I would like a little bit of a history session regarding "Jews".
History session would take a lot of time. For me (personally), it's pretty simple.
My mother is Jewish (Israeli Born), hence I am Jewish. My father is actually Greek (Born in Chios). I'm a mutt in that respect. My mother got some shit about not marrying a nice Jewish boy, but she wasn't ultra religious whatsoever. Some Jews think of being Jewish as an identity that simultaneously confers a religion, nationality and a culture. The Jewish language is Hebrew and the faith is Judaism. I speak a little Hebrew, but when in Israel, everyone can tell I'm American. I practice Judaism, but the form that's most convenient to me. I am not strict in the slightest way.
Aren't they mostly of middle-Eastern descent, just with different views on religion? Besides religion, how much difference in genealogy do they have with the same people that they share with Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Bethlehem etc....?
In terms of Jews being of Middle-Eastern descent, I don't think that's completely accurate. I would instead say that Jews as a people are probably best described as a tribe of desert nomads. There are and has been history of Jews living everywhere from Spain, Poland, Hungary, Russia, Turkey, Armenia and various other places. The state of Israel came to be in May 14, 1948. Because of my dark features, most say I have a sephardic look.
Jews are essentially a hybrid group with genes that probably can be traced all throughout Europe, the middle east & parts of Africa. Again, sticking to the idea of nomads.
I'm thinking that being Jewish is more of a religious and/or political thing, than being a totally different group of people.
Some Jews are ultra religious and also Zionist (PRO-EVERYTHING Israel). I am not either of those. I'm fucking American and want what's best for America, because this is where I live, have made a living and established with my family. I have friends & family in Israel and want Israel to be fine moving forward, but I am also fine with leaving Palestine alone and not have any further infringement upon their space and them against ours. Some Jews will say Palestine itself belongs to Israel, others are in the middle with regards to that argument. I say, fuck it, there is room for everyone. Land is land, what counts are the people.
Now, in terms of being a "totally different" group of people, I don't see it that way. I am just like you and everyone else here. Who I was born from, where I spent my earliest childhood years and what my last name is makes no difference. I don't draw that line and consider myself special due to any Jewish ancestry. In my Nihilistic view of the world, we are all part of the same compost.
If you have specific questions, I am more than happy to answer, but it's hard to give a brief history lesson.
Hope this helps,
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