One of two divisions of
European Jewry. The term "Ashkenazic" is derived from the Biblical place name "
Ashkenaz," which
Jews of medieval times believed to correspond to
Germany. Similarly, medieval Jews believed that the place name "Sefarad" corresponded to
Spain.
Ashkenazim were originally the Jews of Germany and Northern Europe; the term now denotes Jews of Eastern European and German heritage as well as Jewish individuals and congregations (and/or synagogues) which follow Ashkenazic traditions. These traditions are frequently distinct from other sectors of Jewry, including the other European division, Sephardic.
Divergences in doxology include the content, order, and conduct of synagogue services. Another example is in the halacha (roughly, rules) regarding what may and may not be eaten during Pesach (Passover); Sephardic tradition allows use of rice, legumes, corn, and their byproducts during the festival, while Ashkenazic stricture does not. Other traditions, including the procedure for reading the Torah, differ as well. Pronunciation of Hebrew may also vary between Ashkenazic and Sephardic communities.
Many of these difference arose because of the influence of geographically distinct schools up through the medieval era. Sephardic Jews retained close ties to the sages of Babylon, while Ashkenazic Jews had closer ties to those remaining in Palestine.
It may seem incredible that the Jews, who have met discrimination at almost every turn of their long history, would slip into prejudice over such divisions; sadly, this was, and to some extent continues to be, the case. In both communities, marriage to a member of the other "camp" was, at one time, prohibited or frowned upon; discrimination existed in spiritual and secular life alike. In the assimilation-friendly culture of the United States, these divisions have lessened; many contemporary American Jews do not know the roots of Jewish traditions in general, never mind the differentiation between Ashkenazic and Sephardic.
This is not true in Israel, however. While the Sephardim thrived in Spain during Muslim rule, the Inquisition resulted in a massive reversal of fortune, and while Sephardic immigrants to the United States have met with success, the Sephardic community in Israel includes some of the poorest of the Jewish State's population. Some claim that this is the result of discrimination by the Ashkenazic Israelis, who have held the large majority of power posts since 1948.
The Sephardic vote has become a key demographic in recent elections; this is especially true of the vote for prime minister. Without the support of Sephardic political parties and lobbies, Israeli leaders will be hard-pressed to negotiate succesfully a peace with the Palestinian and Arab nations; ironically, the hot-button issues for Sephardim tend to be domestic, not international.