Is Jewish an ethnicity

Answer 1

Yes. It is unique in religious groups, in that it is both an ethnic and religious group.

Some Jews do not see themselves as ethnic Jews, but do follow Judaism (some Arab Jews, Berber Jews, etc.).

Others see themselves as ethnic Jews, but don't follow Judaism (secular Jews, Christian Jews, Muslim Jews, etc.)

Both views hold water. Jews as a religious group used to rarely intermix with other groups, making them their own people. They identify with Hebrew/Israelite descent as well.

There are many Jewish ethnic subgroups as well. The largest Jewish peoples are:

Ashkenazis, or German Jews. They are found in Germanic and Slavic countries, and have origins in Germany. They are also found in France, as well as in the Jewish diaspora (United States, Australia, etc.). They are the largest Jewish people in Israel, as well as the largest in the world!

Saphardis, or Spanish Jews. These Jews are found in Spain, Portugal, France and North Africa. Many were persecuted in Spain and left to the north (France) and the south (North Africa). They are the second largest Jewish group, in both Israel and the world.

Mizrahis, or Middle Eastern Jews. They are found in the Middle East and North Africa. A subgroup of this group are the Yemenite Jews. They are the third largest Jewish group, and sometimes seen as the "purest" (most Jewish). This is due to the fact that Jews around the world look very similar to the majority non-Jewish ethnic group in the same country. Two other subgroups that are based on linguistic/cultural background are the Arab Jews, Kurdish Jews, Persian Jews and Berber Jews.

Those are the three largest groups. There are smaller groups of European Jews, African Jews, Indian Jews and Chinese Jews, including:

Bene Roma (Italian Jews) - not the only Jews in Italy, there are also Ashkenazi/Saphardi Italians.

Romaniotes (Greek Jews)

Indian Jews - Cochin Jews (Malayali Jews), Bene Israel (Marathi Jews), Baghdadi Jews (Arab/Marathi Jews), Bnei Menashe (Mizo and Kuki Jews) and finally Bene Ephraim, or Telugu Jews.

Kaifeng Jews (Chinese Jews)

Georgian Jews

Armenian Jews

Mountain Jews (Azeri and Dagestani Jews)

Bukhari Jews

Beta Israel (Ethiopian Jews)