Judaism Response Paper 1 - Lei

Judaism can be defined as a race, culture, and religion. Such a seeming paradox is caused by both the many denotations that accompany a one-worded definition and the discrepancy in the ways Jewish people see themselves. In fact, Judaism must be defined by all of them or risk leaving out some people who should be included. The real question is, what is the significance of pinpointing the definition of Judaism?

Judaism can be defined as a race. One of the OED definitions of race is:

II. In extended use: a group or class of people, animals, or things, having some common feature or features. 6. a. A set or class of people who share a characteristic attitude or other feature.

Although there may not be one common characteristic that binds together all Jews except self-identifying as a Jew, it is true that communities of Jews tend to share non-religious characteristics that can distinguish themselves from the other local populations. Members of a Jewish community tend to intermarry, sometimes creating physical similarities. Other definitions of race, such as a "A group of people, animals, or plants, connected by common descent or origin. " do not apply because one can also convert to the culture and religion of Judaism, and call himself a Jew but not be related to any Jewish people.

To account for those who do not have Jewish lineage but still apply the label to themselves, Judaism can be seen as a culture:

7. a. Chiefly as a count noun. The distinctive ideas, customs, social behaviour, products, or way of life of a particular society, people, or period. Hence: a society or group characterized by such customs, etc. b. With modifying noun: a way of life or social environment characterized by or associated with the specified quality or thing; a group of people subscribing or belonging to this.

Members of the Jewish culture have traditions passed down from their family or Jewish environment that are, if not unique, then more predominant within their community. Many of these traditions have religious origins, such as celebrating a particular holiday, or avoiding one type of food.

Finally, Judaism would not be Judaism without the religious aspect of its many definitions. Judaism originated as a means of bringing together a group of nomadic Semites, and the history of the Jewish people is not complete without mentioning its religious component, as many of the Jewish peoples' actions have had a strong religious component. For example, the conquering and subsequent dispute over the region in the Middle East known as Israel, or the promised land.