Why Jews are not ethnic Russians

[Exeter]

How can I explain (to an American, if that makes a difference) Jews are not considered (I assume) ethnic Russians?

[Errigal]

You can explain that the Russian Federation, Soviet Union and Russian Empire were all multinational states and that Jews were always one among many nationalities.

Then there was the Khazars:

Khazars - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(This is a Wikipedia link, so who knows what it will have to say.)

[Menydh]

Originally Posted by Exeter

(to an American, if that makes a difference)

It does make a difference. You have to start by explaining how state and citizenship differ from nation and ethnicity. The problem for him to understand will come when (if) you tell him that only the former applies to him.

[PaleoYankee]

"It does make a difference. You have to start by explaining how state and citizenship differ from nation and ethnicity. The problem for him to understand will come when (if) you tell him that only the former applies to him. "

I don't think it would be all that complicated to an american to explain this. Americans generally do not regard american as an ethnicity.(at least in my experience) They do describe themselves as "a nation of immigrants." It still would not be that complicated though. I think (if the american has a knowledge of history) that the example of Poland my be good to use. Tell them that Poland was partitioned between different empires and yet they were and are still a people. Then ask him if he thinks americans would do the same if america was broken up. The red indians might also provide a good example. They were annexed into the US and yet are still different peoples. I think these would be good explanitory examples. Once you have the difference between ethnicity and citizenship established it should be more simple.