Changes

This argument has been challenged by one recent genetic study by Johns Hopkins University geneticist Dr. Eran Elhaik.<ref>Eran Elhaik (December 14, 2012) [http://gbe.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2012/12/14/gbe.evs119.short?rss=1 "The Missing Link of Jewish European Ancestry: Contrasting the Rhineland and the Khazarian Hypotheses"]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130321235013/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iJN90t2gN6hxGiFQuBv-gYQE060w?docId=CNG.52483183e4e0f60d963361c17572c848.81 Gene study settles debate over origin of European Jews] (Jan 16, 2013) ''AFP'' (archived from March 21, 2013).</ref> However, Elhaik's study does not fully address the findings of previous studies, particularly the overlap between Ashkenazi Jewish populations and native endogamous Levantine populations such as the Samaritans and Druze. Elhaik's use of Palestinian Arabs as representative of ancestral Israelite genetics is questionable in light of previous genetic studies which have uncovered evidence of significant African gene flow present in Arab, but not non-Arab Middle-Eastern populations.<ref>Moorjani P, Patterson N, Hirschhorn JN, Keinan A, Hao L, et al. (2011) "The History of African Gene Flow into Southern Europeans, Levantines, and Jews". http://www.plosgenetics.org/article/...l.pgen.1001373</ref><ref> Martin Richards, Chiara Rengo, Fulvio Cruciani, Fiona Gratrix, et al. (2003) "Extensive Female-Mediated Gene Flow from Sub-Saharan Africa into Near Eastern Arab Populations" http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1180338/</ref> White supremacist blogger<ref>[https://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2015/03/new-york-times-drops-razib-khan-204287 New York Times drops Razib Khan] Byers, Dylan ''Politico'' 19 march 2015</ref> [[Razib Khan]] argues that Elhaik's conclusions rely on poorly reasoned assumptions and that "the Caucasian component that is being detected in this paper may simply be a[n] indigenous Middle Eastern ancestral element which has now been somewhat displaced northward in its modal frequency due to the expansion of the Arabs."<ref>[http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2012/08/ashkenazi-jews-are-probably-not-descended-from-the-khazars/ Ashkenazi Jews are probably not descended from the Khazars] by Razib Khan (August 8, 2012 11:27 pm) ''Discover''.</ref>

This argument has been challenged by one recent genetic study by Johns Hopkins University geneticist Dr. Eran Elhaik.<ref>Eran Elhaik (December 14, 2012) [http://gbe.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2012/12/14/gbe.evs119.short?rss=1 "The Missing Link of Jewish European Ancestry: Contrasting the Rhineland and the Khazarian Hypotheses"]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130321235013/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iJN90t2gN6hxGiFQuBv-gYQE060w?docId=CNG.52483183e4e0f60d963361c17572c848.81 Gene study settles debate over origin of European Jews] (Jan 16, 2013) ''AFP'' (archived from March 21, 2013).</ref> However, Elhaik's study does not fully address the findings of previous studies, particularly the overlap between Ashkenazi Jewish populations and native endogamous Levantine populations such as the Samaritans and Druze. Elhaik's use of Palestinian Arabs as representative of ancestral Israelite genetics is questionable in light of previous genetic studies which have uncovered evidence of significant African gene flow present in Arab, but not non-Arab Middle-Eastern populations.<ref>Moorjani P, Patterson N, Hirschhorn JN, Keinan A, Hao L, et al. (2011) "The History of African Gene Flow into Southern Europeans, Levantines, and Jews". http://www.plosgenetics.org/article/...l.pgen.1001373</ref><ref> Martin Richards, Chiara Rengo, Fulvio Cruciani, Fiona Gratrix, et al. (2003) "Extensive Female-Mediated Gene Flow from Sub-Saharan Africa into Near Eastern Arab Populations" http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1180338/</ref> White supremacist blogger<ref>[https://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2015/03/new-york-times-drops-razib-khan-204287 New York Times drops Razib Khan] Byers, Dylan ''Politico'' 19 march 2015</ref> [[Razib Khan]] argues that Elhaik's conclusions rely on poorly reasoned assumptions and that "the Caucasian component that is being detected in this paper may simply be a[n] indigenous Middle Eastern ancestral element which has now been somewhat displaced northward in its modal frequency due to the expansion of the Arabs."<ref>[http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2012/08/ashkenazi-jews-are-probably-not-descended-from-the-khazars/ Ashkenazi Jews are probably not descended from the Khazars] by Razib Khan (August 8, 2012 11:27 pm) ''Discover''.</ref>

None of these studies of Ashkenazi Jews have detected evidence of a significant Central or East Asian genetic component which is present in other Turkic populations. The actual Khazars would likely have been assimilated by the Krymchaks (Crimean Jews) following the fall of Khazaria. Even so, the Krymchaks had a long history of assimilating other Jews who came to the Crimea, so their ancestry is still largely Levantine.<ref> "Who Were The Krymchaks?" http://www.family.askinazy.com/WhoWereTheKrymchaks.pdf </ref>

None of these studies of Ashkenazi Jews have detected evidence of a significant Central or East Asian genetic component which is present in other Turkic populations. The actual Khazars would likely have been assimilated by the Krymchaks (Crimean Jews) following the fall of Khazaria. Even so, the Krymchaks had a long history of assimilating other Jews who came to the Crimea, so their ancestry is still largely Levantine.<ref> "Who Were The Krymchaks?" [http://www.family.askinazy.com/WhoWereTheKrymchaks.pdf] </ref>

==Why it wouldn't matter anyway==

==Why it wouldn't matter anyway==