The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia:
"In the early middle ages the KHAZARS were sometimes referred to as Ashkenazim...About 92% of all Jes are Ashkenazim."
Genesis 10:1-3; "The sons of Japheth;...the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz..."
"Relentless research established as equally true that the 'Jews' in Eastern Europe AT NO TIME IN THEIR HISTORY COULD CORRECTLY REGARDED AS THE DIRECT LINEAL DESCENDANTS OF LEGENDARY "LOST TEN TRIBES" OF BIBLE LORE. THE JEWS in Eastern Europe in madern history CANNOT LEGITIMATELY CLAIM TO HAVE A SINGLE ANCIENT ANCESTOR WHO EVER SET EVEN A FOOT ON THE SOIL OF PALESTINE IN THE ERA OF THE BIBLE HISTORY. Research has also revealed that the "Jews" in Eastern Europe WERE NEVER SEMITES, ARE NOT SEMITES NOW, NOR CAN THEY BE EVER REGARDED AS SEMITES AT ANY FUTURE BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION." - 'Facts are Facts' - Benjamin Freedman.
"Khazars, a national group of general Turkic type, independent and sovereign in Eastern Europe between the seventh and tenth centuries A.D. During this time the leading Khazars professed Judaism." - Encyclopedia Judicia, Vol. 10, 1971.
"Ashkenazim, the Ashkenazim are one of two major divisions of Jews, the other being Shephardim." - Academic American Encyclopedia 1985.
"Ashkenazim, the Ashkenazim are the Jews whose ancestors lived in German lands...it is among Ashkenazi Jews that the idea of political Zionism emerged, leading ultimately to the establishment of the state of Israel...In the late 1960's, Ashkenazim numbered about 84% of the world jewish population." - Encyclopedia Americana. 1985
"Khazars, confeceration of Turkic and Iranian tribes that established a major commercial empire in the second half of the 6th century, covering the southeastern section of modern European Russia...In the middle of the 8th century the ruling classes adopted Judaism as their religion." - Encyclopedia Britannica 15th Edition
"As well the greater part of the Khazar nobility, abandoned paganism and converted to Judaism....THE KHAZARS ARE BELIEVED TO BE THE ANCESTORS OF MOST RUSSIAN AND EASTERN EUROPEAN JEWS." - Encyclopedia Americana 1985.