Were the jews living in Poland, Belarus, and Ukraine before World War II a seperate ethnic group? Or did they blend in with the surrounding society to become a hybrid group? Is an east european jew genetically more related to jews in the middle east or gentile slavic peoples in eastern europe?
Other - Cultures & Groups - 3 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Some of the Jews blended in the surrounding society and were what we call today, secular Jews. But most eastern European Jews in those days (And hundreds of years before) were ultra orthodox and lived within themselves in their own separated communities. Genetically they were more related to their gentile surroundings than to the Middle Eastern Jews. (The text above is taken from my own knowledge and understanding and should not be taken for granted what so ever)
2 :
Seperate.
3 :
The people ( and the governments) in those countries do not/did not consider them to be nationals of those since they are supposedly of ME descent ( while the locals are not) and do not have blood ties to the country. They are called "Yevrey"- "Hebrew" there. Most look like Lebanese or Syrian people. There was some mixture due to some ( very few) intermarriages and some rapes. So, there is probably 10-30% local admixture. The rest is MEastern looking although very pale Most stayed away from those societies because 1) they wanted to 2) the societies around them did not really want them as part of them. You do not see them marching in Polish American parades in Chicago, do you?
Read more discussions :
