Quick Scoop

An Ashkenazi Jew is a Jewish person whose ancestors came from Central and Eastern Europe, especially areas that were once part of medieval Germany and later spread into places like Poland, Lithuania, and Russia.

What it means

The term can refer to both ancestry and religious tradition. In a cultural sense, Ashkenazi Jews developed their own customs, pronunciation, and traditions, including the Yiddish language.

Simple distinction

• Ethnic/historical meaning: Jews descended from the medieval Ashkenazi communities of Europe.

• Religious/custom meaning: Jews who follow Ashkenazi liturgical and communal practices.

In plain language

If someone says they are Ashkenazi, they usually mean their Jewish family background traces to Europe, not the Middle East or North Africa.

Bottom line

Ashkenazi Jews are one major branch of the Jewish people, shaped by centuries of life in Europe and known for distinct traditions like Yiddish and Ashkenazi religious customs.

TL;DR: Ashkenazi Jew = a Jew with roots in Central/Eastern Europe, plus a shared cultural and religious tradition.