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Are Jews a "Race"?



While the Jewish people began with the descendents of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, many people have converted to become Jews over the millennia--beginning with the "mixed multitude" that came with us out of Egypt. Today there are African Jews, Japanese Jews, even Eskimo Jews. It seems difficult to call such a mixture a "race".

(Incidently, there is really no such thing as a "race." The term "race" implies to most people that there are different categories of human beings based on their genetic makeup. The fact is that there is no basis in genetics for these distinctions. For example, an African from one family may have more in common genetically with a Swede than with another African.)

What could be said is that we are a "family". A family can adopt others as their own. But there are conditions to adoption. You need to keep the family rules. In our case, those rules have to do with the mission we were given at Mount Sinai over 3300 years ago.


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By Tzvi Freeman   More articles...  |   RSS Listing of Newest Articles by this Author
Rabbi Tzvi Freeman heads Chabad.org's Ask The Rabbi team, and is a senior member of the Chabad.org editorial team. He is the author of a number of highly original renditions of Kabbalah and Chassidic teaching, including the universally acclaimed "Bringing Heaven Down to Earth." To order Tzvi's books click here. Rabbi Freeman is available for public speaking and workshops. Read more on his bio page.

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Latest Comments:
Posted: Oct 12, 2009
ancestors, Sinai
As to Mount Sinai, I think to have learned that not only the ancestors but we ourselves stood there to get the whole lesson. Or not exactly that?
Maybe Jews are a race from a biologic point of view, but maybe ithat's not enough to define Jewishness.
Anyhow, I wouldn't, cannot believe in Jewish ancestors of Herr H. (Schickelgruber is a German name, rather typical for Austrian farmers, but not at all Jewish in my understanding.) Nothing of bad in "being" a race, so bodies and souls may "fit" harmonically (maybe), but the Schickelgrubers never belonged to us, I am sure of that and believe that this strange "theory" had been born to take a part of guilt from the shoulders of murderers and putt it onto victims (projection)..
Posted By Silvana Origlia, Vienna, Austria

Posted: Oct 12, 2009
why is there a jewish race part two
While I see your point, the world will not come to grips with the issue.
Hitler's grandfather was Jewish (Schikelgruber or something like that) so he is not Jewish. Native americans are certainly a race. Sammy Davis Jr. converted. So no not really. What is wrong with there being races? It is how one race discriminates against another that is the concern for humanity.

As for the jewish race, I believe Tzvi Freeman and others would say that your ancestors had to be standing at Mt. Sinai. I support that hypothesis.
Posted By Yaacov (Robert) Rubin, Lincoln, MA

Posted: Oct 10, 2009
why is there a jewish race
how is that different than saying there is a catholic race? why is there an obsession about Jewish being a race. Was Adolf Hitler Jewish? Why does there have to be races at alll? Why can't there just be a HUMAN RACE?
Are native americans a race? What about, to mention someone that everyone recognizes Sammy Davis Jr being Jewish. Was he a part of the Jewish race?
Posted By Paul Gates, cincinnati, ohio



 


Jewish Identity
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How Does One Quit Judaism?
How Does One Convert to Judaism?
To a Child of a Jewish Father
Why is Jewishness matrilineal?
Who Are the Hebrews?
What is the Meaning of the Name "Jew"?
Are Jews a "Race"?
Isn't It Racist To Believe That Jews Are Special?
Why Do Jews Exclude Other People?
Why are my Non-Religious Parents Against my Marrying a Non-Jew?
Does Intermarriage Work?
Why Not Make it Easier to Convert?
Why Do Rabbis Discourage Conversions?
Couldn't the Jews and Greeks Get Along?
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