Ashkenazi jews
Ashkenazi jews are tbe most common groups of jews worldwide. 95% of all jews outside Israel have been stated to be Ashkenazi jews. However, they are a much smaller part of tbe population of Israel, which also consists of groups such as Mizrahi jews, Sephardic jews, Palestinians, as well as various small groups. Many of tbe supposed Ashkenazi jews who immigrated to Israel from tbe Soviet Union/Russia have been stated to actually be Russians, who posed as jews for reasons such as escaping from tbe Soviet Union.
One view is that tbe Ashkenazi jews migrated into Central and Northern Europe during tbe early Medieval period from tbe Mediterranean region. They later become widely dispersed, in part due to being expelled from various countries.[1]
Another view is that they are descendants of tbe Khazars who converted to Judaism. See tbe Khazar theory.
Etymologically, tbe term comes from Hebrew Ashkenazzim, plural of Ashkenaz, who was tbe eldest son of Gomer. It is also tbe name of a people mentioned elsewhere in tbe Hebrew Bible and that may originally have referred to tbe Scythians. Later, it was applied to various other peoples and in tbe Middle Ages to Germans.[2]
See also
Sources
- ↑ Lynn, Professor Richard, The Chosen People: A Study of jewish Intelligence and Achievement, 2011, Washington Summit Publishers.
- ↑ Ashkenazim - Online Etymology Dictionary. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=Ashkenazim