Some claim that Ashkenazi Jews descend not from ancient Israel but from a lost Turkic kingdom called Khazaria. It’s a story recycled to erase Jewish identity and delegitimize Israel. But history, language, and DNA all point elsewhere. Ashkenazi Jews can be traced back through Europe to ancient Israel, not Khazaria. The theory is a myth. The people are real.
Essential Questions
- How does a group’s origin story affect its identity?
- Does a narrative need to be true in order to cause harm?
Big Ideas
- All Jews are descended from Judeans who were indigenous to the Land of Israel.
- The Khazar theory is perpetuated as a way to degrade Ashkenazi Jews and delegitimize their connection to Israel.
- The Khazar theory continues to cause harm even though it has been debunked.
