There have been many famous Jews Moses, Jesus, Freud, and Einstein - they have all influenced the history and culture of mankind.
The root of the Jews goes back some 4,000 years in history.
The Jewish people are descendents of an ancient, Hebrew - speaking branch of the Semitic race. About 4,000 years ago, there forefather Abram emigrated from the thriving metropolis of Ur to Sumeria in Canaan. God said "I will assign this land to your offspring."(Genesis 11:31-12:7)
He is called "Abram the Hebrew" at Genesis 14:13, later his name was changed to Abraham.(Genesis 17:4-6)
Abraham had a son Isaac and Isaac had a son Jacob. Jacob's name was changed to Israel. (Gen 32:27-29) Israel had 12 sons, who became the founders of the 12 tribes. The word "Jew" derived from Judah, one of the 12 tribes of Israel.
As time went on the term Jew was applied to all Israelites not just descendants of Judah. (Esther 3:6; 9:20)
The Jewish genealogical records were destroyed in 70 C.E. when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem, no Jew today can verify from which tribe he or she has decended.
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