The nation of Israel separated into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom
of Judah. Following the conquest and exile of Israel by Sargon II 2700 years ago in 722 BCE, the kingdom of Judah was left.
The land was Judea and the people were called Judeans. The correct and accurate name of the people is therefore Judean and
not Jew.
"So what", one may ask.
There is a major difference between these two names. Jew is a contraction of Judean and lacks the letter 'D'. The
English alphabet is derived from the Hebrew aleph bet. The Hebrew letter 'daled' represents the number four, but more
importantly, God. What is a Judean without God ? A Jew. It is the power of God which makes the Judean the witness of God,
the bearer of His holy Covenant, the Torah and the heir of God's blessings.
The 'D', therefore has a metaphysical dimension in addition to the dimension of national
identity. Judea is the land which was the inheritance of the tribe of Judah. Judah is the son of Leah and Jacob. Leah named
him specifically as a "praise to God". Therefore the national identity and calling of the people are encapsulated
in the name of Judah the progenitor of the modern Judeans.
For the people of Israel in the modern State of Israel in the Land of Israel and in the exile around the world, to
revive their true identity, calling and position in the world, the post exilic name "Jew" must be replaced with
the people's true name, Judean. Of course the incorporation of God in the national ethos of
Israel is likewise vital for the success of all the nations of the world. This end will sooner come about when Israel adopts
her true calling and proves to the rest of the world that being a 'praise to God' has greater currency than leaving
the world's Creator in exile - a veritable Stranger in the world which He created.
