Understanding the Term "Jewish": Referring to Nation or Religion?

 

The term "Jewish" is commonly used to refer to a specific ethnic group as well as a religion. But when it comes to the term "Jewish," is it referring to a nation or a religion? "Jewish" is often associated with both a nation and a religion.

Jewish, as a nation, is known as a large community that is spread across almost every part of the world. Meanwhile, Jewish, as a religion, is often referred to as Judaism.

So, what exactly is Jewish?

Jewish (Jew/Jewish) refers to people who follow the Jewish religion, also known as Judaism.

According to Britannica, a Jew, in a broader sense, is a person who is descended from the Hebrews in the Bible.

In ancient times, a Jew was initially a member of Judah, a tribe that was one of the 12 ruling tribes of the Promised Land. A Jew could also be a resident of the Kingdom of Judah.

Jews as a whole were initially called Hebrews or known as the Israelites in the era of 538 BCE. After that, all followers of Judaism were referred to as Jews.

Jewish can also refer to religion. In religious references, Jewish is commonly called Judaism. Judaism is a monotheistic religion or a religion that believes in only one God.

Judaism is the oldest monotheistic religion in the world. This religion has existed since 2000 BCE.

Jewish people who want to practice Judaism usually worship in a holy place known as a synagogue. Their religious leaders are called rabbis.

The symbol of Judaism is the Star of David with six points. Meanwhile, the holy book of the Jewish people is the Tanakh or the Hebrew Bible.

Judaism also has several branches of religion, namely Orthodox Judaism, Reform Judaism, Conservative Judaism, Reconstructive Judaism, and Humanistic Judaism, as quoted from History.

In conclusion, the term "Jewish" can refer to both a nation and a religion. Jewish as a nation refers to a community that is spread across the world, while Jewish as a religion refers to Judaism, the oldest monotheistic religion in the world.

Source: CNN