JoeB131, Phoenall, et al,
I'm derailed here some where.
They are the same thing as you use the terms interchangeably depending on who is around. You know if you use the term Jew on here you will be pulled up as a RACIST so you use Zionist instead. We are slowly educating others to realise that you use the term in a racist manner.
Hey, guy, you can pretend that is the case, but in America, you can say "Jew" or "Zionist", because unlike Israel, this is a free country.
(REFERENCE)
FROM the
Glossary of Jewish Terminology
• JEW: A person whose mother was a Jew or who has converted to Judaism. According to the Reform movement, a person whose father is a Jew is also a Jew. Although the term is derived from the term "Judahite" (meaning a member of the tribe of
Judah or a citizen of the kingdom of Judah), it has historically been applied to the
patriarchs, the matriarchs and all of the descendants of
Jacob and all converts to their faith.
• ZIONISM: A political movement to create and maintain a Jewish state. The word is derived from Zion, another name for Jerusalem.
(COMMENT)
A Zionist is not advocating a religious position or movement; it is primarily a political agenda. One can be of any religious sect and be a zionist; it is religion immaterial.
To term Jew implies that the mother passed an inherited connection to the religion and the Jewish people. One can be a Zionist and not be Jewish. Jewishness does not automatically connect with Zionism.
My understanding is that Jewish Leaders discourages converts; but conversion to Judaism is possible.
These terms are not really interchangeable. I just assume (maybe incorrectly) that in this forum, the members know the distinction and apply the terms correctly. Neither are the terms Jew and Zionist interchangeable with term Israeli. Again their is no direct relationship.
Most Respectfully,
R