Who decides what it means to be Jewish?
Is Jewish identity defined by ancestry, by faith, by culture, or by covenant? From Abraham's call in ancient Mesopotamia to the diverse Jewish communities of the modern world, Who Is a Jew? explores one of the most profound and debated questions in history. Through Scripture, historical insight, and personal reflection, Ely Hernandez traces the evolving story of Israel - a people shaped by exile, adoption, conversion, and covenant loyalty.
This book journeys through the Exodus, the divided kingdoms, the Babylonian exile, the rise of diaspora communities, and the first-century world of the Nazarenes. Along the way, it confronts modern debates about identity, ancestry, DNA, and belonging, offering a vision of Jewish peoplehood rooted not in race or politics but in a living covenant that has endured across generations.
Blending theology, history, and lived experience, Ely invites readers to reconsider what it means to stand within the story of Israel today - a story both ancient and alive.