Are Jewish people considered white / Caucasian?

I am talking about the typical Jewish person we are used to seeing in Hollywood. I know there are Jewish people of other races. For example, Ethiopian and Yemenite Jewish people are born into Judaism as well, but I am talking about the Jewish people like . . .

Steven Spielberg
Natalie Portman
Gwyneth Paltrow
Harrison Ford
Chelsea Handler
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Alyson Hannigan
Amber Benson
Juliet Landau
Martin Landau
Seth Green
Mila Kunis
Laura Prepon
Amanda Bynes
David Beckham
Scarlett Johansson
Zac Efron
Bar Refaeli
Esti Ginzburg
Jennifer Connelly
Darren Aronfrosky
Diana Agron
Michelle Trachtenberg
Jesse Eisenberg
Peggy Lipton
Helena Bonham Carter
Daniel Radcliffe
Jason Isaacs
Gene Wilder
Lauren Bacall
Paul Newman
Tony Curtis
Jaime Lee Curtis
James Franco
Dave Franco
Kate Hudson
Goldie Hawn
Aaron Carter
Nick Carter
Emmy Rossum
Jason Segel
Carrie Fisher
Roseanne Barr
Mia Kirshner
Alona Tal
Armie Hammer
Andrew Garfield
Kat Dennings
Robert Downey Jr.
Indio Downey Jr.
Sarah Jessica Parker
Bette Midler
Dustin Hoffman
Jake Gyllenhal
Maggie Gyllenhal
Ashley Tisdale
Alicia Silverstone
Rachel Weisz
David Benioff
D.B. Weiss
Judd Nelson
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
Winona Ryder
Matthew Broderick
Stephen Dorff
Amanda Peet
Pink
The Beastie Boys
Kreayshawn
Stacey Farber
Sarah Silverman
Lauren Collins
Carroll Baker
Olivia Newton-John
Harvey Weinstein
Kevin Kline
Lake Bell
Larry David
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Debra Messing
Lisa Kudrow
David Schwimmer
Ellen Barkin
Lauren Storm
Adam Sandler
Andy Samberg
Alison Brie
Jeremy Piven
Eva Green
Mel Brooks
Katey Sagal
Ginnifer Goodwin
Jane Levy
Lily Collins
Jane Seymour
John Mayer
Seth Meyer
Robert Downey, Sr.
Dennis Gordon
Michael Bay
Adam Levine
Shia LaBeouf
Ringo Starr
Daniel Day-Lewis
Michael Douglas
Kirk Douglas
Sean Penn
Susie Essman
Katie Couric
Tori Spelling
Bob Dylan
Logan Lerman
Ezra Miller
Jon Stewart
Bill Maher
Samantha Ronson
Josh Peck
Scott Mechlowicz
Paul Rudd
Boris Becker
Jack Black
Jason Alexander
Martin Landau
The Three Stooges
Leonard Nimroy
William Shatner
Jon Favreau
Sigmund Freud
Harvey Keitel
Stanley Kubrick
B.J. Novak
Jerry Stiller
Ben Stiller
Judd Apatow
Jason Schwartzmen
Ally Sheedy
James Maslow
Ben Barnes
Jonah Hill
Seth Rogen
Roman Polanski
Adam Lambert
Eric Dane
Liev Schrieber
Leelee Sobieski
Adam Brody
Adrian Brody
Matthew Weiner
David Chase
Ben Foster
Jon Foster
Corey Haim
Corey Feldman
Maggie Siff
Bryan Greenberg
Joaquin Phoenix
River Phoenix
Cole Hauser
Noah Wyle
Jami Gertz
Jennifer Jason Leigh
Elizabeth Banks
Bob Saget
Shiloh Fernandez
Anton Yelchin
Evan Rachel Wood
Michael Rappaport
Jake Epstein
Eli Marienthal
David Copperfield
Shane Kippel
Mike Lobel
Gloria Steinem
Marc Ecko
Amy Winehouse
Brad Garrett
Samantha Harris
Eddie Kay Thomas
Mara Wilson
Alisan Porter
Rahm Emanuel
Zeke Emanuel
Ari Emanuel
Justin Bartha
David Arquette
Patricia Arquette
Zach Braff
Elizabeth Berkley
Joel Madden
Benji Madden
Sylvester Stallone
Antonio Sabato Jr.
Jeff Goldblum
Idina Menzel
Michael Rosenbaum
Michael Bolton
Fred Savage
Amy Irving
Stephen Fry
Fran Drescher
Rick Moranis
Ron Perlman
Howard Stern
Debra Winger
Barbara Walters
James Caan
Scott Caan
Neil Diamond
Richard Dreyfuss
Barbara Hershey
Alan Arkin
Shelley Winters
Eli Wallach
Zsa Zsa Gabor
Billy Crystal
Art Garfunkel
The Coen Brothers
Michael Mann
Jerry Lewis
Frank Oz
Amy Baer
Wolfgang Hammer
Stacey Snider
Jon Feltheimer
Michael Burns
Gary Barber
Roger Birnbaum
Jonathan Glickman
Brad A. Grey
Rob Moore
Michael Moore
Frederick Huntsberry
Adam Goodman
Michael Lynton
Amy Pascal
Jeff Blake
Robert Friedman
Patrick Wachsberger
Thomas Rothman
Ron Meyer
Adam Fogelson
Jimmy Horowitz
Rick Finkelstein
Norman Finkelstein
Rich Ross
Alan Bergman
Barry Meyer
Alan Horn
Jeff Robinov
Robert Weinstein
David Copperfield
Jay Roth
Mark Gordon
Howard Koch, Jr.
Vance van Patten
John Wells
Tom Schulman
David Weiss
Richard Lovett
Jeffrey Berg
Chris Silbermann
Jim Berkus
Peter Benedek
Jeremy Zimmer
David Wirtschafter
Tom Sherak
Sidney Ganis
Bruce Davis
Jerry Seinfeld
Julianne Marguiles
Woody Allen
Lou Reed
Joey Ramone
Erin Heatherton
Chris Pine
David Duchovny
Joan Rivers

