Jewish Khazarian theory: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 18:07, 31 August 2026

Ashkenazi Jews have been the subject of a theory which, if true, would completely delegitimize the modern State of Israel in concept and in practice. We must address this claim briefly here.

In waves, the Jews were exiled or captured: first during the Jewish-Roman wars and later during the Crusades. Due to this, European Jews formed new communities, and were split into two groups: the first are known as "Sephardim" or Spanish rite Jews who settled in the Iberian peninsula and Northern Africa; the second are called "Ashkenazim" or German rite Jews (the latter of which make up more than 80% of Jews worldwide today). There are two theories as to the origins of Ashkenazim: either they were originally from the land of Canaan like Sephardic Jews, but settled in the Rhineland and France; or they settled in the region after large numbers of Jewish converts in the multi-ethnic, semi-nomadic Khazarian Khaganate (Khazar empire) migrated there following the fall of the Khazars. Witnesses from the 9th and 10th centuries say the Khazars adopted Judaism in the 8th century.

The Khazarian theory, while plausible, shows little evidence, especially considering the deep-rooted cultural and traditional connections between Ashkenazim and the Rhineland such as their staunchly Germanic language of Yiddish. However, the theory goes as follows: A small number of Khazars converted to Rabbinic Judiasm in the 8th-9th centuries (according to the Khazar Correspondence). When the empire fell, they fled to Europe and settled there. The main weakness of the Israeli origin story is that there is no determinative counterargument to refute the Khazar theory. It's also perfectly likely, however, that Ashkenazim are the descendants of early-medieval Levantines rather than Turkic-Caucasians.

There is no conclusive evidence to support either theory, yet both are wielded politically today, most notably by Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas respectively. The theory first gained prominence in Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries, and later was supported and criticized by both receptionists and rejectionists-- both Zionists and non-Zionists.

With most of the world's Jews today being Ashkenazim, Israeli claim to the land they currently occupy is thrust into jeopardy, and such a lack of evidence for either claim means a necessary rejection of confirmation for or against the Khazarian Ashkenazi theory.