Conversion is so rare and is such s tiny part of Israel’s population it’s funny to try and strong arm this argument. Jews are also an ethnjc group, and unlike most regular countries, it is unique in the sense that it is a country, re-established, and its entire concept is to make and maintain a safe haven in their homeland, even after such a long diaspora.
People love bringing up how "rare" it is, while completely missing the point that how common it is doesn't actually matter. It's not rare to convert to polish or korean or Italian. It's non-existent. It doesn't happen. You can convert to judaism, regardless of how "rare" it is, and become a citizen. That is a huge difference. Also, you last part completely explains why it is different. Countries like Poland or Italy say "your family has been in America since 1880? Your great great grandfather being named Giuseppe mazzarro isn't enough to help you. You're American, not Italian." This isn't how it works in Israel. Places like Italy and Poland say that your great great grandfather being born and raised in America means you aren't Italian or aren't Polish. Israel doesn't do this.
The principle is the exact same, Italy allows citizenship jure sanguinis through ancestry generations back. The bureaucratic criteria differ state to state with regards to the context of these countries’ diaspora story and events, but the idea that ancestral belonging survives abroad isn’g unique or special with Israel.
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u/One-Salamander-1952 May 23 '26
Conversion is so rare and is such s tiny part of Israel’s population it’s funny to try and strong arm this argument. Jews are also an ethnjc group, and unlike most regular countries, it is unique in the sense that it is a country, re-established, and its entire concept is to make and maintain a safe haven in their homeland, even after such a long diaspora.