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What are Ashkenazim?

By Giora Shimoni, About.com

Definition: Jews who came from Eastern Europe and Russia are called Ashkenazim.

The name Ashkenaz was first used in the Middle Ages for Jews living along the Rhine River in northern France and western Germany. Many of these Jews later migrated eastward and formed communities in Germany, Poland, Austria, Eastern Europe and Russia between the 10th and 19th centuries. Ashkenazic Jews developed their own language, Yiddish, by combining Hebrew with German. Likewise, they developed a distinct culture by combining Jewish culture with the culture of the countries in which they lived.

The great majority of North American Jews today are Ashkenazic Jews.

More Kosher Vocabulary Words: Glossary of Kosher Terms
Pronunciation: ash-ke-naz-im
Also Known As: Ashkenazic Jews, Ashkenazi Jews
Examples:
While some people see Ashkenazic cuisine as staid peasant cooking, others see it as grandma's comfort food.

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