ASHKENAZ (PLURAL ASHKHANAZIM). - In modern Judaism, the name for German Jews, as opposed to Sēphārādh (plur. Sēphardhām). From the 10th century A. in Hebrew literature designates Germany and the German Jews (v. ASCENEZ).

The A. Jews also spread into Poland and Russia, and from there into North America and South Africa. They speak a Middle High German dialect, into which numerous Hebrew and Slavic elements have been introduced, which is also used in literature (jiddī). They have also developed a particular rite and are distinguished by their own pronunciation of Hebrew. The number of A. is calculated at about 90% of the total number of Jews. From the anthropological point of view, they present a high percentage of light-colored elements.

Bibliography2 works

BIBL.: Encycl. Judaica, III, pp. 493-98; P. Rieger, Aschkenaz-Deutschland, in Monatschrift für Geschichte und Wiss. des Judentums, 80 (1936), pp. 455-59. On the financial influence: I. A. Agus, The Development of the Money Clause in the Ashkenazic Ketubah, in Jewish Quarterly Review, 30 (1939-40), pp. 221-256.

Alfredo Ravenna

@incollection{ec2_askenaz_plur_askhanazim, author = {Ravenna, Alfredo}, title = {AŠKenaz (Plur. AŠKhĀNĀZim)}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {II}, pages = {150--151}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1949}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/askenaz-plur-askhanazim} }

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Ashkenaz (plural Ashkhanazim)

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