Are Jews really Jews?
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I've been doing some analytical thinking. Here we have people who claim to be Jews (most instances these people are known as Ashkanazi's). I know there are Sephardic Jews. But in this reference pertaining to the former. Maybe it's me, but looking at these people, they do not look Jewish in the least bit. They all resemble Europeans. To me, a Jew should look more like an Arab than a White European. And two thousand years of dispersion should not affect the appearance of any group of people. Help me with this, if anything possible.
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Here's a basic lesson in why there is 'European Jews'.
You are right that Jews are normally regarded as Semites, very closely related to Arabs. Throughout time though, they have emigrated to Europe. Because Jews consider their lineage to be maternal (ie, via the Mother) rather than paternal (Christian, Muslim, others, most secularists believe fatherhood takes priority, such as in surnames) they tend to integrate more.
Even during the time of Jesus/Isa, there were many Jewish communities spread about Pagan controlled lands, such as the Roman Empire and even a community in Rome, in some cases they assimilated in, others (especially later) they get mass slaughtered in genocide. However, the major case for ethnic European Jews was the conversion of Khazaria, a nation near Georgia where the royal family and political elite all converted to Judaism. When the Russians eventually took over, many Expats made the way westwards.
Like any people, fresh blood came in through conversions, by the time Germany had a major Jewish population, ethnicity they were probably closer to Germans than Central Asians or Semites.
A topic regarding this came up in another forum I visit, and basically many Jewish people link themselves culturally and through their parenthood more than by religion. In Europe, most Jews are secular or atheist, but like cultural Christians, they engage in minor religious observances.
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Greetings and Peace, all group
http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_is_a_Jew%3F
http//www.aish.com/atr/Who_is_a_Jew.html
Definitions of Jew varies--it is like asking the relationship between religion and philosophy (it all depends on whose religion and whose philosophy). It is hard to say anymore that a Jew is a member of an ethnicity called Jew; it is easier to say that a Jew is a person who follows Judaism.
ALLAH knows best.
peace
Abdul-Hadi
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I've been doing some analytical thinking. Here we have people who claim to be Jews (most instances these people are known as Ashkanazi's). I know there are Sephardic Jews. But in this reference pertaining to the former. Maybe it's me, but looking at these people, they do not look Jewish in the least bit.
Before going further, give me a clear answer on this question
- WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF A JEW?
According to your opinion
They all resemble Europeans.
Which Europeans specifically? Or do you mean "Caucasian" in general?
Well to the Chinese, the fair skinned Lebanese, Iraqi or Iranian doesn't look too much different with the French, to the Chinese they're all "GWAI LO" (Ghost People).To me, a Jew should look more like an Arab than a White European.
Canaan region (today's Israel, Lebanon, Palestine, Western Jordan and Northern KSA) was ORIGINALLY inhabited by the NEANDERTHAL. The NEANDERTHAL were fair-skinned, colorful eyed and colorful haired (among them is red) people.
Even as far as 2400 BC we still have reference from Egyptian and Sumerian tablet of a group of people called "AMORITE" or "AMURU" who were reported to be pale skinned, blond/red haired and blue eyed.
And according to the book of Joshua, the Israelis (or should I say Egyptian??) settler coming from Egypt massacred many of the Amorite within the Canaan region. Most probably it was the Amorites who founded a city which is now being called as Jerusalem, before they were massacred by the Egyptian settler.
And two thousand years of dispersion should not affect the appearance of any group of people. Help me with this, if anything possible.
Two thousand years a.k.a 60 GENERATIONS is MORE THAN ENOUGH to change the appearance of a species.
Salam / Peace
- WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF A JEW?