Michael Safyan's answer to Is Jewish a denomination or a nationality?

Rabbi's grandson, attended Jewish day school, family spans denominations · Author has 6.3K answers and 8.1M answer views · Updated 5y ·

Yes, “Jewish” is a national identity.

Nation: a group of people who:

define themselves and recognize each other as being members of that nation
share in common

language
culture
history
values

State: a geopolitical entity that:

has well-defined borders
exercizes a monopoly on the legitimate use of force in those borders

Nation-State: a state where the borders of the state align with the borders of a particular national group, and where the state is designed to serve the interest of that dominant national group.

The notion that Jews are a “nation” tends to confuse people because, in Europe, most countries are historically nation-states and thus “nationality” and “citizenship” are often used interchangeably. This confusion has carried over into the United States, where the Declaration Form used by customs carries the label “nationality” where you need to specify the country on your passport (which corresponds, in reality, not to nationality but to “citizenship”).

In reality, nationality and citizenship are completely different concepts (though they align in many cases). Citizenship has to do with having special status in a country and with that country looking out for your well being; that is very different than the group to which you identify as a member of a nation.

The Jewish people are national group in that Jews recognize themselves and each other as member of עם ישראל (Am Yisrael - lit. “the nation of Israel”, the Jewish people). On Passover, we read from the Haggadah that “…there [in Egypt], he [Jacob] became a nation, mighty and numerous…” in reference to our ancestor. This is a declaration of our recognition of our nationhood. We share a common language (Hebrew), a common past (the national narrative as set forth in our religious texts as well as the tragic destruction of our former country, the history of the diaspora, the history of persecution in the diaspora, etc.), as well as shared values and culture (as defined by Judaism), and a common project for the future (tikkun olam — making the world a better place —, etc.).

Exodus 19:6 is one example where our holy texts refer to us as a nation.

Shown above: the Haggadah, read during the Seder on Passover every year, is another place where we refer to ourselves and each other as members of a nation.