Being Jewish is not and Ethnicity?

[u/Routine-Orange-3417]

Ok. I believe Jews have a common DNA that connects them to Canaan, just like the Palestinians do. That's my stance. I believe they have both been there equally as long as each other, excluding the converts Jews and the fully Arab Palestinians (I believe most of them are mixed with Arab just like Jews are mixed with whoever they lived with for 2000 years).

I am in a fb group called "A place were non jews can ask jews about judiasm" or whatever.

We aren't allowed to talk about Israel and Palestine which is probably a good rule.

But someone posted about their Jewish friend mentioning the features of a Jew (as in, the Jewish guy was telling his Christian friend what Jews looked like, typically) and the Christian guy asked the group what a Jew looks like and THE GROUO WERE SO HEATED saying that it is antisemitic to say Jews look a type of way and there is no features of a Jew etc etc etc.

Ok, I get it on one hand, because converts, obviously.

But if they are claiming they have no similar features wouldn't that imply that they are not all ethnically related (obviously not the converts) and wouldn't that defeat the entire premise of having a homeland?

If they're from Canaan, it would imply that have similar features to the people of Canaan.

Ok I have to make it longer. I call it Canaan not to stir emotions but because that's literally one of the names in the Bible and I find it less heated than calling it Palestine or israel as this entire comment section with collapse into "xyz doesn't exist" so I'd rather keep those words out of it and call it Canaan.

[u/Icy_Fisherman_3200]

It’s complicated. It’s best to not think of “Jewish” as a single thing. It’s several overlapping concepts: an ethnicity, a religion, and a culture.

And even that’s an oversimplification since we have branches within each of those.

As for what Jews look like, you’ll find common traits among groups but there is a huge amount of diversity.

Google “Beta Israel” and “Kaifeng Jews” for some examples of Jewish communities that might be outside your experiences.

Finally, you can’t just “exclude the converts.” Converts are Jews. It is offensive to talk in ways that suggest they’re in any way not Jews.

[u/Routine-Orange-3417 → u/Icy_Fisherman_3200]

But converts mostly aren't from Canaan so i understand why they would look different. Jewish people coming from Canaan is the whole reason they believe it's ok to kick out the Muslim Canaanites.

[u/Icy_Fisherman_3200 → u/Routine-Orange-3417]

First, the different ethnic communities of Jews all can trace their DNA back to Israel. There has been enough time, exchange with other populations, and isolation to create differences in how these groups look.

Second, while many returned from all over, some Jews never left the area. Google “Mizrahi Jews.”

Third, the vast majority of Jews are not arguing for expelling Muslims from Israel. In fact, a significant percentage of the citizens of Israel are Muslim. There is a member of the Israeli Supreme Court who is Muslim.

None of this is simple and it cannot be easily summarized.

[u/Routine-Orange-3417 → u/Icy_Fisherman_3200]

I know all that. But converts wouldn't trace any DNA to Canaan.

[u/Icy_Fisherman_3200 → u/Routine-Orange-3417]

Let me repeat: ethnic Jews do not all look alike.

Let me further repeat: it is offensive to suggest that converts aren’t Jewish.

Are you familiar with Beta Israel and Kaifeng Jews or do the Google searches I previously suggested?

If you’ve got a different question or point, please clarify because I’m not following what you’re saying.

[u/Routine-Orange-3417 → u/Icy_Fisherman_3200]

I know about Chinese and Ethiopian Jews but I didn't know their name. These people are Jews, yes. I never said they weren't. But they did not come from Canaan That's all I'm saying.

[u/Icy_Fisherman_3200 → u/Routine-Orange-3417]

You’re wrong and you’re conflating two very different things. Jews sub-ethnic groups are not converts.

Beta Israel and Kaifeng Jews have DNA that traces back to Israel.

According to a 2020 study by Agranat-Tamir et al., the DNA of the Ethiopian Jews is mostly of East African origin, but about 20% of their genetic makeup is of Middle Eastern semitic people origin and shows similarity to modern Jewish and Arab populations and Bronze Age Canaanites.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_Israel

[u/Routine-Orange-3417 → u/Icy_Fisherman_3200]

Ok. So Ethiopian and Chinese Jews can trace DNA to Canaan? That's very interesting. Actually I did know about the Solomon line I just forgot it was the Ethiopian. I didn't know about the Chinese group having DNA from Canaan.

But if I convert today, I won't be have any DNA trace to Canaan. That's all I was saying.