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Hey everyone, I'd love to get your opinion here.

My genes say I am 100% Askenazi Jew.

Question: Am I white?

  • 23 votes
  • 5 votes
DavidSilverman 5 Apr 2
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54 comments (26 - 50)

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1

There is a great book on this topic called "How the Jews Became White Folks and What That Says About Race in America". It's on Amazon if you want to check it out.

Orbit Level 7 Aug 30, 2020
1

hang on I'm a tad confused here. "Jewish is a religion or culture, how does that determine colour? If I became a Muslim, i'd still be a white Australian and not middle eastern. TAke a look in the mirror. Although in these times of gender fluidity, if you want to call yourself Vietnamese, I'm too weary to argue.

There’s a difference between Judaism as a religion, Jewish culture, and people of Jewish decent (verifiable by genetic testing).

1

The "White" sub-species (technically sub because it's been well known for a while now that we're all one species) are allegedly from the "Caucasus mountain range of Northern Turkey and southern Russia. There were few "Jewish" people - if any there....so go with #FrayedBear's comments..."Who gives a brass razoo?" (that's a new one to me...but I get the gist....)

My grandfather on my mother's side came from this region, as well...and he was jewish.

[en.wikipedia.org]

lol @ brass razoo. My dad says that a fair bit. It's a tad old fashioned and I would be more likely to say " couldn't give flying fuck" which I think is an American term but I do like to use swear words.

"Brass razoo is an Australian phrase that was first recorded in soldiers' slang in World War I. It is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as "a non-existent coin of trivial value". It is often used in the expression I haven't got a brass razoo, meaning the speaker is out of money. Wiki

1

Who gives a brass razoo? So long as you don't proselytise to infect others or defend your fairy tales.

1

Im part ashkenazi too. Its an ethnicity, a little like being hispanic. You can white and hispanic, black and hispanic, white and not hispanic, etc...

1

You're various shades of color. White implies a particular physiognomy that many idealize but has little practical value as an actual descriptor. It's actually quite irrelevant to defining you as a person.

1

How can genetics determine your religion?

Being a Jew has to do with tribal lineages, plus because of anti semitism, Jews have been classified as a race by many other groups, to facilitate race wars and genocide campaigns. Plus Jews have traditionally kept their lineages within the tribe, so there is a distinct genetic signature that's actually evident on tests like 23andme or Ancestry. There are also a few genetic diseases that are much more prevalent in Jews. Being a Jew and practicing the Hebrew faith are not the same but theres a huge overlap.

@MarkiusMahamius

If you are a Jew but you don't believe, are you still considered a Jew, or are you just Jew-ish?

@RoboGraham it depends who you talk to.

1

Many dark Mediterraneans in Israel. I love telling Chistians that Jesus was probably one of them, especially the fundamental white ones

If he did exist, and I have seen no evidence, quite simply, he was browner and his hair was curlier.

1

I would ask why an answer is important to you, then state "I don't believe anyone is 100% anything."

Most of us aren't even a hundred percent homo sapien sapien. We are all hominids though.

@Beowulfsfriend Glad I found you on reply. I spent 6 weeks in Israel and after the first week I din not have a problem in my mind that Jesus was a dark skinned mediterranean. Now there are some mentions of him in History but very few and I am not talking Biblical History, Miracles, Last Suppers and or the events of the Crucifixion and Resurrection. What was the last Miracle you have seen documented.?

@Nevermind345 What on earth are you talking about? How does this stay on topic?

1

I say not white. Cute btw 😁

1

first question ... are you human?

1

Use ancestry.com, you can find out what you need to know.

1

No they do not say that, nobody's do. Why post this falsehood?

1

'White' doesn't imply any shared genetic or cultural heritage with anyone else, it's a judgment based entirely upon you're appearance. People who are inclined to treat you differently if you are white will base this behaviour entirely upon what you look like. People may also treat you differently for being Jewish, a term that does imply a common ancestry and shared cultural heritage with other Jewish people, but if you don't appear 'Jewish' then you would have to provide some behavioural que for them to do so (including telling them).

