whether s/he lives in Israel or in China, whether s/he is religious or secular. All the waters in the world cannot convert a Jew to any other religion. Once a Jew, always a Jew. Non-Jews living in Israel are not Jews and never will be part of the Jewish nation unless they convert. Non-Jews can only be converted by Orthodox Rabbis who would only convert them if they're ready to accept the complete Torah. All other converts to Judaism are not part of the Jewish people. As simple as that.

So these polls mean nothing, how can you care what a nation of serial deliberate war luzerim thinks about any matter?

How did this extreme religious nationalism take hold? Obviously the answer is Netanyahu. Jews around the world support Israel - but if the sentiment is not reciprocated that could change. Israel has made itself unliveable by its aggressive settlements policy, its extreme inefficiency, the extreme unpleasantness of much of its population and the growing non-democratic, crypto-fascistic, religious-nationalist control of its life. At this rate no one at all will support it.

I am an Israeli as is my Jewish wife and family . However I am not Jewish. I am agnostic but we keep Shabbat - it is a wonderful discovery for me, we read the Torah which I love. We keep all the holidays and fast on Yom Kippur and Tisha B'Av. I I was brought up Christian in Britain. There was a minister of the Church of England in my family and also a nun who spent most of her adult life in a convent where we (all of us C of E Protestants) visited her. I attended a church affiliated elementary school and sung in the church choir plus I was 'confirmed' into the C of E at age 12. Despite all of this I slowly came to the conclusion while in the choir that I did not believe in God and therefore obviously not in Jesus. I soon quit the choir a bit regretfully since I only joined in order to sing! I was unofficially an atheist. At university in the late 60s studying philosophy and politics I learned that I could neither prove that God existed or did not exist, thus I was actually an agnostic - fine with me, I didn't care. Then I met some Israelis I had already met my first Israeli while hitching in Germany. Where are you from I asked him at the youth hostel? I am from a country which is not an island but we can only leave by air of sea. I loved geography but I could not guess where he was from. When he told me, I said of course, the Arabs. Ironically I was a shortwave radio listener and listened to Kol Yisrael the voice of Israel broadcasting from Jerusalem plus I listened to Egyptian, Jordanian and Syrian shortwave all in English. One young Israeli woman became my girlfriend and I was introduced to falafel in Golders Green London. Not as good as Israeli but OK. In 1971 we went to Israel and I simply took to the country and people. We had hitched across Europe and sailed from Athens to Haifa. Ironically my father had landed there during WW2 as a wounded British soldier fighting the Nazis in Egypt and Libya. He was treated at the Rambam hospital which was established to aid British soldiers during the war. Long story short, after later volunteering in Israel during the first gulf war - we were sent to an army base near the Egyptian border where I worked on tanks. We wore our gas masks when the sirens went off. Eventually my wife and I made aliyah (her second time!) and we have lived in Tel Aviv which I love, in Jerusalem which is special of course and in Natzeret Illit and Eilat. It takes all kinds to be make Israel the most wonderful country in the world. Along the way we met Peres, Shamir, Rabin, Sharon and former IDF Chief of Staff Amnon Lipkin Shahak - all by accident! Now that is really Israeli. Hag Sameach happy Rosh Hashana to all!!

It's time for Israel to recognize that the word "Jewish" means different things to different people and for all practical purposes the term is without a meaning. On the other hand, the term "Israeli" is fully meaningful. Israel is a normal country with an abnormal immigration law which favors the undefinable "Jews." While this immigration law, the so called "Law of Return," came about for noble reasons (the holocaust,) it is not a law that is good for Israel any more. Israel needs a better immigration law which will make the country more fair, more like other countries which serve the interests of their citizens as their first priority.

in New York doing the Stock Exchange..? What do you prefer, whom would you invite home for dinner? That's all.

