CHE Standards

Benjamin Said:

What are Ashkenazi Jews: a race/religion/ethnicity - What about the diseases they carry? Can religion do that?

We Answered:

Ashkenazic Jews are the Jews of France, Germany, and Eastern Europe and their descendants speak Yiddish. Sephardi Jews are the Jews of Spain, Portugal, North Africa and the Middle East and their descendants and they speak Ladino which is a Spanish based form of Hebrew . It is true that there is a higher incidence of the diseases mentioned, however, Jews of Ashkenazic descent usually are very conscious of these diseases and practice genetic testing.

Jews are NOT an ethnicity but a religion. The word antisemitisch was probably first used in 1860 by a Jew, Moritz Steinschneider, in the phrase "antisemitic prejudices" ("antisemitischen Vorurteile") to criticize the racist ideas of Ernst Renan. "Semitic" is a term that describes a group of languages. The German polemicist Wilhelm Marr coined the German word Antisemitismus in 1879 to give a scientific aura to his ideology of hatred of Jews. Since the term in proper usage does not refer to all "Semites" and there is no Semitic "race," the term "antisemitism" was suggested by Yehuda Bauer instead. The term Judeophobia, coined originally by Leon Pinsker, is also used to describe hatred of Jews. Arab Jew haters have tried to claim that they are not "anti-Semites" since they themselves are Semites, and some Arabs use the term in that way. In this page we use the term "anti-Semitism" only because it is the most popular accepted term and therefore it is most used when people search for this topic.

The primary difference between the terms anti-semite (a racial characteristic) and anti-Jewish (a religious characteristic) lies in the belief that one CAN change their religion but one CANNOT change their race. Historically Jews have faced such accusations as Christ-killers, shylocks and blood libel. Most people understand the meaning of a Christ-killer or a shylock (loan shark, 1905, one who lends money to individuals at exorbitant rates of interest). However, in many cases, anti-Semitic blood libels served as the basis for a blood libel cult, in which the alleged victim of human sacrifice was worshiped as a Christian martyr. These accusations date from 1144-1840. The blood acquired was believed to be used to make matzoh for Passover.

The descriptions of torture and human sacrifice in the antisemitic blood libels run contrary to many of the teachings of Judaism. The Ten Commandments in the Torah forbid murder. In addition, the use of blood (human or otherwise) in cooking is prohibited by the kosher dietary laws. Blood from slaughtered animals may not be consumed, and must be drained out of the animal and covered with earth. (Lev 17:12-13) According to the book of Leviticus, blood from sacrificed animals may only be placed on the altar of the Great Temple in Jerusalem (which no longer existed at the time of the Christian blood libels). Furthermore, consumption of human flesh violates kashrut.

I hope this explains why Jews have been historically viewed as less than human and a blight on mankind. As a Christian, I believe that they are God's Chosen People and that anyone who curses them will face the wrath of Almighty God. "And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." Gen. 12:3

gatita

Apostolic Believer In One God, Jesus

Bob Said:

"Intermarriage is never good for the Jews" - Is this why Ashkenazi Jews have so many diseases?

We Answered:

Actually, yes. Jews, maintaining their own culture, not integrating, and trying to marry only other Jews effectively limited the diversity of their genetic pool. Check the stats on Levi and Cohen subset of Jews, they should be even worse, genetic conditions-wise.

This, by the way, is the first Jew-related question you ask that actually makes sense.

Jon Said:

What does the future hold for Ashkenazi Jews & their genetic diseases, if they don't stop inbreeding?

We Answered:

We'll be just fine, thanks, just like we have been. Some of these even have therapeutic treatments that allow normal life. Bet that really bugs the sh** out of you, doesn't it??