Jews

The Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation. This term means their identity connects both a specific ethnicity and a religion. They originated from the ancient Israelites in the regions of Israel and Judah.

Many in this group follow the faith known as Judaism. Judaism is considered an ethnic religion. This means the culture and the faith are deeply intertwined. Some people are ethnically Jewish but do not practice the religion. However, religious Jews view converts as members of the Jewish nation. This inclusion follows a long-standing process of conversion.

Ancient history shows how this group emerged in the Southern Levant. During the Iron Age, the Israelites grew from pre-existing Canaanite peoples. They established the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Scholars describe this emergence as an upshot of Canaanite culture. Originally, the term "Jew" referred to the inhabitants of Judah. These people were distinguished from Samaritans and gentiles. According to the Hebrew Bible, many came from the tribe of Judah. This tribe descended from Judah, the fourth son of Jacob. The tribe of Benjamin was another significant group in Judah.

Religious practices evolved significantly over many centuries. By the late 6th century BCE, Judaism had changed from earlier Israelite religion. Modern scholars call the earlier religion Yahwism, named after Yahweh. Religious Jews believe their theology expresses a Mosaic covenant. This is a sacred agreement between God and the Jewish people. After the Babylonian exile, the term "Jew" took on new meanings. It was used for followers of Judaism and descendants of Israelites. It also described citizens of Judea or allies of the Judean state.

Conflict with the Roman Empire led to major population shifts. Migration during the Hellenistic period and subsequent wars caused the Jewish diaspora. The diaspora refers to the scattering of Jews away from their homeland. This process involved many difficult events and population transfers. During the Great Revolt against Rome, about 600,000 Jews died. Later, the Bar Kokhba revolt in 135 CE caused about 500,000 deaths. Massacres accounted for roughly 40 percent of the population decrease in Palestine. Economic hardship also drove many to migrate to Babylon.

Roman actions further changed the landscape of Jewish life. After the revolts, the Roman general Titus destroyed the Second Temple in AD 70. This event caused Jews to be scattered to many corners of the world. The Roman leader Hadrian later turned Jerusalem into a pagan city. He named it Colonia Aelia Capitolina. Jews were forbidden from entering this new city under penalty of death. The economic structure of the region was largely destroyed. Many Jews were sold into slavery during these periods. Much of the spiritual and economic life moved to Galilee.

As communities settled globally, they formed three major ethnic subdivisions. These groups are defined by where their ancestors lived. The Ashkenazim settled in Central and Eastern Europe. The Sephardim lived on the Iberian Peninsula. The Mizrahim settled in the Middle East and North Africa.

These groups maintained unique cultural identities. They used shared language, values, and social norms to stay connected. Despite the challenges of exile, they often held onto the idea of returning home. Some communities eventually adjusted to their hostlands and became centers of cultural creation.

Recent history includes significant demographic changes. Before World War II, the global Jewish population reached 16.7 million. This was about 0.7 percent of the world population. During the Holocaust, Nazi Germany systematically murdered approximately six million Jews. Since that time, the population has slowly risen again. By 2012, the population was estimated at 15.2 million. This is less than 0.2 percent of the total world population. Today, over 85 percent of Jews live in the United States or Israel. Israel is the only country where Jews make up more than 2.5 percent of the population.