It's like having a poll on defining male and female. You can have a poll on defining an Israeli, but being Jewish is a fact, like someone having blue eyes or brown eyes. See comment #1

why bother having Israel at all? Why should anyone in the world contemplate moving to or even visiting Israel? Other than being a Jewish state, Israel has NOTHING to offer anyone -- Jew or non-Jew. After all, "Michael from California" says it all....

So if the immigration laws will be changed, you will finally move here?

The tagline, "...a third of Israelis believe that to be considered a Jew, one has to live in Israel," is not correct based on the survey. The survey found that 30% of Israelis felt living in Israel, using Hebrew, and serving in the IDF was their expressive connection to their Jewish Identity. In other words, it's their personal connection to their own Jewish identity, not what defines as a Jew, which, earlier, found 58% said being born to a Jewish mother.

Judaism. There is no Jewish ethnicity. European jews are descendants of 4 European women.

You say that "Other than being a Jewish state, Israel has NOTHING to offer anyone," so let me give you three points to consider right away: 1. Israel has many wonderful people, many individuals coming from different ethnic groups and differing religious backgrounds; 2. Israel is a vibrant democracy in which you can express yourself freely even if you don't live there on a permanent basis; 3. Israel is a country like many, many other countries worth bothering with. It has its own unique language, its own unique culture, its own geography, all attractive to the world in many ways. Actually, the "Jewish" part of Israel is not at all unique as there are more Jews outside of Israel than within. If my three points will not suffice to keep you busy today, come back and ask for more. Have a nice day.

responsible for the crime of his father. I do not see any reason not to invite the soldier ,unless i have a girl who might want to marry him Better safe than sorry,

crazy people.

Jews are part of the Nation, Faith Spirit and life of Israel. Whether you live in Israel or outside of Israel. You cannot define Jews anyother way. If you believe you are Jewish and Believe GOD is the Father of Israel. Then that all you need. Remember the story of Ruth - She said Your GOD will be my GOD. Ruth converted to Judaism. Rabbi do not have authority over who is a Jew or not. - GOD decides that. Would you call the Ultra Orthodox community Jewish - they a against the Nation of Israel. Yet they are Jews - The kind of Jews that do NO honour. GOOD and EVIL come in all forms and all religions- ONLY GOD can judge and determine who is a Jew. If you believe you are a Jew - no can say you are not.

Includes a Hebrew Levi King Solomon mentions in his prayer dedicating the 1st Temple as a stranger/ foreigner.

My father, z"l, who lost his entire family in the Holocaust used to have a pretty good answer to the question of "Who is a Jew?" No need to over-parse the question. His take? He would say, "if you live long enough, someone who is not a Jew will come along and tell you that you are. But it is always for a bad reason." Keep that in mind. For the most part throughout history, the goyim have been heartily ready to define people as Jews. And it has always led to something bad. That's all anyone has to remember. It's not whether you consider yourself an atheist; it isn't whether you are three generations removed from deep observance; it isn't whether you are deeply assimilated. In other words, it's never your answer; it is always someone else's. And the results, as certainly all Jews should know, have been horrific.

Not Jewish? Give me a break. This is offensive and nonsense! My parents are Jewish therfore I am Jewish! So all the Israelis who moved to NY are suddenly not Jewish? Ridiculous!

"ONLY GOD can judge and determine who is a Jew. If you believe you are a Jew - no can say you are not." Tova, there is a clear definition, and Rut did not become a Yehudit although she was a giyoret. Remember that Yitzchak was the first Yehudi (in contrast to his parents and his brother Yisma'el, since only he was born of the B'rit 'Im Avraham). Then hab'nei Yitzchak were reckoned through Ya'akov. The name "Yehudi" comes from three factors: 1) Yehudah is the tribe of Mashiach. 2) Ha'Eretz Yisra'el was reunited as "Iudaea" (Yehudah). 3) Since the time of Factor Two, all b'nei Yisra'el have been called "Yehudim". You cite Tanakh as the source of your claim, though you don't back it up with Tanakh or history in light of Tanakh.