by Ram ben Ze'ev
Judaism is often misunderstood as merely a religion when, in fact, it is far more. Judaism encompasses not only a faith tradition but also an ethnicity, a culture, and a shared history that extends more than three thousand years. This multi-dimensional nature of Judaism is rooted in the Torah, which provides insights into the nationhood, lineage, and spirituality of the Jewish people.
From its inception, Judaism has been intrinsically tied to a particular people: the descendants of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov (אברהם, יצחק, ויעקב). In Sefer Bereshit (ספר בראשית, Genesis), G-D establishes His covenant with Avraham, promising that his descendants would form a great nation (בראשית יז:ז). This covenant is reaffirmed with Yitzchak and Yaakov, binding the Jewish people to a shared ancestry and a unique relationship with the Creator.
The Torah often refers to the Jewish people as “Bnei Yisrael” (בני ישראל), meaning the Children of Israel, emphasizing the ethnic and familial aspect of the Jewish identity. This lineage is carried through the maternal line, and one’s Jewishness is passed from mother to child, reflecting the deep connection between the Jewish people and their shared heritage.
While Jewish ethnicity can be inherited, it also remains accessible to those who sincerely seek to join the Jewish people through conversion. The Torah is clear that converts (גרים, gerim) are to be treated with love and respect, as seen in Sefer Shemot (ספר שמות, Exodus) 22:20, “You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”
Judaism’s approach to conversion reflects the idea that one who converts becomes part of the Jewish people not only by adopting religious practices but by receiving a new spiritual essence. The Talmud and Kabbalistic teachings elaborate on the idea that when a person undergoes a sincere conversion (גיור), G-D grants them a “new soul.” The Talmud (Yevamot 48b) suggests that a convert is like a newborn child, and Kabbalistic sources, such as the Holy Zohar, explain that a convert’s new soul is given directly by G-D, as if they were always meant to be part of Am Yisrael.
This process of spiritual transformation is not merely symbolic; it is viewed as a fundamental change in the person’s essence. Sefer Bamidbar (ספר במדבר, Numbers) 15:15-16 emphasizes the equality between the convert and the native-born Jew, saying, “One law and one ordinance shall be both for you, and for the stranger that sojourns with you.”
Beyond the religious obligations, Judaism is a national identity. The concept of “Am Yisrael” (עם ישראל, the Nation of Israel) goes beyond borders or political statehood. It is a peoplehood with its own language, Hebrew (עברית), customs, festivals, and collective memory. Even Jews who are not religiously observant often feel a profound connection to their Jewish identity, reflecting the broader scope of what it means to be Jewish.
Judaism’s culture is expressed through its holidays, such as Pesach (פסח) and Sukkot (סוכות), which are not just religious observances but also celebrations of Jewish history and survival. These events reinforce the collective experience of the Jewish people as both a faith and a nation. The Sefer Vayikra (ספר ויקרא, Leviticus) 23 outlines many of these festivals, establishing a rhythm of Jewish life that ties past, present, and future together.
The Torah is central to Jewish identity, not just as a religious text but as the constitution of the Jewish nation. It outlines laws that govern every aspect of life, from dietary restrictions to ethical behavior, further embedding the idea that Judaism is a holistic way of life. The Torah does not separate the spiritual from the material but instead integrates all aspects of existence into a single, divinely ordained framework.
In Sefer Devarim (ספר דברים, Deuteronomy), Moshe (משה) reminds the people of their unique role as G-D’s chosen nation, saying, “For you are a holy people to the L-RD your G-D, and the L-RD has chosen you to be a people for His own possession” (Devarim 7:6). This chosenness speaks not only to religious observance but to a unique mission in the world—a mission that transcends simple religious categories.
Judaism cannot be confined to the label of religion alone. It is a complex and beautiful tapestry of faith, ethnicity, culture, and history, woven together through millennia. Whether by birth or conversion, being part of the Jewish people is an experience that encompasses both the soul and the body. The Torah, in its depth, speaks to every aspect of Jewish identity, uniting the Jewish people across time and space as a unique nation chosen by G-D.
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Bill White (Ram ben Ze'ev) is CEO of WireNews Limited, Mayside Partners Limited, MEADHANAN Agency, Kestrel Assets Limited, SpudsToGo Limited and Executive Director of Hebrew Synagogue