While Jews tend to feel a connection with other Jews even if they come from different backgrounds, the reality is that, in America, the mainstream ideas of Judaism are tied into the experiences of Ashkenazi Jews. They have defined what we see as American-Jewish culture, but the world of Judaism is larger and more diverse than most people realize. Jewish communities are present in places as far off as India and China, and while Jews around the world are very different, they also have much in common in their traditions.
There are four primary communities of Jews that have spread throughout the world, and they are all distinct from each other. The Ashkenazi Jews settled in Germany and Northern France before going to Eastern Europe. The Sephardic Jews originally settled in Spain and Portugal before being expelled and moving to the Middle East, North Africa, and Amsterdam. The Mizrahi Jews lived in the Middle East in places such as modern Iraq, Iran, and Yemen. Finally, there is also the Beta Israel, who are the Ethiopian Jews.
Leave a Reply