Were Abraham's family and the wives of Isaac and Jacob Jews or Syrians?
Abraham's family and the wives of Isaac and Jacob were Syrians, not Jews. Abraham was born of Syrian parents, Rebekah was a Syrian, and Laban remained a Syrian. Though Abram is called father of the Jewish race, the first real Jew technically would be Isaac.
Les explains that the Gentile stream of humanity comes from Adam, through Noah's three sons, and through the nations scattered at Babel. Out of that stream God separated Abraham, who was not a Jew; he was born of Syrian parents. When Isaac went to Haran to get a wife from his uncle, Rebekah was a Syrian. Later Jacob got his wife from his uncle Laban, and Laban was still a Syrian. Yet by God's decree and sovereignty, Abram is declared the father of the Jewish race. The Jew begins when God separated Abram out of his family in Ur of the Chaldees; through his wife, a half sister, he had Isaac, so technically the first real Jew would be Isaac.