Replies

I’m not sure. If the divergence between Middle Eastern and European Jews occurred about 2,500 years ago, then it would seem arguable that the European Jews are descended from the 10 tribes that were carried off by the Assyrians and allegedly scattered into the Caucasus and parts of Central Asia. In any event, it is all interesting.

I would tend to suspect that to be the case. The Khazar story, on the other hand, says that the Khazars - a Turkish group - adopted Judaism wholesale in the 8th or 9th century, so as to establish their independence from both the Christian Byzantine Empire and the Islamic Caliphate. This much is the case, if I'm recalling my history correctly. However, what is usually added to this is the largely unsubstantiated belief that the Khazars themselves (instead of examples of Jews deported to Assyria) became the European Jews. Usually, the context I've seen this in is as part of an effort to deny to the Ashkenazi (and Sephardic) Jews any lineage from Israel, the idea being that today's Jews are "usurpers" who are really just Turkish Khazars.

The Khazar story, on the other hand, says that the Khazars - a Turkish group - adopted Judaism wholesale in the 8th or 9th century, so as to establish their independence from both the Christian Byzantine Empire and the Islamic Caliphate. This much is the case, if I'm recalling my history correctly. However, what is usually added to this is the largely unsubstantiated belief that the Khazars themselves (instead of examples of Jews deported to Assyria) became the European Jews. Usually, the context I've seen this in is as part of an effort to deny to the Ashkenazi (and Sephardic) Jews any lineage from Israel, the idea being that today's Jews are "usurpers" who are really just Turkish Khazars.

The Kingdom of Khazaria officially adopted Judaism as the state religion, for the reasons you state, but because this was done for political, not religious, reasons, the bulk of the common people never became Jewish and the rest of the Khazars didn't stay Jewish very long. You are right that the claim that today's Jews are descendants of Khazars is spouted chiefly by those trying to deny the legitimacy of Zionism. Genetic studies like those in the posted article debunk that theory.