Why do I keep hearing people describe others as "Jews" especially in a dismissive tone?

What exactly does it mean to be a "Jew"? Isn't that a bit like calling someone an African or a European?

And is everyone from Israel really a "Jew" or are they Israeli?

I'm open to input here but I get a sneaking suspicion that calling people "Jews" is a bit too convenient for everyone besides "Jews".

This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »

robb65 · 56-60, M

Citizens of Israel are "Israelis". Seventy something percent of Israelis are Jews, twenty something percent are not. And also not all Jews are Israelis.

A Jew is someone born to a Jewish mother, or someone who has officially converted. The different movements have different standards for what they recognize as an official conversion, but generally Orthodox Judaism only recognizes Orthodox conversions while other movements recognize converts from more observant movements but not converts from lesser observant movements. Just to be clear, anyone who sincerely wants to convert can convert to Judaism.

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@robb65 on most cases conversion required convincing one or a committee of, rabbis of the potential converter's true desire.

LordShadowfire · 46-50, M

@samueltyler2 Correct. One of the useless bits of information I've picked up somewhere is that the rabbi will refuse potential converts three times before finally accepting them. And it has to be three separate visits.

robb65 · 56-60, M

@samueltyler2 Yes, generally it involves at least a year of study, going before the Beit Din, immersing in the mikvah, and circumcision for uncircumcised males or Hatafat Dam Brit if you are already circumcised. Reform can be very lenient and often takes a "do what has meaning for you" approach so the process is sometimes watered down a bit.

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@robb65 you seem well educated on the issue.

robb65 · 56-60, M

@samueltyler2 I've known a few people who converted.

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@robb65 most do it to get married in the Jewish faith.

robb65 · 56-60, M

@samueltyler2 Theoretically at least that would be forbidden or at least strongly frowned upon but it does happen. I've known two couples who converted, one had two teenage kids who also converted. I've known two women who converted basically because their kids were already considered Jewish (Reform recognizes children with a Jewish father as Jewish if they are raised Jewish), one of those was single (divorced), one had been married at least a dozen or so years to someone who was Jewish.

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@robb65 i have really not seen many rabbis who accept transmission of religion from the father. My brother in law was a rabbi and although he would not convert someone, he had to be convinced of the marriage before agreeing to officiate at a mixed religious wedding, but not if there was a Christian co-officiant.

robb65 · 56-60, M

@samueltyler2 AFAIK this only happens in Reform Judaism and then only if the child is raised Jewish.

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@robb65 AFAIK? I don't recognize that acronym

robb65 · 56-60, M

@samueltyler2 As Far As I Know...

LordShadowfire · 46-50, M

@robb65 Hey, can you tell me what the following two acronyms stand for?

"IDK, GFY"