Jews

Definition

Jews refer to the followers of Judaism, a monotheistic religion that originated in the Middle East over 3500 years ago. They are also an ethnic group often associated with this religion.

Related terms

Hebrews: The ancient people who were ancestors of today's Jews. They established the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

Torah: The central religious text in Judaism, which includes the first five books of the Hebrew Bible.

Diaspora: Refers to any population sharing a common ethnic identity who were either forced or induced to leave their traditional ethnic homelands, being dispersed throughout other parts of the world, and the ensuing developments in their dispersal and culture.