JoeB Level 6 Apr 3, 2020

'your appearance'. @&+# spellchecker!

1

Famous author Peggy Orenstein is an Ashkenzai Jew. Eastern European origin.

1

That is a hugely charged question, and the true answer is you aren't, but you are too. But, mostly you aren't. The Jewish people definitely hold a special place in the world. [villagevoice.com]

1

are we defining white as western european? then no. if you mean the privileged oppressor class that dominates the world, only if you share those high iq genes.

My privilege is determined by my intellect?

@DavidSilverman if you want to join the join the privileged you have to bring something to the table. Personally, wonder what difference it makes to you whether or not you're considered white. Race has to be one of the least interesting things about a person.

0

We're all descendants from Africa (meaning darkskinned) who travelled hither tither and went through the washing machine. Why would it matter to you now whether you're white or non-white. Of what importance is it to you?

0

Someone below references a book on this, so mulling it over I guess is a thing. There is a jewish cultural group here where you could get some additional answers. With that said, I'll add to the din and say this:

I realize there are reasons that people want to dismiss the whole topic of race as nonsense, and I suppose from some angles it arguably is, but looking at it from another angle for a moment:

I am Ashkenazi Jew both by genetics (I"m assuming without having been tested) and by heritage (though it's been decades since I had any belief) and live in a largely-Hispanic community and in many situations am in the minority - in some situations, I am the only white person around and in effect am "The White Boy". It's not meant negatively but just kind of a natural thought that people have, and is exacerbated by the cultural element that I don't speak Spanish. Also though I don't go to any Church, while many of the white-skinned folks around here do, so that muddies the water further for me. Jews, especially if one is from far away, are from Mars to some of the folks around here, and sometimes no amount of "I don't believe in it" really helps things.... I"m sometimes seen as "Jewish" whether I like it or not.

There is also a whole 'nuther aspect of things around here (and in other communities) to do with anti-Jewishness (or even favoritism toward Jews I've seen in some cases).

Another thing is Seinfeld, and that type of show and set of characters and behaviors.... they have preceded me into the culture, so I've got some of that personality and geography and manner of speaking in me, and so I think it introduces another aspect into the discussion that ultimately is as confusing as anything. (And to confuse matters further, George "Costanza" is not clarified on the show as far as I know as being "Jewish", so it's kind of that question of "what makes a person Jewish, from some angles?"... is it just being from NYC and being an obnoxious yutz?)

Lastly, you specify "Ashkenazi" Jew. As far as I know, most Jews are Ashkenazi, but here near Mexico, there are a few Jews, or people of Jewish heritage) who are not. Setting aside the hot topic of race, I think another aspect of this is language.

I sometimes joke that I'm more or less white (though I occasionally pause when I'm filling out a form) except if I went to prison I"m pretty sure I wouldn't be allowed to caucus with the White Folks unless I did their accounts for them or something, and even then, I would probably not quite be seen as their definition of "White".

kmaz Level 7 Oct 24, 2020
0

When I google "Ashkenazi Jew" the images which come up look like people I would call "white" if I saw them in the street.

[google.com]

0

Can you dance?

0

Since they originated in Germany...white. As usual here always amazing how many people avoid the question or make up their own. Surprised there hasn't been an "I like pink" answer.

lerlo Level 8 Apr 24, 2020
0

I'm so confused by the way Americans (US and Canada mainly) categorize races. I believe they combine Ethnicity/Nationality with Race/skin color although they are 2 separate things. For instance, Hispanic can mean anyone from Central and South America. However, there is so much diversity in Latin American countries that two people who are polar opposites looks-wise can both be Hispanic. Asian American is another example; what type of Asian? Japanese? Kazakh? Indian? Afghan?
You've been looking a bit pale lately, Dave. I think you're white.

0

I like this question because on some level it asks what it means to be White, and what it means to be Jewish--and there are so many varied and contradictory answers to those questions. I remember a time in the US when it seemed there were two races--B

0

Damned if I know.

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