This is basically how it works.
The Jews believe in the Torah, or Old Testament. They follow it as a blueprint for how to live a moral, ethical and happy life. It's available for everyone to read. The world can take it or leave it. Anyone can learn and choose to follow bits and pieces of the Torah, the whole thing or none at all- it's all good. And if you choose not to bother with anything 'Jewish', it's totally cool- stick to your own beliefs as long as they don't harm others. Judaism is one of the only religions that:
1. Judaism Recognizes and respects other religions with a fundamental belief that EVERYONE- no matter what religion you are- can go to heaven.
If you are a good person, You can believe in Allah, Jesus, Buddha, heck you can even worship Diet Coke if you feel like it; but as long as you are a good person and treat others with respect you have a place in heaven.
2. Jews Do not seek to convert people to Judaism- No forced conversion, no missionaries- Everyone can keep their own religion.
Jews very often form tight knit communities, living in the same areas and interacting amongst each other- as do most people of similar backgrounds; It is no coincidence areas such as Chinatown, and Little Italy exist. You feel at home with people that share similar backgrounds. Sometimes this can be misconstrued as Jews trying to separate from society but its simply not true. Throughout history Jews have lived all over the world under different leaders and governments and have been an active part of the societies in which they existed. 'The Chosen People'- this term refers to Jews as the nation G-d chose to give the ten commandments and the Torah to, a nation that would follow the commandments of God.
'The Chosen people' does not mean we are better, or more special than you- if you want you can be a chosen person too!
People are individuals they do not collectivly act the same way just because they are part of the same religion. Jews live in many different countries, I have known jews who are african american, chinese, korean, indian, persian, iranian, israeli, latino etc... How could one religious group act the same when they live in such different cultures?
Unlike Christians Jews do not go around trying to convert other people, since Judaism is a ethnoreligious group, and descendants of the 12 tribes of Israel, there is no need for gentiles or non-jews to convert to it since it is not their covenant. If they wish to, we welcome it. Other than that, we advise them not to.
Besides that, it is told the Jews are to be "a light unto the nations" meaning a good example. By doing good deeds and being holy, a Jew influences a non-jew to also believe in 1 G-D. It's true some Jews are very racist towards non-jews, mostly because they are not aware their mission.
Judaism addresses in depth and in detail the obligations of the individual and the community to other individuals. A Jew has a legal obligation to help someone in need (e.g. Leviticus 19:16, Exodus 23:5); and to be a bystander in such a case is a Torah-violation. Tradition states that every Jew should exhibit the characteristic of chesed, meaning the ability to go beyond the requirement of the law to help others. The Talmud states that mercy and kindness should be among the defining traits of every Jew (Talmud, Yevamot 79a).
Social Ethics
How do the Scriptures and Talmud teach the Jewish ideas of justice?
The Jews were from all over the world.
Jews emigrated to the US just like Gentiles did, until the immigration act that is.
Our laws call upon us to act with decorum and reverence.
The Nazis would kill the Jews and thae Jews would hide and runaway like mice.
Sometimes. Like everyone else, there are some Jews that act like spoiled, rich people.
No, it was an entirely unreasonable act.
The Race and Resettlement Act was an act that made it illegal for Germans to have relationships or marry Jewish people. It was enacted in 1931 and dissolved in 1945.
The killing of about 6 million Jews.
that he was going to promise that there will be no jews in sight.
No. This pagan act of deifying the king or queen was not practiced by Jews. The reason why not is that deifying anyone is idolatry and is forbidden in Judaism.
Tevilah is the act of immersion in a mikvah (ritual bath).
Jews have three prayer-services every day; and blessings are said before and after eating and on many other occasions.