What kind of resemblance did the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, intend with his saying: "And do not imitate the Jews," and is it a factual resemblance or one in outward appearance, and who are the Jews meant in this hadith?

Islam has prohibited imitating disbelievers in appearance, clothing, hairstyles, and eating. The criterion for this is that a Muslim engages in something exclusively characteristic of disbelievers, to the extent that anyone who sees him would mistake him for one of them. However, if something has become widespread among Muslims and is no longer exclusive to disbelievers, then it is not considered imitation, even if its origin was from them; because the reason for the dislike disappears with the cessation of its exclusivity to them.