Jews  

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'''Jews''' are members of the Jewish people, an [[ethnic group]] originating in the [[Israelite]]s of the [[Ancient Near East|ancient Middle East]] and others who [[Conversion to Judaism|converted to Judaism]] throughout the millennia. The ethnicity and the religion of [[Judaism]] are strongly interrelated, and converts are both [[Non-exclusive ethnic group|included and have been absorbed within]] the Jewish people. '''Jews''' are members of the Jewish people, an [[ethnic group]] originating in the [[Israelite]]s of the [[Ancient Near East|ancient Middle East]] and others who [[Conversion to Judaism|converted to Judaism]] throughout the millennia. The ethnicity and the religion of [[Judaism]] are strongly interrelated, and converts are both [[Non-exclusive ethnic group|included and have been absorbed within]] the Jewish people.
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The word ''Jew'' has been used often enough in a disparaging manner by [[Anti-Semitism|anti-Semites]] that in the late [[19th century|19th]] and early [[20th century|20th centuries]] it was frequently avoided altogether, and the term ''Hebrew'' was substituted instead (e.g. [[Young Men's Hebrew Association]]). Even today some people are wary of its use, and prefer to use "Jewish". Indeed, when used as an adjective (e.g. "Jew lawyer") or verb (e.g. "to Jew someone"), the term ''Jew'' is purely pejorative. However, when used as a noun, "Jew" is preferred, as other circumlocutions (e.g. "Jewish person") give the impression that the term "Jew" is offensive in all contexts. The word ''Jew'' has been used often enough in a disparaging manner by [[Anti-Semitism|anti-Semites]] that in the late [[19th century|19th]] and early [[20th century|20th centuries]] it was frequently avoided altogether, and the term ''Hebrew'' was substituted instead (e.g. [[Young Men's Hebrew Association]]). Even today some people are wary of its use, and prefer to use "Jewish". Indeed, when used as an adjective (e.g. "Jew lawyer") or verb (e.g. "to Jew someone"), the term ''Jew'' is purely pejorative. However, when used as a noun, "Jew" is preferred, as other circumlocutions (e.g. "Jewish person") give the impression that the term "Jew" is offensive in all contexts.
-In much the same manner, ''Yid'' (ייִד) — [[Yiddish]] for "Jew", and a benign term when taken without context — was once used as an insult, but now is often used by Jews in praise, to describe an upstanding religiously observant Jew (e.g., "He's such a ''Yid'', giving up his time like that") or to distinguish upstanding religiously observant Jews from non-observant, with the implication that the latter would be better people if they were stricter in their observance (e.g., "''Yidn'' [ייִדן – plural for ''Yid''] wouldn't do such a thing").+In much the same manner, ''Yid'' (ייִד) — [[Yiddish]] for "Jew", and a benign term when taken without context — was once used as an insult, but now is often used by Jews in praise, to describe an upstanding religiously observant Jew (e.g., "He's such a ''Yid'', giving up his time like that") or to distinguish upstanding religiously observant Jews from non-observant, with the implication that the latter would be better people if they were stricter in their observance (e.g., "''Yidn'' [ייִדן – plural for ''Yid''] wouldn't do such a thing").
In the past, the term "Jewess" was sometimes used for Jewish women. This word, like "[[Negro|Negress]]" is now at best an archaism, and is generally taken as an insult. However, some modern Jewish women have reclaimed the term Jewess and use it proudly. In the past, the term "Jewess" was sometimes used for Jewish women. This word, like "[[Negro|Negress]]" is now at best an archaism, and is generally taken as an insult. However, some modern Jewish women have reclaimed the term Jewess and use it proudly.
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Jews are members of the Jewish people, an ethnic group originating in the Israelites of the ancient Middle East and others who converted to Judaism throughout the millennia. The ethnicity and the religion of Judaism are strongly interrelated, and converts are both included and have been absorbed within the Jewish people.

Some uses of the term "Jew" are tainted by historical anti-Jewish bigotry. The correct adjectival form is "Jewish"; the use of "Jew" as an adjective (as in "Jew lawyer" rather than "Jewish lawyer") is associated with bigotry. The use of "Jew" or "Jew" as a verb (as in "to Jew someone down": to bargain for a lower price) is generally seen as an extremely offensive expression based on stereotypes. However, when used as a noun, the term "Jew" is preferred, except situations where it is used to objectify and separate Jews from the remainder of the population, often by referring to the majority population by the name of the country ("Countrymen") but referring to Jewish citizens as "Jews."

Negative use

The word Jew has been used often enough in a disparaging manner by anti-Semites that in the late 19th and early 20th centuries it was frequently avoided altogether, and the term Hebrew was substituted instead (e.g. Young Men's Hebrew Association). Even today some people are wary of its use, and prefer to use "Jewish". Indeed, when used as an adjective (e.g. "Jew lawyer") or verb (e.g. "to Jew someone"), the term Jew is purely pejorative. However, when used as a noun, "Jew" is preferred, as other circumlocutions (e.g. "Jewish person") give the impression that the term "Jew" is offensive in all contexts.

In much the same manner, Yid (ייִד) — Yiddish for "Jew", and a benign term when taken without context — was once used as an insult, but now is often used by Jews in praise, to describe an upstanding religiously observant Jew (e.g., "He's such a Yid, giving up his time like that") or to distinguish upstanding religiously observant Jews from non-observant, with the implication that the latter would be better people if they were stricter in their observance (e.g., "Yidn [ייִדן – plural for Yid] wouldn't do such a thing").

In the past, the term "Jewess" was sometimes used for Jewish women. This word, like "Negress" is now at best an archaism, and is generally taken as an insult. However, some modern Jewish women have reclaimed the term Jewess and use it proudly.



Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Jews" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.

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