CalamityJane wrote:Gawd forbid, if foofie had an ounce of German blood in him - the same,
the utter shame would be too much for him.
Here's the sad truth (said in jest of course): Ashkenazi Jews all likely have some German genes in their bodies (note I don't get into that whole "blood" lexicon), since when Jews started their Diaspora out of Jerusalem with the destruction of the 2nd Temple (circa 60 A.D. - I like A.D., not A.C.E.), the first place they settled? Yep, you bet, Germany. Now remember the German tribes were still pagan then, and they likely looked upon this rag tag group of wanderers as odd fellows, to say the least. But, they allowed them to settle there, and they prospered.
Possibly centuries, if not a millenium later, did these Jews in Germany move over to Russia and Poland for whatever reason?
O.K., what's the point? Somewhere on the internet I did read that the maternal "X" chromosome of Ashkenazi Jews show a high tendency to be similar to a European woman's DNA, while the "Y" male chromosome in many Ashkenazi Jews is very similar to that of Middle Eastern males (not Jews mind you, just Middle Eastern.
In effect, if any credence is given to this, the likely explanation is that groups of Jewish males came to Europe to start some trading (post), and married a local girl. Yes, Ashkenazi Jews may all be descended from Gentile women on the maternal side. Ashkenazi Jews would then be all hybrids.
I give it credence, regardless, since there is always a Jewish boy that just doesn't find Jewish girls interesting; perhaps, too much like a sister, aunt, etc., so the thought of Jews that settled in Germany marrying a Shiksa (which I was told just means pagan maiden) likely occurred, especially in the pre-Christian era when there was no Christian anti-Semitism (just Jews were odd fellows, but "they make good husbands.")
There's another reason I believe Germans and Ashkenazi Jews mixed. I read somewhere that 30% of German males have "male pattern baldness" by their early 30's. This is a comparatively early age. Many Ashkenazi Jewish males have male pattern baldness at an early age. Mediterranean men tend not to have it at such an early age. Sephardic Jews tend not to have male pattern baldness.
By the way, I remember from world history class that Germany was
fully Christianized as late as the 1300's. In effect there was a long time that pagan Germans did not subscribe to European Christian anti-Semitism. I'd guess that made for more inter-marriages.
Also, as I said above, that there are Jewish young men that one may think is "running" from his mother (and therefore marries a non-Jewish young lady); there is also the thought that many a Gentile/Christian young lady marries a Jewish young man since it's possible she has had enough with men like the one's in her family. I suspect this accounts for many inter-marriages today, from both perspectives.
Digressing; yes, German-Americans are the largest white ethnic group in the U.S.; and, their ethnicity is shown by ???? Actually, they are just American in everyone else's eyes. The only difference is, some are Catholic and some are Protestant, but those are not ethnic groups. A German surname is considered like a WASP name; it connotes someone who can handle responsibility and hard work.
Hey, that's really how the U.S. is heading in its sociological divisions. Protestants, Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Hindu, Buddhist, other. It seems to be all about religion in the U.S., not ethnicity anymore.
Jews marry many Catholics, and the children just get gifts for two holidays in December. When Jews marry Protestants, it might be two professionals, but that's my own prejudiced stereotype of those marriages. Fewer, compared to the Jewish/Catholic unions.
But ethnicity is losing its grip on the imagination of the people, I believe. Those who have an ethnic identity say it, in my opinion, almost as though they feel obligated for the sake of past ancestors, but they really live in a world where ethnicity plays a continuing lesser role. This is only my opinion.
And to all a good night.
