Why did the Hebrews change their name to Jews?

Answer 1

The Hebrew tribes formed a united kingdom called Israel, named after the patriarch Jacob who was given the name of Israel by an angel (according to the bible), which means "he who contends with God". Allegedly, Jacob had 12 sons for whom the tribes were named - Dan, Judah, Benjamin, etc. Eventually, there was a civil war and the kingdom of Israel split into 2 countries - Israel in the north, and Judah in the south. The kingdom of Judah was named after the tribe of Judah, the largest of the Israelite tribes, which were the people of the kingdom along with the much smaller tribe of Benjamin. Israel was destroyed by the Assyrian Empire in 740 BC, and the ten tribes were taken and scattered across the empire to assimilate them, denied their own language, customs, and religion so their descendants would become Assyrians. That's what Assyria did to all conquered nations. Hence, the "lost tribes of Israel". That left only Judah, the last surviving Israelite tribes. Judah was also conquered later by Babylon, and the people of Jerusalem - the skilled and educated populace - were taken captive to Babylon. From that point onward in the bible, they were referred to as Jews , which is the short form of Judean, meaning a person from the tribe and/or kingdom of Judea. In most languages, including Hebrew and Latin, the word for Jew and Judean are the same. The word "Judaism" means "the religion of Judea". So the word Jew is one that evolved out of the history of many centuries

Answer 2

The culture given unto us by YHWH thru Yahshua is written within all the books of The Bible. We do not practice a religion but gain to learn more about our culture which was hidden from us many years ago. It is not required for a person to change their name but is a personal and spiritual choice. We find in Isaiah 44:1-8… One shall say, I am the LORD's, and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob, and another shall subscribe with his hand unto YHWH, and surname himself by the name of Israel.

Answer 3

Some people of the Jewish religion folowed the ways of Jesus, "the Messiah." Because they were then shunned from their synagogues they had their own secret cermones celebrating Jesus, God and Heaven.

People started calling these Jews "Christians" taking on the name name of Christ.

Answer:

Judaism centers around Torah-observance. This has never changed. The Torah contains many hundreds of commands, hundreds of which are applicable today too. When offering sacrifices was possible, they were offered; and when the Temple was destroyed, those particular commands of the Torah were suspended. It's like a man who lost his arms: he doesn't put tefillin on, but his Judaism hasn't changed.

To answer the question:

While the Torah, its commands and the principles and beliefs of Judaism remain unchanged, Judaism has evolved as circumstances have necessitated. Here are just a few examples:

1) After the end of prophecy (some 2350 years ago), the Tanakh was sealed by a special Sanhedrin (Rabbinical court). It was the same Sanhedrin which placed our prayers in their permanent form (see Talmud, Berakhot 33a).

2) Purim and Hanukkah were instituted after the relevant events.

3) Certain fasts were instituted in connection with the Destruction of the Temple.

4) After the Destruction of the Temple, the laws of sacrifices were suspended.

5) When circumstances made it impossible, the New Moon was no longer proclaimed by testimony; rather, the fixed calendar was instituted (around 360 CE).

6) The Talmud was put in writing (around 500 CE) when it became too hard to be learned by heart.

7) There are seven formal Rabbinical commands. These are:

Saying the blessings over food (and on various occasions)

Washing one's hands before eating bread

Lighting the Hanukkah-menorah

The Eruv

Saying the Hallel prayer on certain occasions

Lighting the Sabbath candles

Reading the Megillat Esther on Purim.

In addition, there are many Rabbinical decrees, mostly from the Men of the Great Assembly (4th century BCE), as well as later enactments.

The purpose of every one of these is to provide a "fence around the Torah," meaning to shore up something that can benefit from strengthening. An example: not handling electric appliances on the Sabbath, even if they are not connected to any electric socket.

Answer 4

In many countries where Anti-Semitism has been a problem, Jews have changed their surnames to make themselves more equal to non-Jewish citizens. An example, though not of a surname change, is Sigmund Freud, born Sigismund Schlomo Freud, due to Anti-Semitism in his birthplace of the Czech Republic and his home country of Austria.

Another reason, not exclusive to Jews, is that Immigration authorities in numerous countries would shorten or alter the surnames of immigrants when they could not pronounce them. Numerous immigrants from Eastern Europe suffered this name truncation, including, but not exclusively, the Jews of Eastern Europe.

Answer 5

Because after the Ten Tribes were exiled, most of the remainder were from Yehudah; hence the name "Jews." See also:

Connection between Hebrews, Israelites and Jews

Answer 6

Because they want to identify as fully as possible with the Messianic Jewish religion and culture.

Answer 7

Some Jews change(d) their last names to avoid religious bigotry.

Answer 8

Sometimes it's assimilation. Sometimes it's simply because the name is unwieldy. Sometimes the change is imposed by others, such as what was done many times on Ellis Island to the immigrants.

Answer 9

After Jacob's name was changed to Israel, his children started being called "the Children of Israel", which later evolved into Israelites.

Answer 10

Because they wanted to avoid persecution.