And, you know, pretty much all of Hollywood with the exception of Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Megan Fox, Angelina Jolie, Marlon Brando, Audrey Hepburn, Natalie Wood, Christian Bale, Sophia Lauren, Tom Hardy, Johnny Depp, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and uh, Mel Gibson (of course). Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor converted, so they do not count. I already know it is a religion as well as a ethnicity because they cluster together and share a common culture, but I am talking about race. I know some people, especially Zionists and white supremacists (who are equally racist, to be honest), consider it a race, but I am speaking outside the terms of them.

Can any Jewish people answer this question for me?

What a stupid question....

First of all, who cares ?

Second, there is no such thing as race. It has been proven by scientists that on a genetic level, we are all the same and the all racial thing is based on nothing but prejudices.

Third, what kind of comment is this? Were did you get the idea that 'pretty much all of Hollywood' is jewish?!? Is it based on anything factual? It does sound rather prejudiced but maybe it is just me... But even if it is true, once again, who cares?!?

Eventually, if you still absolutely need to know, if they are not black, if they are not Asian, if they are not Latino, they are.... caucasian! Happy now ?

By the way, I was really wondering about your (very long) list, and I just checked one, Michael Moore, because I'm pretty sure he talks about his Christian upbringing in his movies and guess what? He is a Roman Catholic!

Check Wikipedia : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_moore

Did you check your stuff before posting this?

I did check, and I believe we are not talking about the same Michael Moore. Some people consider Jewish to be a race of its own. That is why I am asking. I pointed out that a great deal of Hollywood actors and actresses are Jewish. So, many of the "white / Caucasian" people in Hollywood that you see on your television screen and in films on a day-to-day basis are, in fact, Jewish.

Also, "Latino" is not a race either. Latin Americans are of many different races, although the majority of them are mixed. For example, I noticed that this site has Penelope Cruz and Antonio Banderas listed as "Latino / Hispanic" when they are actually "white." They are only designated as such because they speak Spanish.

I think it is a legit question because I see on the Internet that some people refer to Jewish people as if they are race instead of a religion and a ethnicity.

