Shabbat

What is Judaism? Which individuals can be considered a Jew? Is Judaism simply a religion or is it something more than that? When we think of a Jew, we often imagine an individual wearing kippahs, a Jewish head covering, with the "signature" curly strand of black hair, also known as a payot. But, Jews are much more than what their physical features portray to them to be. Their intricate culture or religion is what truly defines them. Dictionary definitions of a ?Jew? include ?a member of the tribe of Judah,? ?an Israelite,? ?a member of a nation existing in the land of Israel from the 6th century B.C. to the 1st century A.D.,? ?a person belonging to a continuation through descent or conversion of the ancient Jewish people,? and ?one whose religion is Judaism.?