Jew
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Jew
A person who belongs to the Jewish people or the Jewish cultural community. Belonging can be defined by descent, especially from a Jewish mother, or by conversion.
Albert Einstein war ein weltberühmter Jude, der aus Deutschland fliehen musste.
Albert Einstein was a world-famous Jew who had to flee Germany.
Jew
A person who belongs to the Jewish religion, Judaism.
Als gläubiger Jude feiert er Schabbat und die hohen Feiertage.
As a devout Jew, he celebrates Shabbat and the High Holidays.
This word has a very complex and painful history in Germany. It should always be used with respect and with awareness of the historical context, since it describes a profound personal and collective identity.
Im Schulunterricht lernen wir über das Leben der Juden in Europa vor dem Zweiten Weltkrieg.
In school lessons, we learn about the lives of Jews in Europe before the Second World War.
The word 'Jude' (Jew) is usually used as a noun that identifies a person, often after the verb 'sein' (to be), e.g. 'Er ist Jude' (He is Jewish / He is a Jew). It is not placed directly before another noun like an adjective.
Mein Nachbar ist Jude und feiert Chanukka mit seiner Familie.
My neighbor is Jewish and celebrates Hanukkah with his family.
To describe religious orientation, the word is often combined with adjectives such as 'gläubiger' (devout), 'orthodoxer' (Orthodox), 'liberaler' (liberal), or 'säkularer' (secular) Jude.
Er ist ein liberaler Jude und engagiert sich in seiner Gemeinde.
He is a liberal Jew and is active in his community.
Israelite
Jude is the usual term today for a person of Jewish origin or affiliation. Israelit could also be used in this sense, but it sounds outdated and is found especially in older texts. In a modern text, Jude is therefore usually the appropriate choice.
In der aktuellen Vereinszeitung wird David als Jude bezeichnet.
In the current club newsletter, David is described as a Jew.
In dem hundert Jahre alten Vereinsregister wird David als Israelit bezeichnet.
In the club register from a hundred years ago, David is described as an Israelite.
