Ashkenazic Jews and the Biblical Israelites : : The Early Demographic Development of East European Ashkenazis / / Jits Straten.

• Superior document: Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter DG Ebook Package English 2021
• VerfasserIn: Straten, Jits,
• Place / Publishing House: München ;, Wien : : De Gruyter Oldenbourg, , [2021]; ©2021
• Year of Publication: 2021
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (XIV, 108 p.)

Who were the early ancestors of East European Ashkenazic Jews, how were they related to the biblical Israelites/Judeans, and when and from where did they arrive in Eastern Europe? This book intends to answer these questions, but first it discusses some of the important questions that are neglected in the literature but important in the author’s work such as the ethnic composition of Canaan/Palestine and the switch from a patrilineal system (Israelites/Judeans) to a matrilineal one including converts (Jews). The author also discusses more present-day topics such as whether it is possible to determine if someone is (Ashkenazic) Jewish and a descendant of the biblical Israelites based on a genetic profile, and whether Ashkenazic Jews are more Jewish than Indian or Ethiopian Jews. Jits van Straten argues that the answer is negative in both cases, based on the official definition of who is a Jew. Finally, it is shown why East European Ashkenazis speak Yiddish without originating from a German-speaking region.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter -- Acknowledgements -- Contents -- List of Figures and Tables -- Glossary -- Introduction -- I Israelites, Judeans, Jews, and Ashkenazis -- II History and Demography of East European Jews According to the Baron-Weinryb Hypothesis -- III Controversial Conclusions from Genetics -- IV Historical and Genetic Foundations for a Southern Route -- V Why do East European Ashkenazis Speak Yiddish? -- VI Are Turkish Jews Sephardic Jews? -- Summary -- Epilogue -- Bibliography -- Index