Genetic Roots of Ashkenazi Jews

The Scientist ^ | 10/8/13 | Kate Yandell

[DManA]

Part of the reason was this guy was a little bit pudgy, not part of the Japanese stereotype, And the pudginess of his face kind of effected his eyes. Never fooled me but I could see how someone not paying close attention might make the mistake.

[DManA]

effected = affected. (I know the difference grammar Nazis.)

[Red Badger]

We’re ALL mutts......................

[Red Badger]

(though my wife disagrees)...

Why do Jewish men die so much earlier than their wives............. Because they want to................Jackie Mason..........OY!............

[yarddog]

I used to work with a guy name Ishi. He was around 6’3” and I always thought he was Eastern European. One day he mentioned that he was Japanese.

I immediately realized that he did look Japanese but assumed he was maybe half. He said no, he was full blooded.

[Oratam]

I’ve known some people from Sicily and Naples who look like Vikings and others who look like Arabs.

Sometimes in the same family!

There's an Italian religious festival in Williamburg, Brooklyn that uses a local resident to portray a character known as "The Turk." He wears an outlandish turban and brandishes a sword from a boat carried on the shoulders of about 100 men. (Yours truly performed this service on 1 occasion over 15 yrs. ago.)

The honor of playing "The Turk" usually goes to a guy with black hair, beard, and eyes and the most extreme aquiline nose. Apparently they have no trouble finding a parish member who possesses these characteristics.

[Jewbacca]

“Arab is a general type of ethnic group, and Jews come from many different ethnic groups.”

Yes, and I have not been genetically linked with the arab ethnic group since roughly the time of Abraham.

[Red Badger]

[DManA]

I have read there is a tribe in N. Japan that look almost Caucasian.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

A friend in Columbia Missouri I always thought was of Japanese ancestry told me his mother was from Alaska (as in native Indian)

[Never A Dull Moment]

It explains the various features seen among us. Halachically speaking, they are most certainly Jews, and a part of the Jewish people.

[DManA]

I am a purebred Son of Adam.

[ek_hornbeck]

I have read there is a tribe in N. Japan that look almost Caucasian.

You're thinking of the Ainu People. For a long time, it was assumed that the Ainus were descended from Caucasians who migrated to Japan. Recent genetic studies have shown that they're closely related to Chinese, Koreans, and Japanese, and that their European-like features (round eyes, light complexion, extensive facial and body hair) are a case of accidental convergence.

[Red Badger]

My wife calls me a Son of, but it ain’t Adam.......................

[PapaBear3625]

Interesting. The study seems to suggest that most European Jews are paternally descended from Israelites and maternally descended from European converts (presumably taken as wives by Jews in the Roman Empire).

Since "Jewishness" is transmitted along the maternal line, this could get complicated.

[ek_hornbeck]

To my current way of thinking, Arab is a general type of ethnic group,

Not really. They're united by a common language and culture, but "Arabs" are made up of genetically very different people. A Saudi Arab doesn't look very much like an Arab from Lebanon or from Libya, for instance.

[Theoria]

The Japanese have various groups. Perhaps the persons seen had Ainu decesndents.

As ya can see. Comes in all shapes.

[ek_hornbeck]

If the women converted, does it matter?

[seeker41]

Judaism always passes from the female.

[Jewbacca]

It doesn’t.

And it also makes sense that there were historically more female converts to Judaism, given the nature of a male conversion later-in-life being somewhat traumatic back in the day.