Ashkenazi Jew
This refers to the largest ethnic groups of Jews.
(Note: there are a lot of different ethnic/racial divisions among Jews.)
The Ashkenazi was a group of Jewish people who migrated North from the Middle East to Eastern Europe about 1000 BC. In turn, this group immigrated heavily to the United States, making it the largest ethnic Jewish group in North America.
The Ashkenazi are the ethnic stereotype most commonly associated with Judaism: dark hair, prominent eyebrows, etc. Ashkenazim is also associated with a language (Yiddish) and a set of social customs and practices that transcend race or appearance.
The name comes from the Biblical figure of Ashkenaz. Geographical areas of Jewish settlement were customarily named for Biblical figures, and Ashkenaz came to refer to the Jewish populations of Germany and France.
Why I Looked It Up
In Broad City, Alana mentions that she’s Ashkenazi several times.
The Wikipedia page for Mila Kunis notes that “her ethnicity is 96% Ashkenazi Jewish.”
Links to this –
Christian Nationalism: A Biblical Guide For Taking Dominion And Discipling Nations
September 21, 2023
This is a book that would offend and anger a lot of people. I get that. I read it so I could understand a friend’s point-of-view a little better. I read it at the same time as The Boniface Option which is even more extreme, but I’m calling out the chance of offense here just because of the title....
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The Greedy Jewish Moneylender Stereotype
October 16, 2021
There seems to be several reasons for this, all inter-related. First, throughout history, Jewish people have, on average, been wealthier than non-Jewish people. The most obvious and likely explanation is that the Jewish culture traditionally emphasizes education and hard work. From a book about...
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Hebrew vs. Yiddish
October 28, 2024
They are related, but they are separate languages. Hebrew is the more historical and traditional of the two. Yiddish is sort of a regional dialect/creole of Hebrew. Yiddish was spoken by European Jews. It’s a mixture of Hebrew, German, and other Eastern European languages. Hebrew is a language born...
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Shabbat
June 29, 2023
This is the Jewish day of rest. It lasts from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday. Observant Jews – known as “shomer Shabbat” – are prohibited from doing any work during this time. The definition of “work” comes from 39 prohibited categories. Many of things are historic jobs performed by...