From the Jewish sources, can you tell me what's the difference between a Jew and a Gentile
In Jewish tradition, the distinction between a Jew and a Gentile primarily revolves around religious, cultural, and historical factors.
1. **Jew**: A Jew is defined as a member of the Jewish people, who trace their ancestry back to the ancient Israelites. Judaism is both a religion and an ethnic identity. Jews are generally defined as those who are born to a Jewish mother or who have formally converted to Judaism. The Jewish faith encompasses a wide range of beliefs, practices, and traditions, with the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) as the foundational text.
2. **Gentile**: The term "Gentile" refers to individuals who are not Jews. In most contexts, it encompasses all non-Jewish peoples. The term does not carry a negative connotation in Jewish texts but serves as a descriptive label. Gentiles can belong to various cultures and religions, including Christianity, Islam, and many others.
Historically, Jewish identity has often been shaped by the experience of living as a minority in various lands, leading to a unique set of customs, laws (Halakhah), and communal practices that distinguish Jewish life from that of Gentile communities.
In summary, the key difference lies in religious and ethnic identity: Jews are members of the Jewish people and follow Jewish law and traditions, while Gentiles are those outside of this community.


