Jews

Jews, also called the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation from ancient Israel and Judah. They usually follow the religion of Judaism, which is closely tied to their history and culture. Even though many Jews practice Judaism, the group also includes people who do not.

The Jewish people began with the Israelites, who lived in the Southern Levant during the Iron Age. Over time, many Jews spread out from their original homes, forming communities all over the world known as the Jewish diaspora. Today, most Jews live in Israel or the United States, with Israel being the only country where Jews make up a large part of the population.

Throughout history, Jews have made important contributions to many areas of life, including science, art, music, medicine, and religion. They played key roles in the creation of Christianity and influenced the development of Islam. Because of their rich history and culture, Jews remain a significant part of the world's story.

Name and etymology

Main article: Jew (word)

The word "Jew" comes from the Hebrew word Yehudi, which means one person, and Yehudim for many people. Other languages have their own versions of this word, like Djudio in Ladino and Yid in Yiddish.

Scholars think the name "Judah" might have come from an old area full of valleys. Over time, the name changed from "Israelites" to "Jews". The English word "Jew" has roots in many languages, including Middle English, Old French, and Latin. Some experts suggest using "Judean" to describe people from that area, while others keep using "Jew" to talk about people who follow Judaism. Both words have been used in different ways throughout history.

Identity

Main articles: Who is a Jew?, Jewish identity, and Jewish peoplehood

Jews have a special identity that mixes ideas of a nation, a group of people, a religion, and a culture. Because of this mix, deciding who counts as a Jew can depend on whether you look at it from a religious or national point of view.

Today, Jews usually include three groups: people born into Jewish families, even if they don’t practice the religion; people with some Jewish ancestors, even if they aren’t fully Jewish by birth; and people who have chosen to join the Jewish religion through conversion. In the past, being Jewish was often decided by having a Jewish mother, a rule that goes back many centuries. This rule was part of Jewish religious law and was shaped by ancient writings and discussions among religious leaders.

Origins

Further information: Canaan, Israelites, Yahwism, Origins of Judaism, and History of ancient Israel and Judah

The history of the Jewish people begins with the Israelites, tribes who lived in a land called Canaan many years ago. Today’s Jewish people are mostly descendants of the people from the southern Israelite kingdom called Judah.

The Jewish story, as told in old books, starts with families like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their wives. Jacob had twelve sons, who became the heads of twelve groups called tribes. Later, Jacob’s family moved to Egypt, where their numbers grew. Eventually, they left Egypt, led by Moses, and returned to Canaan.

Over time, the Israelites formed two kingdoms: Israel in the north and Judah in the south. The kingdom of Judah included the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and part of Levi. Many people from the northern kingdom later joined Judah.

Historians study old writings and dig up old objects to learn more about this time. Some believe the Bible tells a true story, while others think it is more like a story that helps explain who the Israelites were. Both groups of thinkers agree that the Israelites came from the people already living in Canaan and developed their own special traditions and beliefs.

Scientists have studied the DNA of Jewish people around the world. They found that most Jewish people share a common ancestry that goes back to the Middle East. Even though Jewish communities live far apart, they still share many cultural, traditional, and language traits.

History

Main article: Jewish history

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Jewish history.

Ancient Israel and Judah

Further information: History of ancient Israel and Judah

The earliest records of a people called Israel come from the Merneptah Stele, dating to around 1200 BCE. Most scholars agree this text refers to the Israelites, who lived in the central highlands of Canaan. Archaeological evidence shows hundreds of small settlements were constructed between the 12th and 10th centuries BCE. The Israelites stood out from nearby groups through their religious practices, prohibition on intermarriage, and focus on family history.

In the 10th century BCE, two Israelite kingdoms formed—the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah. Both shared similar traditions, languages, and beliefs. Israel, with its capital in Samaria, was larger and became a regional power. Judah, centered in Jerusalem, was smaller but more stable, ruled for centuries by the House of David.

Around 720 BCE, the Kingdom of Israel was destroyed by the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Many Israelites were exiled to Mesopotamia. Judah continued under Assyrian influence until it was conquered by the Neo-Babylonian Empire in 587 BCE after a revolt in Judah. Jerusalem and the First Temple were destroyed, and many leaders were exiled to Babylon.

Second Temple period

Further information: Second Temple period and Jewish–Roman wars

The Persian ruler Cyrus the Great allowed Jewish exiles to return to Judea in 538 BCE. Under leaders like Zerubbabel and Joshua the Priest, they rebuilt the Second Temple around 521–516 BCE. Judea became a province of the Persian Empire.

Later, Judea was ruled by several empires, including the Achaemenids, Alexander the Great, and the Seleucid Empire. The Maccabean Revolt led to an independent Jewish state from 110 to 63 BCE. In 63 BCE, the Romans took control. From 37 BCE to 6 CE, Jewish leaders like the Herodian dynasty governed under Roman oversight.

The Jewish–Roman wars in the first and second centuries CE greatly changed Jewish life. The First Jewish–Roman War (66–73/74 CE) ended with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Second Temple. Later, the Bar Kokhba revolt (132–136 CE) was crushed by the Romans, leading to major changes in Jewish life and the end of Jewish political independence in the region for nearly two thousand years.

The loss of the Temple changed Jewish religious practices. Worship shifted to prayer, Torah study, and gatherings in synagogues. Different religious groups disappeared, and Pharisaic traditions became the basis of later Jewish practice.

Babylon and Rome

Further information: Rabbinic period, History of the Jews in the Roman Empire, and Talmudic academies in Babylonia

Jewish communities existed outside Judea long before 70 CE. In Mesopotamia, records from the time of Nebuchadnezzar II show Jewish exiles. In Egypt, Jewish communities were present since the 4th century BCE. Over time, Jewish communities spread across the Roman Empire and beyond.

