Origin of East European Ashkenazim

What is it about?

Two populations are mentioned in the literature as ancestors of East European Ashkenazim: German Jews and Khazars. A German Jewish origin is demographically impossible, a Khazar origin cannot be demonstrated and is unlikely. The author proposes that the ancestors of East European Ashkenazim first arrived around the Cimmerian Bosporus, mainly from Anatolia and Southern Europe. He shows evidence of a Jewish presence around the Crimea from before the beginning of the Common Era up to the 7th century. During the 8th and 10th centuries the Jewish population was joined by Jews from Byzantium. The proposal is supported by genetic evidence that shows a difference between West and East European Ashkenazim. The author explains the switch from a Slavic- to a Yiddish-speaking population according to Ehret's language-cum-ethnic shift model.

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Why is it important?

The article shows that the population increases of East European Jewry between 1500 and 1800, when related to a German origin, are demographically not possible. An origin of East European Jewry from southern Europe and Anatolia via the region around the Black Sea, instead of via Germany, does not have this problem.