1. So which Michael Moore are you talking about?

2. Sylvester Stallone was raised as a catholic ( en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvester_Stallone#section_4 ) as well or you once again going to tell me you mean another Sylvester Stallone ?!?

3. You didn't react about my comment about the fact that the actual race concept is actually backward because it has been demolished by scientists. What do you have to say about that?

4. You said 'I see on the Internet that some people refer to Jewish people as if they are race instead of a religion and a ethnicity.' that's because, unfortunately, most people are ignorant concerning that matter and still have some huge prejudices towards other fellow human beings.

5. And once again, because you are a slow learner, Eventually, if you still absolutely need to know, if they are not black, if they are not Asian, they are.... caucasian! Happy now ? But who cares really?

1. Not the director. That is who I assume you are talking about.

2. Sylvester Stallone still has a Jewish mother. Jewish may not be a race, but it is a ethnicity and religion. In case you have not heard, they were given their very own country in 1948! It is called Israel, and it is home to all Jewish people of all races.

3. Just because it is a social construct does not mean I am not allowed to ask about it.

4. Well, I figured most of those people are racist and prejudice.

5. Yes, I assumed they were white / Caucasian, but some people on the Internet say they are otherwise.

I don't really understand the point of this topic but here's my 2 cents. I'm from the USA and Jewish is technically a race here but only so we could create anti-discrimination laws to protect them.

My opinion, It's an Ethnicity and Religion but not a race. Jewish people can be all different "races", just like Latino, African, and Asian people so if I met an African American Jew or an Indian Jew that is what I would call them. You can't just assign all Jews the same caucasion tag. If anything, traditional Jews from Israel would be Middle Eastern to my American eyes. Also, if you are born into race that is what you are stuck with, but if you are born Jewish, you can convert and while it will still be your ethnic background it won't be your religion anymore. For example, Chris Pine, a caucasian by race, may have been born to a Jewish mother which makes him Jewish by their cultural standards, but he identifies as an agnostic.

So anyway, Judaism is a religion and culture that is passed down from parent to parent like an ethnic tradition, but unlike genetic features or skin color it is not a race. And just because you are descended from Jewish ancestors does not mean you identify yourself as Jewish.

I am from the United States as well. I live in California. I am pretty sure that it is not considered a race here.

However, it is considered a ethnicity and religion. It should be considered the aforementioned, in my opinion. You can enforce anti-discrimination laws based on religion and ethnicity, and that is what they do. You do not have to be a race in order for them to do so because discrimination is not based solely on race, not at all.

Most Jewish people I know are "white / Caucasian," and most of the ones in the media are as well. They are considered as such in real life, too, because last time I checked, Jewish people, who are more often than not Ashkenazi (European), are included among those who are "white / Caucasian" on the census, birth certificates, marriage licenses, and such.

Israeli is not really a ethnicity either. It is more of a nation or a nationality. Why? Let me explain.

Israel did not become a country until 1948, and it is a home for ALL Jewish people no matter what race or color they are of. Natalie Portman, Bar Refaeli, Esti Ginzburg, Alona Tal, and such are "white / Caucasian." Their Jewish ancestors migrated to Israel after World War II. For example, Natalie Portman's paternal ancestors migrated to Israel from Romania and Poland, while her maternal ancestors migrated to the United States from Austria and Russia. However, there are plenty of Ethiopian, Mizrahi (Middle Eastern), Yemenite, and such Jewish people in Israel that are not "white / Caucasian" at all.

But it is a misunderstanding that all Jewish people who come from Israel are not "white" because Israel is a home for ALL Jewish people no matter what color, race, or whatever they are.

I just meant, that we learned in Government class in college that within the law Jewish is a race. That doesn't mean everyday citizens or even Jews consider it a race but for law making policies they use the same distinction as for African which is. I suppose that could have been just for laws in my state though since every state has different laws.

I guess I still don't understand what you are tring to get at. Your initial question was are Jews caucasion/white. That implies that all Jews would identify as such and it's not true. Jewish people have a common religion and tradition set but that does not mean they are all part of the same caucasian race. Admittedly most are caucasian, but you can't just lump them all in together and assume Jew means White. But on the list, which I didn't even read through cause I could really care less who is or isn't Jewish, I would say most or all would identify their race as caucasian. Is that what you want to know?

