Who Are the People of Israel? A Biblical Discussion of Identity

Definitions can be tricky. There are so very many ways to define the Jewish people. I’d like to thank the person who taught me the definition of ‘plethora;’ it really means a lot!

When it comes to defining the Jewish people, definitions are especially fraught with difficulty, even with dissention. The modern State of Israel has its own parameters, rabbinic Judaism has its rulings, and modern sociologists have theirs. In our day, questions of identity are often based on subjective feelings rather than on more objective realities. The answer to the question, “Who is a Jew?” most often depends upon the identity of the one who raises the question.