What is "ashkenaz"

Ashkenaz may refer to:

• Germany, in a medieval Jewish context
  • A member (or descent) of the Yiddish-speaking Ashkenazi Jewish community, a branch of European Jewry, formed in Middle Ages' Germany
  • Nusach Ashkenaz, a style of Jewish religious service conducted by Ashkenazi Jews
  • Chassidei Ashkenaz, a Jewish movement in the 12th century and 13th century
• Ashkenaz, Gomer's first son in the Bible
• Ashkenaz Foundation, Toronto, Ontario
• Ashkenaz (music venue), a music and dance center in Berkeley, California

Ashkenaz is a term found in a number of contexts. It is found in the Hebrew Bible to refer to one of the descendants of Noah as well as to a reference to a kingdom of Ashkenaz. Ashkenaz is the first son of Gomer, and a Japhetic patriarch in the Table of Nations.

His name is likely a derivation from the Assyrian Aškūza ( Aškuzai, Iškuzai), a people who expelled the Cimmerians from the Armenian area of the Upper Euphrates, The Assyrian name is likely based on that of the Scythians. The intrusive n in the Hebrew form of the name has been explained as a scribal mistake confusing a waw ו with a nun נ (i.e. writing אשכנז ašknz for aškūz אשכוז).

The association of the term by medieval Jewry with the geographical area centered on the Rhineland led to the Jewish culture that developed in that area to be called Ashkenazi, the only form that the term is still used today.

The Ashkenaz is a live music and dance venue located in Berkeley, California in the United States. It is a non-profit organization. It focuses on world music. In 2011 it was voted the best place to dance by readers of East Bay Express.