Bible Plus Presents
What Is a Jew?
Rabbi Elie Mischel
Rabbi Elie leads education at Israel365. Ordained at Yeshiva University, J.D. from Cardozo, M.A. in Modern Jewish History. He edits HaMizrachi Magazine and made aliyah in 2021 — after serving as rabbi in Livingston, NJ.
Judaism is a nation — not just a religion. Rabbi Elie Mischel opens with Bernard Lewis's provocative question and follows it through five biblical conversations: from Abraham's covenant to Sinai, where Torah becomes the constitution of a people with a mission in history.
Understanding who the Jewish people truly are isn't only a Jewish question — it's essential for anyone who cares about Israel's role in the world. When we misunderstand our identity, we fail the mission Scripture assigns us: to be a light unto the nations.
For American Jews who feel Jewish but aren't sure why — and for Christians drawn to the biblical story of Israel — start this course on Bible Plus with Rabbi Elie.
"Why bother being Jewish if you're not religious?"
— Bernard LewisNot a religion you opt into privately — a nation with a covenant.
The Bible describes a people with a land, a history, and a collective mission — one that Christians who love Israel often sense before Jews themselves can articulate it. Rabbi Elie traces that story from Abraham through Sinai, and asks what it means when a nation forgets who it is.
Start What Is a Jew? on Bible Plus
This course is part of Bible Plus, our premium Bible study platform featuring Rabbi Elie Mischel and other leading Israeli scholars. Join today to watch What Is a Jew? and explore a growing library of courses on the Bible, Israel, prophecy, archaeology, and more.