Are Jews Smarter Than Me?

[Whoami]

[size="3"]Author Jon Entine says Jewish people have higher average IQs than the general population……video source below

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From Publishers Weekly
Jewish law is quite clear on the question "Who is a Jew?" (anyone whose mother is Jewish), yet the question remains vexing, calling up issues of religion, history, culture and sometimes politics. In his second foray into the world of genetics and race, Entine (an American Enterprise Institute fellow and author of Taboo: Why Black Athletes Dominate Sports and Why we’re Afraid to Talk about It) shows the degree to which genetics has been thrown into the mix. He presents fascinating evidence from DNA studies: the genes of Jewish males around the world can be traced back to the ancient Middle East; the genes of Jewish women cannot. Among Africans who claim Jewish ancestry, the Falashas of Ethiopia do not have Jewish genetic markers; but the less well known Lemba of South Africa do. A majority of cohanim, or priests, have a common genetic marker, but Levites (of whom priests are supposedly a subset) do not. But Entine can be sloppy (his grasp on the respective roles of high priests, priests and Levites is shaky; he seems unclear whether the Pilgrims were Quakers or Puritans), and he digresses from science to potted history, myths about the 10 Lost Tribes and an account of his trip to the West Bank. More problematic, his account of genetic science and DNA analysis is vague. Entine's final chapters broach the contentious topics of whether one can speak genetically of race and whether "Jewish genes" confer intellectual superiority on Ashkenazi Jews. While he cites scientists, some of the assumptions and conclusions (such as that medieval Jews' role as moneylenders contributed to a high IQ) are speculative.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Kirkus Reviews
Entine (Taboo: Why Black Athletes Dominate Sports and Why We're Afraid to Talk About It, 2000) tackles the thorny matter of Jewish identity. Some of his conclusions may be surprising.
The author, a secular Jew and an adjunct fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, has been driven by family health crises to seek out the genetics of Judaism. In doing so, he unravels an epic tale of "The Chosen People." DNA acts as a starting point for discussion of Jewish origins--Chapter 1 is entitled, "The Dead Sea Scrolls of DNA"--as Entine explains how it is now possible through genetic testing for apparent non-Jews to discover Jewish ancestry, and for Jews (and others) to learn more about their origins. The author disputes conventional wisdom, which cautious scientists have advanced recently, that genetic differences between individuals are minute and superficial. Instead, he embraces genetics as a method of discovering more about the diverse breadth of humanity. Nevertheless, Entine realizes that Jewish DNA does not necessarily make a Jew. To explore the question of Jewish origins, Entine takes the reader on a global tour, exploring both mythic and factual migrations of Jews across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and finally into the Americas. DNA testing has allowed scientists to explore the validity of direct ancestry claims for far-flung Jewish communities in such places as South Africa and India, while it has also identified hidden enclaves of "crypto-Jews" in places such as the American Southwest. Entine goes on to discuss the touchy subject of race, and how Jewish identity has been perceived by both Jews and non-Jews through recent history and into the present. He also bluntly approaches modern (and historic) stereotypes of Jews and offers possible reasons for their formation, as well as their potential validity in certain cases. Because the author's approach is broad and inclusive, the book is sure to cause controversy, but it serves as an excellent catalyst for discussion as many continue to ask the question, "What does it mean to be Jewish?"
Engaging and informative reading for Jews and non-Jews alike. Is that anti-Semitic on FNC's risky show redeye?[/SIZE][/color]

[justoleme]

If I was the one to write up the test questions on subject that s I feel are important I would make very high grades. So whoever makes up the test has their own ideas of what the questions should be.As of now the power is in the hands of clerks. Clerks make up the test from their idea of what intelligence consist of.Spelling, Grammar,Apostropy S,Sometimes Y and Q ,Eiou All that is good until they are on a helicopter that goes down in a jungle . Then there are new systems of measuring inteligence. Does anyone know why the breaker button popped out on the fuel pumps?? Can any of you follow a compass course? Can any of you get that M 60 off that mount? WHAT KIND OF SPIDER IS THAT??

[Whoami]

Heheh so true. Many people confuse "smarts" with intelliegence. One can memorize and know spelling and math but be dumb as a door knob.

But you have got to give Jews credit. In my generation of youth, while the gentile kids were reading comic books and playing sports, the Jewish kids were in Hebrew school studying the Talmud and Torah, and receiving the traditional instruction that they were of the “chosen” people and superior to the gentiles. Hence for them the expectations were high, their debt of world arising was a strong sentiment, and they uniformly trained their minds to control their desires.

To their credit, Israel has done in 60 years what Arabs could not do in their entire existence even to this day....too much oil ,land and tribal war really does nothing for a human intellect.....

[Whoami]

For the record, I am NOT Jewish. I do respect them though.


I have seen many studies that show evidence that Jews tend to have significantly higher IQs then average for Caucasians. However, IQ has never been the only defining characteristic of humanity. While a certain level is a requirement for some types of higher thinking, and more can be beneficial, but there are more smart non Jews just because of numbers. The point is, less then half of smarties make something big of their life because determination, character, even spirituality come into play.

Also, in the bible, God admonishes the Jews many times for straying from morality and his plan. They were not superior morally, but they did have a covenant with God. There are some other groups that also have higher then average intelligence quotients, from Northern Europe to Asia, though Jews may have the highest concentration, I dont know for sure

[justoleme]

I think the Jews are smart in ways that make them go well with this present world we live in. I think it is because they are taught books and reading as part of their lifestyle. Due to influences of their religon . Even back through history the powers used them to do business and paperwork. My people were farmers or mechanics.

[Whoami]

Right on! I agree. I edited my last two posts while you were posting.

[Whoami]

Hitler even seemed to recognize that the Jews were the biggest threat because of their intelligence and insular culture.

However, IQ does not equal morality. I would say morality is dispersed about equally person to person in Jews as in Gentiles, but no study has been done to my knowledge. In some ways, the Covenant that was with God, while giving them more potential rewards, also demanded a higher standard of living and action. Those who don't honor the covenant are not excused because of their lineage.

THis study was mainly just spoofed on Red Eye, which is somewhat funny at times, though the original author was dead serious.