Ashkenazi Jews
Definition
Ashkenazi Jews are a Jewish ethnic division that coalesced in the Holy Roman Empire around the end of the first millennium. They are known for their use of Yiddish language.
Analogy
Think of Ashkenazi Jews as an apple tree planted in one part of an orchard (the Holy Roman Empire) that has since spread its seeds (culture, traditions, and language) to other parts of the orchard.
Related terms
Yiddish: Yiddish is a High German-derived language historically spoken by Ashkenazi Jews.
Hasidism: Hasidism is a Jewish religious group that originated in Eastern Europe (where many Ashkenazi Jews lived) in the 18th century and places emphasis on mysticism and joyous worship.
Shtetl: A shtetl was a small town with a large Jewish population, which existed in Central and Eastern Europe before the Holocaust. This term is often associated with Ashkenazi Jewish history.
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