@tersanay, same here.... I really don't get what is the point of this thread... Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Atheist, Scientologist.... Who cares ? Which color is a catholic? What is the ethinicity of a Scientologist? What eat it a muslim every morning ? Again, who cares?

What state do you live in?

@NatalieAleph, are you trying to change the subject somehow? It seems you are assuming I'm from the States which is another preconceived idea of yours (like saying that most people in Hollywood are Jewish like your mysterious 'Michael Moore' who has still not been identified...). Sorry to disappoint you but I'm French and I have been living almost 10 year in the Netherlands. By the way, I'm an atheist, I was raised as an atheist but my grand-mother on my father side was Catholic does it mean that I'm a Catholic?

I was asking tersanay what state she lived in, not you. I did not assume that most people in Hollywood are Jewish. Most people in Hollywood A R E Jewish. For one, they created it. For two, 50 out of the 60 senior executives of the major Hollywood studios, trade unions, and talent agencies are Jewish. That is 83%, my friend. We are talking about CBS, DreamWorks, Lionsgate, MGM, Paramount, Sony, Summit, Disney, Twentieth Century Fox, Universal Studios, Warner Bros., Weinstein, Endeavor Agency, and many more. Furthermore, a LARGE portion of the entertainers (actors, actresses, musicians, comedians, etc.) and directors and producers are Jewish as well. It's not some big conspiracy made up by anti-Semitic lunatics. It's the TRUTH. I was just curious, not trying to start any mess. My stepmother is Jewish, so I'm interested in their culture/religion and just the people in general. Through my studies, I came to find out that a great deal, if not most, of the white / Caucasian celebrities are Jewish. Tis all.

@NatalieAleph,

1. There is a big difference between being Jewish like Nathalie Portman or to have Jewish ancestors like Sylvester Stallone but you put everybody in the same bag.

2. I still really don't care if those people are Jewish or not

3. It does sound awfully antisemitic to say that the Jews control 80% of Hollywood. I mean, back in the 30's-40's, a lot of people were critizing the Jews because they, supposedly, controlled 80% of the economy, hold up 80% of the wealth and assets and guess what happened back then?

4. Finally, who is this mysterious Michael Moore anyway?

1. I put everybody in the same bag because if you are Jewish, then you are Jewish. Sylvester Stallone's mother is Jewish.

2. I usually don't either. People brought it to my attention, though.

3. I was not making a anti-Semitic comment. I have nothing against Jewish people. I was a repeating a statistic, and the statistic says that 83% of the senior executives of the major companies for Hollywood are Jewish. It is what it is.

4. Why are you fixated on Michael Moore? Anyway, he was the V.P. of something. I saw his name and that he was Jewish, so I threw it on. I'm not talking about the director/producer. I guess that's who you thought I was talking about.

1. That's total bullsh*t... If I check your great-great-great grand-parents, I would probably discover that one of them is Jewish but does it mean your Jewish? Of course not... There is a huge difference between believing in the Jewish faith and having some Jewish ancestors, which we probaly all have in Europe and the US.

2. That's all also total bullsh*t... If you don't care why did you start this dubious thread?

3. Again bullsh*t... You're just like this people saying that black people smell weird but always assure you they are not racist. Back in the 40's, the German people was sure that the Jewish people was controlling 80% of the economy and they could prove it by some statisitics just like you. What they thought was antisemitic and what you are assuming in this thread is just as antisemitic.

4. I'm glad we clear that up about your mysterious Michale Moore figure.

1. It is not. If your mother is Jewish, then you are Jewish. That is what the Jewish faith entails. Also, I am including all of the people in Hollywood who have Jewish ancestors. Most of them do, but if it makes you feel any better, most of the people I listed either have two parents who are Jewish, one parent that is Jewish, or one grandparent that is Jewish. Therefore, they apply. If you would rather not read it, I made a list a day or two ago. It is still not complete, but so far, I have gotten almost 300 people on it.