After the Bar Kokhba revolt, Jewish life in Judea never fully recovered. By the fourth century CE, the center of Jewish life moved to Galilee. Important religious texts like the Mishnah and the Jerusalem Talmud were written there.

In Mesopotamia, under Persian and later Sasanian rule, Jewish communities thrived. The Babylonian Talmud, a key Jewish religious text, was compiled there between the 3rd and 6th centuries.

Middle Ages

Further information: History of European Jews in the Middle Ages, Mizrahi Jews, and Sephardi Jews

During the Middle Ages, Jewish communities spread across Europe and the Middle East. In Europe, Ashkenazi Jews lived in areas like France and Germany. Sephardi Jews settled in Spain and Portugal. Mizrahi Jews lived in the Middle East and North Africa. Other groups, like Romaniote Jews, also existed.

Jewish life varied greatly depending on the region. In some places, Jews faced persecution and discrimination. In others, they contributed to fields like science, medicine, and literature. For example, in Spain under Muslim rule, Jewish scholars made important contributions to many areas of knowledge.

Early modern period

Further information: Ottoman Jewry, Hasidic Judaism, Misnagdim, and Haskalah

After expulsions from Spain and Portugal in the late 1400s, many Jews moved to the Ottoman Empire, where new communities formed in places like Istanbul and Thessaloniki. In Eastern Europe, Poland became a major center for Jewish life.

New religious movements also emerged. In the 18th century, Hasidism began in Eastern Europe, emphasizing spiritual practices. In Western Europe, the Haskalah encouraged education and integration into broader society.

Modern period and the State of Israel

Further information: Jewish emancipation, Zionism, The Holocaust, and History of Israel (1948–present)

In the late 1800s, many Jews in Europe faced increasing discrimination. This led to the rise of Zionism, a movement to create a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Theodor Herzl, often called the father of political Zionism, helped start this movement.

During World War II, the Nazi regime in Germany carried out the Holocaust, in which millions of Jews were persecuted and murdered. This tragedy led to increased support for a Jewish state.

On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion declared the creation of the State of Israel. This marked a new chapter in Jewish history, though conflicts with neighboring countries continue.

Culture

Main article: Jewish culture

The Jewish people and their religion, Judaism, are closely connected. Many people who convert to Judaism are fully accepted into the Jewish community, though some may face doubts if they do not follow Jewish practices. Converting to Judaism is not common and is seen as a big commitment. Many who convert are children of mixed marriages or partners of Jewish people.

Judaism is more than just a religion; it is also a way of life. This makes it tricky to separate Judaism from Jewish culture and identity. Over history, in many different places and times—such as ancient Greece, Europe before and after big changes in thinking, Spain and Portugal under Islamic rule, North Africa, the Middle East, India, China, the United States, and Israel—Jewish culture has developed in unique ways. These developments come from inside Judaism, from Jews interacting with their surroundings, and from the social and cultural life of Jewish communities themselves. This has led to many different Jewish cultures, each special to its own community.

Main article: Judaism

See also: Jewish atheism and Jewish secularism

Main article: Jewish languages

Hebrew is an important language in Judaism, used in religious services and writings. It was also the everyday language of Jewish people for many years. By around the 5th century BCE, Aramaic became another spoken language for Jews in Judea. Later, some Jews spoke Greek, and others spoke Hebrew and Aramaic in places like Babylonia. Jews around the world have spoken the languages of the places they lived, creating their own special forms, like Yiddish in Central Europe and Ladino in Spain. Many old Jewish languages are not used much today, partly because of events like the Holocaust and people moving to new countries.

Hebrew was brought back as a spoken language by Eliezer ben Yehuda in Palestine in 1881. Today, Hebrew is the main language of Israel. Even so, many Jewish people around the world speak English, and Hebrew is not widely known among all Jews. The most common languages Jews speak today are Hebrew, English, and Russian. Some Jews also speak French, Spanish, and other Romance languages. Yiddish was once the most spoken Jewish language, but it is used less now.

Main article: Jewish leadership

There is no single leader for all Jewish people. Different groups and organizations lead parts of the Jewish community on various matters. In many countries, there is a Chief Rabbi who represents the Jewish people there. Some Jewish groups, like Hasidic Jews, follow hereditary leaders, but there is no one leader for all of them. Many Jews believe that a future leader called the Messiah will unite Jews and the whole world.

Demographics

Jews are an ethnoreligious group with roots in ancient Israel and Judah. They have traditionally followed the religion of Judaism, which is closely tied to their ethnic identity. Over time, Jewish communities have spread across the world, forming distinct groups based on where their ancestors lived.

Today, the largest Jewish communities are in Israel and the United States. In Israel, Jews make up the majority of the population, while in the United States, they form a significant minority. Smaller communities exist in many other countries, including Canada, Argentina, Brazil, France, and the United Kingdom.

Throughout history, Jewish populations have faced challenges such as persecution and forced migration. These events have shaped Jewish identity and led to the formation of the Jewish diaspora—the communities of Jews living outside of Israel. Despite these challenges, Jewish communities continue to maintain their traditions and identity around the world.

Contributions

See also: Lists of Jews

Jewish people have helped shape many parts of the world, especially Western culture. They have made important contributions to science and technology, philosophy, ethics, and literature. Jewish traditions also influence art, music, humor, theatre, cuisine, and medicine.

Many Jewish people have started movements in politics and religion. They also wrote parts of important books that helped create Christianity and Islam. A large number of Nobel Prize winners come from families with Jewish roots. Helping others through giving is also an important part of many Jewish groups.