Jews are a religion of the old covenant. Most Jews, religious, before the 16th century, did not believe a person could be a Jew and an atheist. If you were, you were not Jewish, period.

Despite the supremacy and backwards traditions of Talmudism and Cabalism, though both mystical books are also full of interesting information and verses, Orthodoxy was thus a religion and had little thought over race or Israel for that matter.

During the inquisition, many Jews were persecuted and converted to Christianity, either renouncing their religosity for a new religion, or secretly practicing Judaism but publically identifying as a Christian.

Also, many other Jews completely renounced their religiosity, and based Judaism on Blood purity and race. Zionism would stem from this ideology.