2. Because I was curious.

3. Well, I did not make those statistics up. I found them in the New York Times. So, I do not see how I am being anti-Semitic by reporting LEGIT statistics. By the way, I am not assuming anything. I looked up these people for myself, and most of the senior executives of the head companies in Hollywood ARE Jewish. It is what it is. You cannot deny it when they really are. *shrugs*

I give up... You win... It is a really fascinating subject... Have fun collecting Jewish people ! Very nice hobby....

It only took me two hours or so to create a list of over a hundred Jewish people in Hollywood. It will probably only take me another hour to get to a 1,000.

Thank you for the best wishes.

Oh my God (the Judeo-Christian one, BTW, and probably the same one who's on a first name basis with Buddha, Allah, and a few others) this entire conversation is making my head hurt!!!!

Johanlefourbe got it right with his first response! I'll skip the political reasons why I think asking this was stupid and get more to the point: people from Ireland are Irish; people from Italy are Italian; Spaniards come from Spain, Brazilians from Brazil, etc. Point on the map where there's a country called "Jewland" (other than the Hollywood your anti-Semitic rant purports)! And Israel doesn't count. Those people, both Jewish and Arab, are Israelis!

My goodness no one picked up on the really important questions...

Which color is a catholic? Whatever colour the pope chooses
What is the ethnicity of a Scientologist? Green or Grey, due to Aliens

Well, I hear on YouTube, and Yahoo! Answers, and IMDB, and such about how Jewish people are not white, even though I always thought they were. I mean, if they aren't, shouldn't Gwyneth Paltrow be referred to as bi-racial since her father is Jewish and her mother is not? The same for Jennifer Connelly, Amanda Bynes, Zac Efron, Helena Bonham Carter, Amanda Peet, David Beckham, Kate Hudson, and such. They have a Jewish parent, while the other one is not.

I understand that it's a religion and somewhat of a ethnicity (because Jewish people from Europe genetically cluster together, share the same culture, customs, language, religion, and blah, blah, blah), but I always thought people saying it was a race was a kind of dangerous and silly thing to do, especially considering what happened in the past when Hitler literally called it a "spiritual race."

And it's not just anti-Semitic weirdo white supremacists who do this. It's also Zionists now. You know, you've got those Jewish people who will be all, "I'm not white. I'm Jewish," in the same way that some Italians go, "I'm not white. I'm Italian." They do this because of past discrimination they suffered at the hands of Anglos, or in the case of Jews, what the Nazis (Germans) did to them. But I think that's kind of silly because most Germans weren't Nazis and all of the white people from other countries (including America) died for their freedom and to take Hitler down. In fact, just as many non-Jewish white people died in that war and a lot were in the concentration camps as well. So it doesn't make sense to me. Honestly.

But maybe I just need to stop listening to people on the Internet anyway. Most of them are bored trolls.

I agree that saying they are a race is dangerous. If that's the point you are getting at it's a good one I just feel like the initial post didn't make that clear. You actually came across as racist and judgemental a little so that may be why people responded so mean.

As far as people saying, I'm not white I'm Jewish, I think that's just a personal thing. I still think the majority of people across the world would not consider Jewish a race the same way we don't consider Catholic, Greek, Muslim, or English a race. It's more about claiming heritage than race.

I fully agree, tersanay.

Those who look middle-eastern are not considered European looking. Simple as that. Jews are mixed, not all of them practise Judaism very much, so you can't put them all in the same cultural/looks box.

Ethnicity and looks are tied, but it does not apply to Jews in the same way as it does to some other people.

Well, there are people who are Jewish that are of many different races. I am solely talking about the Jewish people who have ancestors from Europe, and if it has anything to do with genetics, would that not apply to about a half of Europe as well? Technically, Italians, Greeks, Albanians, Bulgarians, Spaniards, Portuguese, Southern French, Ukrainians, Maltese, Macedonians, Romanians, and such are mixed between Caucasian groups like the Jewish people from Europe, which is why the Jewish people from Europe cluster near Southern Italians, Greeks, and Greek Cypriots, and often times look like them. For example, John Turturro, Jason Biggs, Al Pacino, and Ray Romano do not look Swedish, or whatever, but they are white / Caucasian and technically European. So that leads to another question . . . what is looking European? Because those people I just mentioned look totally opposite of you, if that is you in your avatar.