Sorry that I don't agree with the "Party Line", but I believe there are definite physical appearances associated with Jews which distinguish us from non-Jews.
True, other Mediterranean peoples often share similar traits, but speaking for myself I can always spot a Jew from a mile away.
Of course, it is the exceptions which prove the rule.
I have always considered the Jewish People a distinct ethnicity with a unique written as well as oral history, unique language and culture, and with a uniquely shared faith.
There may indeed be many admixtures into our gene pool from ancient times, but once a people preserve themselves for over three thousand years as a unique and distinct ethnic entity, they do indeed begin to take on shared physical characteristics, as well as many shared behavioral characteristics.
I have always considered the argument that "Jews are simply another religion" and "not a nation" or "ethnic group" to be simply not credible, not to mention that the fact that "Return to Zion" is a meaningless concept if anyone anywhere in the world can say "I'm a Jew".
That is not to say that converts to Judaism are not really Jews or to be unwelcomed.
It seems the preposterous "Black Hebro's" now occupying Dimona are the perfect answer to the proposition that Jews aren't a people but merely a religion made up of all kinds of people.
Within the Christian faith, it is more than clear that Jesus considered his people, the Jews, to be a separate and distinct ethnicity with a separate and distinct faith.
Jesus is quoted as having said "Salvation is unto the Jew first; and then unto the non-Jews".
In fact, it is in my opinion the Christian faith, and not our Jewish faith, which is of the belief that "Now in Christ...there be no distinction between Jew and Greek."
It simply is not credible for Maccabees to fight Hellenism to the death while claiming "there be no difference between Jew and Greek".
Apparently the Maccabees also knew Jews were a separate people and were not to assimmilate.
Just my opinion and my beliefs...you're welcome to disagree without hurting my feelings.