(contents)
Chapter 1. Wave
of nationalism and socialism (1945-1956) (11)
027. Israel independence(2): Who is a Jew ? (3/3)
Judging from Jewish history shown above, it is extremely difficult to answer the question "Who is a Jew?”.
First, Jews cannot be described as
independent ethnic group in biological meaning. It is true that their origin
was Semites. But the current Jews who have survived Diaspora for nearly 2,000
years do not share the same DNA.
Second, is it possible to define the Jews
in religion called Judaism? The answer is ‘No’. Those who converted from
Judaism to Christianity also refer to themselves as Jews. Most Jews in the
United States are Christians. Jews are ambiguous in terms of religion.
Eventually, Jews are the people whom other
people say that he is a Jew or who declares himself as a Jew. This is a synonym
repetition and is not definition of Judaism.
Until the early modern era the Europeans
tried to look down Jews and confine them in the ghetto. The Jews who didn’t
want to live as Christian but as Judaism lived quietly in a corner of society
concealing of Jews.
However, when Jewish bankers like Lord
Rothschild got the ability to play an outstanding role in warfare, or one
genius in natural science such as Albert Einstein appeared in the history, Jews
became eager to share identity of themselves. All those who self-termed Jews
was regarded as Jews. After the Holocaust during World War II, all of Jews were
assured safety and prosperity. They, therefore, declared themselves as Jews in
public. In that sense, among the Jews immigrating to Israel from Russia after
the collapse of the Soviet Union, it might be doubtful that some of them are
nothing to do with the genuine Jews.
Israel was established by genuine and
non-genuine Jews who self-proclaimed as Jews. Israel is still growing and
expanding.
(To be continued ----)
(From an ordinary citizen in the cloud)
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