Is the term "Jew" an insult?

[ApologiaPhoenix]

On TWeb, we meet every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night on PALtalk. There, we discuss all manner of topics and just have fun fellowship. Lately though, we've had someone who claims to be of the Jewish persuasion come in and chat with us. It's always been an "interesting" chat to say the least, but I'd like some verification on something said.

We were talking about the term "Jew" somehow and he told us that that was actually an insult. The only ones who used it were stupid American Jews (Again, his words, not mine) since they were the ones that managed to escape the concentration camps in Europe.

I'd really like to get some clarification on this. I've called Jews Jews all my life and never thought anything about it and the rest of us had never heard of such a thing either. However, we were told that to call someone a Jew was a racial slur.

Any info on this?

[Gavriel]

On TWeb, we meet every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night on PALtalk. There, we discuss all manner of topics and just have fun fellowship. Lately though, we've had someone who claims to be of the Jewish persuasion come in and chat with us. It's always been an "interesting" chat to say the least, but I'd like some verification on something said.

We were talking about the term "Jew" somehow and he told us that that was actually an insult. The only ones who used it were stupid American Jews (Again, his words, not mine) since they were the ones that managed to escape the concentration camps in Europe.

I'd really like to get some clarification on this. I've called Jews Jews all my life and never thought anything about it and the rest of us had never heard of such a thing either. However, we were told that to call someone a Jew was a racial slur.

Any info on this?

For starters some people (any culture, religion, background) find some terms as racial slurs even if the bulk of the people (of that said culture, religion, and background) don't. It never hurts to respect their beliefs and use an alternate term.

With that being said, generally the term "Jew" is acceptable and not bad in anyway. Under certain circumstances I can see it being an insult, but in most contexts it is not.

On a side note: what does this individual prefer to be called?

[ApologiaPhoenix]

On a side note: what does this individual prefer to be called?

I have no idea there. We're still trying to figure him out.

[Gavriel]

I have no idea there. We're still trying to figure him out.

I can tell you this much, if he's chatting on Friday night (Shabbat) he's probably not Orthodox.

[Sparko]

I can tell you this much, if he's chatting on Friday night (Shabbat) he's probably not Orthodox.

That's a very good point. I will have to ask him about that next week.

The guy was pretty much just a troll IMO. He seemed to be just making up stuff to believe just to be controversial. When we pointed out that America (which he says he hates) was instrumental in freeing the Jews from the Nazi's and defeating the Nazi's, he said that no, the Russian's defeated 80% of the German army. He didn't seem to have an answer to the accusation we made that the Russians themselves under Stalin were nearly as brutal to the Jews (and all religious people) as Hitler was.

[Gavriel]

That's a very good point. I will have to ask him about that next week.

The guy was pretty much just a troll IMO. He seemed to be just making up stuff to believe just to be controversial. When we pointed out that America (which he says he hates) was instrumental in freeing the Jews from the Nazi's and defeating the Nazi's, he said that no, the Russian's defeated 80% of the German army. He didn't seem to have an answer to the accusation we made that the Russians themselves under Stalin were nearly as brutal to the Jews (and all religious people) as Hitler was.

I concur, sounds like a troll.

[sylvius]

For starters some people (any culture, religion, background) find some terms as racial slurs even if the bulk of the people (of that said culture, religion, and background) don't. It never hurts to respect their beliefs and use an alternate term.

With that being said, generally the term "Jew" is acceptable and not bad in anyway. Under certain circumstances I can see it being an insult, but in most contexts it is not.

On a side note: what does this individual prefer to be called?

In Dutch, and especially in Dutch dialects, the mentioning of Jews had (and still has) often a derogative sound. Also in Germany, of course, I know, still today.
And in France also.
Jews were/are familiar with that, must take it for granted.
But many were/are ashamed for that also; don't want to be recognized as being Jewish.

[Gavriel]

But many were/are ashamed for that also; don't want to be recognized as being Jewish.

This is a seperate issue.

[Krusader]

That's a very good point. I will have to ask him about that next week.

The guy was pretty much just a troll IMO. He seemed to be just making up stuff to believe just to be controversial. When we pointed out that America (which he says he hates) was instrumental in freeing the Jews from the Nazi's and defeating the Nazi's, he said that no, the Russian's defeated 80% of the German army. He didn't seem to have an answer to the accusation we made that the Russians themselves under Stalin were nearly as brutal to the Jews (and all religious people) as Hitler was.

My husband is a WW2 buff - he says that the American army held back so that the Russians could liberate parts of Nazi held Europe. This apparently was a deal cut with Stalin by Roosevelt and Churchill.

[Christian2]

Don't Jews call each other Jews?

[Menachem]

Don't Jews call each other Jews?

When in general reference to the Jewish people, Yes! for example "The Jews of Ethiopia were persecuted!" or "I am a Jew!," "He/She Is a Jew"...etc.

One does not say "Hey you, Jew, come here!" or in a derogatory fashion such as that.

There is a proper way to use the term "Jew" and then there is the improper way to use it. I'm sure you all can get the general gist of it from the example above.

Shalom

[yonah_mishael]

When in general reference to the Jewish people, Yes! for example "The Jews of Ethiopia were persecuted!" or "I am a Jew!," "He/She Is a Jew"...etc.

One does not say "Hey you, Jew, come here!" or in a derogatory fashion such as that.

There is a proper way to use the term "Jew" and then there is the improper way to use it. I'm sure you all can get the general gist of it from the example above.

Shalom

Indeed.... Is the term "Mexican" an insult? It depends on the context, the speaker, and the tone.

Yonah

[NeilUnreal]

It depends on the context, the speaker, and the tone.

I think this is the key to the whole thing. Tone and context are much easier to get across in verbal dialog or extended writing than in "sound bite" media like chatrooms.

-Neil

[Sparko]

yeah, normal people understand that any name can be misused or turned into an insult, but this guy was trying to convince us that the name "jew" was a racial slur all the time and anyone who used it was antisemetic. clearly he was insane or a troll.

The Old Testament even uses the name "Jew" to refer to the chosen people of God.

I found a Jewish source that explains the name and how it came to refer to the Hebrews.

http://www.jewfaq.org/whoisjew.htm

[Menachem]

yeah, normal people understand that any name can be misused or turned into an insult, but this guy was trying to convince us that the name "jew" was a racial slur all the time and anyone who used it was antisemetic. clearly he was insane or a troll.

The Old Testament even uses the name "Jew" to refer to the chosen people of God.

I found a Jewish source that explains the name and how it came to refer to the Hebrews.

http://www.jewfaq.org/whoisjew.htm

sounds to me like was more of a troll than anything.