Are Jewish people middle eastern or white?

Answer 1

Jews are not necessarily white. Jewish communities flourished for centuries all over the world, so Jews can belong to any ethnicity. A large community of Ethiopian Jews now resides in Israel, there are Jews from India (some called Bnei Menashe) and Middle Eastern Jews.

In addition, converts to Judaism come from many different ethnic groups. The Abayudaya Jews of Uganda converted to Judaism en masse in 1919. A congregation in San Miguel includes many Mexican converts to Judaism.

Judaism is a religion made up of people from many ethnic backgrounds, and is accepting of all of them.

Answer 2

There are Jews who are White and there are Jews who are Olive, Hispanic, East Asian, Indian, and Black in skintone. Judaism encompasses all races (except Native American).

Answer:

The majority of Jews are either light-skinned or Mediterranean (olive) hued.

Concerning our ancestors, our tradition is that the twelve sons of Jacob (the 12 Tribes) were not completely similar to each other in appearance, though none of them was really dark-skinned.
Abraham himself came from Western Asia, and since Jews have intermarried very little in the last 3800 years, he probably looked like Jews today.
DNA testing of Jewish communities worldwide has shown that they are all interrelated and of Middle Eastern genetics, comparable to the Sephardim today.

Answer 3

No. While very many Jews appear to have Caucasian-colored skin, they are not descended from the Caucasians. Jews are from the Semites (see Genesis ch.10-11). Just as today, Jews (Israelites) came in differing skin-tones, heights, and body-types. Our tradition is that the twelve sons of Jacob (the 12 Tribes) were not completely similar to each other in appearance, though none of them was really dark-skinned (Rashi commentary on Genesis 12:11).
Abraham himself came from Western Asia, and since Jews have intermarried very little in the last 3800 years, the answer is that he probably looked like Jews today.
DNA testing of Jewish communities worldwide has shown that they are all interrelated and of Middle Eastern genetics, comparable to the Sephardim today.

Answer 4

Jews are light to olive-skinned Middle Eastern Semitic, not technically Caucasian, though we have some admixture through non-Jews who have converted, joined us, and contributed their hereditary genes. See also the Related Links.

Link: Jewish ancestry

Link: Jewish origins

Answer 5

It depends on whose definition you accept.

Currently, Jews DO fall under the US Census Bureau's definition of White (unless those Jews are of Ethiopian, Indian, or Chinese descent).

However, Jews typically see themselves as a Mediterranean People, NOT WHITE. The coloration varies, but includes colors that might be misidentified with a Southern German at their lightest and may be misidentified with Pakistani at their darkest. Nationalities with similar complexions include most Arabs, Southern Italians, Southern Spaniards, Turks, and other North Africans. Some terms that are thrown around to explain the coloration of Middle Eastern people are "Olive", "Brown", "Swarthy", etc. but there is no consistent term for this coloration.

As a general rule, White Supremacists and the Alternate Right DO NOT see the Jews as being a part of the White Race and see Jews as a corrupting influence on "White Power Structures". Historically, this was the most common racial characterization of Jews in Western society until the Civil Rights Movement.

Answer 6

As a religion, there are Jews of all colors. In mid-2009, Jews were found in 136 countries.

Answer 7

There are Jews of every race and colour.

Answer 8

Judaism has intergrated to all religions

Answer 9

Jews come in all skin colors and, aside from converts, Jews generally have Middle Eastern ancestors. Yemenite Jews have much darker skin than Ashkenazic (northern European) Jews. Mizrachi Jews (those from countries like Iraq) look somewhat in between, and generally look like other middle-easterners.

Answer 10

The "whiteness" of Jews is problematic. Most Jews are acutely aware that, prior to World War II, Jew were not generally considered "white" in much of the US, and that legal discrimination against Jews only really ended with the 1964 Civil Rights act. Jews are also generally aware both that they are considered "white" by most Americans -- and benefit from this, while at the same time, many racists still consider Jews non-white. Jews are also generally aware that not all Jews are white by any definition -- Yemenite Jews, for example, have dark skin, not to mention African American converts and their descendants.