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Jewish identity is the objective or subjective sense of perceiving oneself as a Jew and as relating to being Jewish. [1] It encompasses elements of nationhood, [2] [3] [4] ethnicity, [5] religion, and culture.
A child of only one Jewish parent who does not claim this identity has, in the eyes of the Reform movement, forfeited his/her Jewish identity. By contrast, the halakhic view is that any child born to a Jewish mother is Jewish, whether or not he/she is raised Jewish, or even whether the mother considers herself Jewish.
Jewish nationhood is a complex and multifaceted concept that encompasses shared history, culture, religion, and a sense of belonging to a community, and has been a driving force in the preservation of Jewish identity throughout history and continues to shape the Jewish experience.
This watershed moment, the elimination of the symbolic centre of Judaism and Jewish identity motivated many Jews to formulate a new self-definition and adjust their existence to the prospect of an indefinite period of displacement. [9]
Jewish secularism (Hebrew: יהדות חילונית) refers to secularism in a Jewish context, denoting the definition of Jewish identity with little or no attention given to its religious aspects. [ 1 ] [ a ] The concept of Jewish secularism first arose in the late 19th century, with its influence peaking during the interwar period .
In his view, the Bible, the parabiblical literature and the Jewish national history provide the base for a Jewish collective identity. Although many of the ancient Jews were illiterate (as were their neighbors), their national narrative was reinforced through public readings.
A person who is born to a non-Jewish mother and a Jewish father is regarded as Zera Yisrael (lit. ' Seed of Israel ') and will only be accepted as ethnically Jewish and not as religiously Jewish. Thus, being Jewish through the paternal line typically necessitates conversion to Judaism to validate one's identity as a Jew in the fullest sense.
Jewish history is the history of the Jews, their nation, religion, and culture, as it developed and interacted with other peoples, religions, and cultures. Jews originated from the Israelites and Hebrews of historical Israel and Judah, two related kingdoms that emerged in the Levant during the Iron Age.