Ashkenazi Jews facts for kids
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 10–11.2 million | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States |
5–6 million |
 Israel |
2.8 million |
 Russia |
194,000–500,000 |
 Argentina |
300,000 |
 United Kingdom |
260,000 |
 Canada |
240,000 |
 France |
200,000 |
 Germany |
200,000 |
 Ukraine |
150,000 |
 Australia |
120,000 |
 South Africa |
80,000 |
 Belarus |
80,000 |
 Hungary |
75,000 |
 Chile |
70,000 |
 Belgium |
30,000 |
 Brazil |
80,000 |
 Netherlands |
30,000 |
 Moldova |
30,000 |
 Poland |
25,000 |
 Mexico |
18,500 |
 Sweden |
18,000 |
 Latvia |
10,000 |
 Romania |
10,000 |
 Austria |
9,000 |
 New Zealand |
5,000 |
 Azerbaijan |
4,300 |
 Lithuania |
4,000 |
 Czech Republic |
3,000 |
 Slovakia |
3,000 |
 Estonia |
1,000 |
| Languages | |
| Yiddish Modern: Local languages, primarily English, Hebrew, Russian |
|
| Religion | |
| Judaism, some secular, irreligious | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Sephardi Jews, Mizrahi Jews, Samaritans, Kurds, other Levantines (Druze, Assyrians, Arabs), Mediterranean groups (Italians, Spaniards) | |
Ashkenazi Jews are a group of Jews who originally lived in northern and eastern Europe. They are also called Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim. Their history is full of movement and change.
Scientists believe that Ashkenazi Jews first came from the Land of Israel. They traveled to places like Italy, France, and Germany. Later, during a time called the Middle Ages, they faced difficult times. Many of them moved to Poland and Lithuania to find safety. From there, they spread across other parts of Eastern Europe.
Contents
The Yiddish Language
As Ashkenazi Jews settled in Eastern Europe, they started speaking a new language called Yiddish. Yiddish is a mix of German, Hebrew, and Slavic words. It became a very important part of their culture.
Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jews
Over time, two main groups of Jews became well-known: Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jews.
- Ashkenazi Jews are those who followed German traditions and spoke Yiddish.
- Sephardi Jews are those who followed Spanish traditions and spoke Ladino. Ladino is similar to Spanish.
These two groups have different ways of speaking, different cultural traditions, and different styles of worship.
Moving West
In the 17th century, many Ashkenazi Jews moved to Western Europe. They were trying to avoid difficult situations and find new places to live safely.
The Holocaust and Its Impact
During World War II, a terrible event called the Holocaust happened. About 6 million Jews were killed, and around 5 million of them were Ashkenazi Jews. This event greatly harmed Jewish communities and the Yiddish language in Europe.
After the war, many Ashkenazi Jews who survived moved to other countries. They went to places like Israel, Canada, Argentina, Australia, and the United States.
Ashkenazi Jews Today
Today, Ashkenazi Jews make up about 75% of the world's Jewish population. There are around 14.6 million Jews worldwide. Many Ashkenazi Jews live in Israel and are very involved in Israeli politics.
Some famous Ashkenazi Jews include:
- Albert Einstein, a brilliant scientist
- George Gershwin, a famous composer
- Gustav Mahler, another well-known composer
- Franz Kafka, a famous writer
Images for kids
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The Jews in Central Europe (1881)
-
The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth at its greatest extent.
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The example of the chevra kadisha, the Jewish burial society, Prague, 1772
See also
In Spanish: Asquenazí para niños
