Is someone who embraces judaism called a Jew?

Answer 1

Judaism is a religious system, and as such can be accepted or rejected. One can become a Jew either by being born to a Jewish parents (or at least a Jewish mother) or by accepting the Jewish faith. A person born Jewish is still "Jewish" in the national sense, even if he does not accept Judaism. On the other hand, a Gentile would not be regarded by the community as a "Jew by Choice" other than by embracing Judaism.

Judaism is the traditional religion of the Jewish people, based on the ancient covenant God made with the nation of Israel, but not all the members of the Jewish nation necessarily follow the Jewish religion.

Jewish descent is sufficient to make one a Jew, at least (according to current Jewish law) if one's mother is a Jew. Conversion to Judaism also makes one a Jew, according to Judaism. Full conversion is the same as becoming a part of the Jewish people. In fact, if one converts he is given a new name ending in "ben Avraham" which means "son of Abraham," because he is considered to be adopted into that lineage.

Of course being born a Jew does not automatically make one an adherent of Judaism, but he is still called a Jew. Perhaps the reason people get so confused about this is that the only word we have for a person who accepts the Jewish religion is the word "Jew" which already means a descendant of Israel.