Jews

Jews constitute an ethno-religious nation which traces its origin back to the Levantine state of Judah in the 8th century BC. "Jewish-ness" is complex and typically is defined by a mix of cultural practice, religious traditions, and genetic heritage. The set of religious beliefs passed down by the Jews has come to be known as Judaism.

Discrimination against Jews has a long history in Christian Europe, often involving anti-Jewish riots ("pogroms"), forced conversions, Jewish-only neighborhoods ("ghettos"), and mass expulsion. While tension originated in the sphere of religion, it was exacerbated by the growth of Jewish participation in trade and finance, largely because Christians were forbidden from participating in usury. By comparison, the Muslim world was noted for its relative tolerance towards Jewish residents, largely due to their enshrined status as dhimmi.

A strictly racial view of Jewishness did not become popular until the Nazis expressed and codified it in the 1930s. Jews of various phenotypes have existed throughout history, including populations in Ethiopia, India, and China. The Nazi version of racial anti-Semitism was dependent on accurate marriage and birth records, and in the absence of these was forced to rely on stereotypes about Jewish appearances. This meant "Aryan"looking Jews were accepted as poster boys for the "ideal German soldier"; as ethnic German Poles; or even as "descendants of the Crusaders".