The children of Israel are the descendants of Israel. There is a common misconception among Jews, that Israel is succeeded through matrimonial descent. This has been a defensive tactic for the exile, so that Jewish men would not marry foreign women, lest their children become "banned," and so that every Jewish woman would give birth only to Jewish children, thus the nation would be preserved. However, it is not so anymore, nor has it been before. A person is a Hebrew who is born of either a Hebrew woman or a Hebrew man--who has at least one Hebrew parent--and who considers himself a part of Israel and accepts his Covenant with G-d. A person is also a Hebrew, who's parents are not Hebrew and is a foreigner by blood, but considers himself a part of Israel, to join the children of Israel in their Covenant with G-d and to observe the Commandments of the Torah. The identity of Israel has been tested over the ages, for the remnant of Israel has rejected its Covenant with G-d; thus they were Expelled from their Land and suffered all the curse of their sin. Today a person is Israeli simply by living in Israel and becoming a citizen, and the Jewish people in exile consider themselves a Covenant people simply because they are related to Israel by blood--for they are the children of Israel. But the people of Israel are not Governed by G-d, and Israel in exile is a rejection of His Laws, and even a betrayal of the Nation, and Land, of Israel. When Israel becomes a nation of G-d, its identity will no longer be so fragile, for it will become a nation that is Ruled by G-d; by the Laws of His Torah. All the people who live in Israel will follow the Laws of Israel, for no rebelliousness will be tolerated. And as for the Jews who would remain in exile, even then, when Israel becomes a nation of G-d--the exile will be for them the land of their rejection--as all who would reject G-d and betray His Covenant, should remain in exile. Israel is not a religion; it is a nation, that lives in its Land, and is Governed by G-d. Those who live in other lands are a part of the other nations, and are governed by other laws. The people of Israel are merely people, like everyone else. They've made the same mistakes as others and have sinned even like their enemies. The only Thing that Separates Israel from the nations, Is its Judge. When the people of Israel distinguish themselves, to walk in Uprightness, sanctify their lives, and live according to G-d--only then do they become Special, Chosen, and Loved. Only then are they a Light unto the nations and a Blessing for mankind--only when they become a nation of G-d, that is Governed by His Laws...That those who bless them would be Blessed and those who curse them would be Cursed; for when Israel is a nation of G-d, the friends of Israel become the friends of Justice and the enemies of Israel become the culprit of corruption. Don't harm stranger: "You shall not taunt or oppress a stranger, for you were strangers in the land of egypt." (Exodus 22:20). "Do not oppress a stranger; you know the feelings of a stranger, for you were strangers in the land of egypt." (Exodus 23:9). As we were strangers in every land and among every nation--where we were ridiculed, oppressed, slaughtered, and expelled. A stranger among Israel is like a brother among our people, unless he rebels against Hashem and is an enemy to our Judge. Equality under the Law: "There shall be One Law for you, it shall be for proselyte and native alike, for I, Hashem, Am your Judge." (Leviticus 24:22). One Teaching for all: "When a proselyte dwells with you or one who is among you throughout your generations and he shall prepare a fire-offering, a satisfying aroma to Hashem--as you, so shall he do. For the congregation--the same Decree shall be for you and for the proselyte who dwells, an Eternal Decree for your generations; like you like the proselyte shall it be before Hashem. One Teaching and One Judgement shall be for you and for the proselyte who dwells among you." (Numbers 15:14-16). "...If one person sins unintentionally, he shall offer a she-goat within its first year as a sin-offering. The Kohen shall atone for the erring person when he sins unintentionally before Hashem, to atone for him; and it shall be Forgiven him. The native among the children of Israel and the proselyte who dwells among them--there shall be One Teaching for them, for one who does unintentionally." (Numbers 15:27-29). As there would be One Teaching for one who does intentionally; although for a group of foreigners who dwell in Israel and rebel against the government and the Laws of G-d, it's better that they be expelled than that they suffer death, for they don't consider themselves a part of Israel. A foreigner who visits Israel should be careful to observe the Laws of Israel, and one who would attend the congregation of Hashem, in the Temple, must purify and sanctify himself, in order to elevate his spirit and cleanse his flesh, lest he contaminate the Temple and bring curse upon himself, rather than the Blessing he had sought. The Temple is not a museum and cannot be attended as one would observe an everyday occurrence or custom. A visitor to the Temple would see its splendor and experience its wonder, and he might see it through idolatrous eyes. The physical aspects of the Temple are only meant to House The Spiritual, just as the body is Meant to house the soul. The experience of the Temple is to bring us closer to G-d, the Spirit Beyond and within us, and let the Light of Hashem Lead and Redeem us, to Sanctify our flesh and Bless the earth with Truth and Justice. Brotherhood: "If your brother becomes impoverished and his means falter in your proximity, you shall strengthen him--proselyte or resident--so that he can live with you..." (Leviticus 25:35). A "stranger" or a "foreigner" who lives in Israel, by the Laws of Israel, becomes a part of Israel, and is a brother amongst the people. Even so, he would become family by marriage, and is considered a brother, and must be cared for as a brother. Love your brother as yourself: "When a proselyte dwells among you in your Land, do not taunt him. The proselyte who dwells with you shall be like a native among you, and you shall love him like yourself, for you were aliens in the land of egypt--I Am Hashem, your Judge." (Leviticus 19:33-34). "For Hashem, your Judge--He Is the Judge of the judges and the Lord of the lords, the Great, Mighty, and Awesome Judge... He Carries out the Judgement of orphan and widow, and Loves the proselyte to Give him bread and garment. You shall love the proselyte for you were strangers in the land of egypt." (Deuteronomy 10:17,18-19). Intermarriage: "An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the congregation of Hashem, even their tenth generation shall not enter the congregation of Hashem, to eternity, because of the fact that they did not greet you with bread and water on the road when you were leaving egypt, and because he hired Balaam son of Beor, of Pethor, Aram Naharaim, to curse you. But Hashem, your G-d, Refused to listen to Balaam, and Hashem, your G-d, Reversed the curse to a Blessing for you, because Hashem, your G-d, Loved you. You shall not seek their peace or welfare, all your days, forever. You shall not reject an edomite, for he is your brother; you shall not reject an egyptian, for you were a sojourner in his land. Children who are born to them in the third generation may enter the congregation of Hashem." (Deuteronomy 23:4-8). Intermarriage with an enemy is not tolerated, but a person who was an enemy and proves his good intent even in the third generation, is accepted into the nation as a brother. This harshness is reserved only for those who cannot be trusted, whose parents and ancestors were rivals with Israel that sought to destroy G-d's people, mocking Hashem, and desecrating the Judge of Israel. Those that are truly evil can never be forgiven, and must instead be killed, but those who have redeemed themselves will have been Redeemed in the "Eyes" of G-d, and they should be forgiven for the sins of their ancestors. Integrity of Israel: "If you encounter an ox of your enemy or his donkey wandering, you shall return it to him repeatedly. If you see the donkey of someone you hate crouching under its burden, would you refrain from helping him?--you shall help repeatedly with him." (Exodus 23:4-5). Amongst brothers, you have no right to sin against someone you hate, for you would be guilty. Even with an enemy, when you are not at war, you should return his lost item, lest you become a thief, and Israel would be lowered before the nations. Israel does not fight wars to pillage its enemies--such is not the role of G-d's people. Israel will defeat its enemies for the sake of Justice, and initiate preemptive attacks for defense and retaliation.