
I'm asking because I grew up in an area where I wasn't around a lot of Jewish people, I don't meant this to be snarky, offensive or ignorant, although I'm sure it'll be taken thay way. Here goes:

Is Jewish a race or religion?
Are you considered white, as in do you check that box for demographics?
Explain to be Jewish jokes, as in what is the generalization behind them. I really don't get them, although I can draw inferences.
Where did the term anti-Semite come from?

And anything else I should know would be appreciated too.
Anonymous
Judaism is a religion and it is not a race nor is it an ethnicity. People who live in Israel are Israeli by ethnicity and the majority of those individuals are Jewish by religion. Some Jews have a genetic link to people who once lived in ancient Palastine, but many American Jews are descended from Slavic people who adopted Judaism in or around the 10th century. People who practice the religion of Judaism like those of any religion can be of any race or ethnicity. Some Jews are Semitic, but many are not. People of ancient middle eastern decent are Semitic. This includes Jews who have descended from Jews who lived in ancient Palastine and all Arabs.
Anonymous
Thank you for your response. I am puzzled that Jewish people get genetic testing during pregnancy if they are not a race.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Thank you for your response. I am puzzled that Jewish people get genetic testing during pregnancy if they are not a race.


Jews get genetic testing if they are from Eastern Europe. This is called the "Ashkenazi profile." Ashkenazi refers to Eastern European Jews. There are certain diseases that are prevalent or common among groups that have had a lot of intermarriage over centuries, whether they are a race or not. Ashkenazi Jews have a higher rate of certain diseases some of which can be revealed in genetic testing. But people who are not Jewish get these diseases too.


Anonymous
BTW, Jews come in all races.
Anonymous
There are different types of Jewish people.

Anonymous
Jesus was Jewish.

Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Judaism is a religion and it is not a race nor is it an ethnicity. People who live in Israel are Israeli by ethnicity and the majority of those individuals are Jewish by religion. Some Jews have a genetic link to people who once lived in ancient Palastine, but many American Jews are descended from Slavic people who adopted Judaism in or around the 10th century. People who practice the religion of Judaism like those of any religion can be of any race or ethnicity. Some Jews are Semitic, but many are not. People of ancient middle eastern decent are Semitic. This includes Jews who have descended from Jews who lived in ancient Palastine and all Arabs.


It is not so clear cut. For example, the children of a Jewish woman are automatically considered to be Jewish, without any baptism or similar process, suggesting being Jewish is being part of a race and/ or ethnic group, beyond a religion per se.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
It is not so clear cut. For example, the children of a Jewish woman are automatically considered to be Jewish, without any baptism or similar process, suggesting being Jewish is being part of a race and/ or ethnic group, beyond a religion per se.


The Jewish religion does not require a ceremony akin to baptism in order to be a member of the religion. If you are born Jewish, you are Jewish; that doesn't mean it's a race, it means that it's a religion with customs that are different from some other religions.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:There are different types of Jewish people.

Beta Israel of Ethiopia.
Anonymous
Why don't they accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
It is not so clear cut. For example, the children of a Jewish woman are automatically considered to be Jewish, without any baptism or similar process, suggesting being Jewish is being part of a race and/ or ethnic group, beyond a religion per se.


The Jewish religion does not require a ceremony akin to baptism in order to be a member of the religion. If you are born Jewish, you are Jewish; that doesn't mean it's a race, it means that it's a religion with customs that are different from some other religions.


Well, that is your interpretation. To me the "If you are born Jewish, you are Jewish" sounds much more like a race or ethnicity than a religion.

Try this...how would these statements sound:

"If you are born Buddhist, you are Buddhist."
"If you are born Catholic, you are Catholic"
"If you are born atheist, you are atheist."
Anonymous
If Judaism is a religion not an ethnicity, then how come my nieces and nephews who were born to a Jewish father and Christian mother and all had bar and bat mitzvahs, are not considered Jewish by many temples or by the state of Israel? Why were they rejected by several temples when they were young because their mother is not Jewish? Why can't they "convert" to Judaism?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:If Judaism is a religion not an ethnicity, then how come my nieces and nephews who were born to a Jewish father and Christian mother and all had bar and bat mitzvahs, are not considered Jewish by many temples or by the state of Israel? Why were they rejected by several temples when they were young because their mother is not Jewish? Why can't they "convert" to Judaism?


And why are such people rejected when many Jewish people simultaneously complain about being a minority? Why not accept kids like the ones above into the fold and therefore grow a larger commuity rather than rejecting them?
Anonymous
1. Because the faith has quirky rules as do many other faiths.

2. They can indeed convert to Judaism. They would need to do an Orthodox conversion to be accepted all Jews.
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