Jew, Jewish, Israeli, Zionist... They're not the same thing

My parents were both Jews. Each of their parents were Jews, as were all ancestors I can trace. From a young boy I was always led to believe that 'marrying out', ie marrying a non-Jew known derogatively in Yiddish as a Shixa, is heavily frowned upon. Hence my bloodline, according to 23&me, is 99.9% Ashkenazi Jew, mainly originating in Western Ukraine (where both my grandmothers were born). Side note:- according to 23&me, 0.1% of my ancestry is Chinese! How exotic. In addition, according to the 'rules' of my tribe, to be a Jew, your mother has to be Jewish. But your Jewish name is inherited from your father... a Jewish name has three components: Your personal name, typically chosen from the bible, old testament of course!; Your father's personal name, where it's preceded by the word 'Benreb' meaning 'son of'; and your tribal name. Mine's 'Ha Levi' meaning 'from the tribe of Levi'. 

There's a hierarchy where each of the 12 tribes of Israel (also known as Jacob) takes their place. According to the book of Joshua, Jacob, the father of the 12 sons, allocated each son with a territory, except the Levis who were given 48 cities (no idea how that might work assuming each city is within another brother's territory).

As I understand it, Zionists believe this map is still in play (I copied it from Wikipedia, so have no idea of its accuracy or legitimacy). In which case, notice that the area around Gaza is actually not Israel, but the land of the Philistines... or Palestinians as we know them today. But that's referring to a map over 3,000 years old, described by Joshua, one of the descendants of the 12 sons. It reflects a historical set of notional borders with no relevance to the world today where tribal connections including languages and customs have long since scattered around the world or become extinct. Forget it! It's living people and future generations who matter. Not vague memories that teach us nothing except what we shouldn't be doing to the Earth.

Relying on old maps to define land governance and statehood including laws and taxation, has long been replaced by what today we call democracy where the inhabitants of a territory vote to define what laws apply to them. And then repeat the process every few years, typically 4 or 5, to confirm continuation or replacement of governing representatives. It's a system where minorities have a say, but majorities rule. This works where territories are well defined by geographical distinctions, like mountains, deserts, jungles and coasts. Where minorities are prepared to shrug their shoulders to either try again or give up if they don't get their way. And majorities are tolerant and respectful of diversity. The alternative is resistance, insurrection and eventually civil war. It's up to the majorities to prevent this by accommodating and even celebrating diversity where it isn't in direct conflict with majority values - and there lies the nub of the problem, especially where those values relate to deities... entities that force behaviour without allowing questioning or dissent. And which are especially potent where the deity 'commands' adherents to punish apostacy. A simple effective way of sustaining itself without justification or persuasion. 5 of the 10 Commandments become meaningless if you deny the existence of deities. They're designed to prevent this by illegalising dissent and denial. Pure self-protection for the perpetuation of an irrational belief. Believe in me, and therefore do what I say, and you will be spared punishment.

Zionists believe this partitioning of land was not made by a man, Jacob, but by his god. If it had been manmade, then fair-does, times move on. Circumstances change, including tribal authorities and technologies. Democracy will evolve to create laws which ideally accommodate every person in the territory. So if you were born to Jews, and you don't believe in deities, all you've got is an old map. No 'Promised Land'.

I'm delighted to report that my wife is a Shixa and that none of my three children consider themselves to be Jews. I've terminated the nonsense of passing on genetic purity. Diversity is how we evolve. But that doesn't mean my children can't be Jewish!

It surprises many people that I can be both a Jew and an atheist. I was born to Jewish parents, so genetically I am classified as a Jew. But I don't believe in deities. I also reject many of the 613 ancient Jewish laws I am meant to obey, some of which are obscenely bloodthirsty and outrageous to modern (and sane) minds. 

So it's possible to be a Jew and not be Jewish.

It's also possible to be a Jew, and Jewish, but not a Zionist because you reject the idea of a Promised Land - promised by god, not just by Balfour in 1917.

And you're an Israeli if you're a citizen of Israel. That includes all the non-Jews living there accounting for 25% of its population. You don't have to be Jewish to be Israeli... but it helps.