Having been away from this blog for a few months, it was great to return and find many positive comments. And then there was the post from ‘Andrew’, which states, astonishingly, as follows:
Jews are a race. Yes a lot of Jews are mixed because of the diaspora but there still is a Jewish look amongst us. There might be Japanese Jews but they are very small in number. (Perhaps <100). There were also a lot of Chinese Jews who had converted in Kaifeng, but eventually assimilated out. It is interesting to note that foreign cultures that convert to Jewry end up assimilating out. Ethopian Jews are converts hence their different genetic makeup.
Sigh. Andrew, clearly you either didn’t bother to read, or didn’t understand, the post that you are commenting on. So let me break it down for you, in a way so simple that even you can grasp this:
Jews – are – not – a ‘race’.
The proof? Anyone can become a Jew.
But nobody can alter their race.
As for this hypothetical ‘jewish look ‘- er, no, there really isn’t. I know Jews with blonde hair and green eyes and skin so fair it burns should they even glance at the sun. Equally, I know Jews who are so swarthy they are frequently labelled wrongly as ‘Arabs’ or ‘Asians’. I myself have dark hair, dark eyes and extremely fair skin – and am often assumed to be a Gentile because I ‘don’t look Jewish’…!
There is no ONE ‘jewish look’. And only a twit would believe there is.
There are Jews of ALL races.
There are Jews of ALL ethnicities.
So Andrew, you might not want to accept this point, but hey, who gives a damn? You don’t get to alter the FACTS. We ‘aint a ‘race’. Deal with it.
A Jew With A View 
HEY PENELOPE – wow, love your new avatar!!!
Am trying to fix mine and hope it will be up again soon 🙂
Your comments are, as always, spot on 🙂
I also agree with you that in an ideal world, people of all faiths and cultures should enjoy living together and learning from each other. I was very fortunate in that I chose to attend, and was allowed to attend, a mixed faith school, something I am still thankful for. I had a fabulous time making friends from all religions! This is one reason why I am opposed to single faith schools. I think children should learn about other religions, and learn to respect them, at a young age.
What is interesting about Catholicism is how it compares to what they refer to as “Protestants”. Still I have many Catholic brethren for whom I am grateful to for their knowledge and guidance.
I have been using the “race” distinction since you clarified it for me. It is not just used to describe Jews, but culture also. I am in a border state in the U.S., and have been told that being from Mexico is a race. I had to explain to a young girl that just because her parent’s heritage is from Mexico, she is not a Mexican. She was not born there, she does not speak the language, and she enjoys all that being an American entails. Not understanding that if she lived in Mexico(ie she was raised there) her life would be extremely different.
There are some things from the Mexican culture that I like and dislike, but there are some things from the Indian culture that I like and dislike also. Living by the code of what the Jews have taught humanity, we should be able to live with one another and enjoy each other’s company. It is just that some cannot stand it that we are not doing this under their belief system.
I like the thought of us all in a room “debating”, with you and S.A., it could only get us closer to the truth…good to have you back…but…what happened to your nifty gravatar?
Hi S.A. 🙂
Many thanks for your comments, very helpful.
I now have this wonderful image in my mind, of a room full of Catholics and Jews, all arguing amongst themselves about the definition of ‘catholic’ and jew’…..!
Oh are there TOO many definitions out there some even coming from the clergy! There are some who treat Catholicism as being a culture rather than a religion (which, I’ve heard of Jews who treat Judaism in the same way). To be called a Catholic, one only need be baptized in the Church. A practicing Catholic is someone who follows the teachings of the faith. Some folks follow them a little more carefully than others which is where most of the conflicts among Catholics arise.
I could write a whole BOOK on all this.
Many thanks S.A. for your kind comments!
Yes, I have seen both Jews and Catholics passionately debating their religious identity. I don’t know if it’s true for Catholics, but certainly in Judaism there is an objective definition of ‘Jew’ as defined in the faith: you are Jewish if your mother was Jewish OR if you convert to Judaism via Orthodox Judaism. These definitions are accepted by ALL Jews.
Are there similar definitions that are accepted by all Catholics? I’m very interested to know – is it something that the Vatican has ever ruled on? If either S.A. or anyone else would be kind enough to answer that would be fab! Greetings to all our Catholic friends out there 🙂
It’s so great to see you back! I missed your posts.
It’s also obvious that there are misconceptions among the Jewish about being Jewish just as there are among the Catholics regarding Catholicism.