The pairing of the words "Jews" and "Ash" immediately conjures the image of the Holocaust’s crematoria, where millions of Jewish lives were systematically reduced to ash. Similarly, combining "Jews" with "Nazi" directly links to the perpetrators of that genocide. In Hebrew, the word "ken" (כן) means "yes." When these linguistic elements are combined, they form "ASH-KE-NAZI"—a striking phrase that echoes a grim historical reality: approximately 90% of all Jews are Ashkenazi, most of whom were targeted for extermination during the Holocaust. This coincidence invites reflection on the uncanny ways language and history intertwine.
The Double-Edged Etymology
The term "Ashkenaz" in medieval Hebrew refers to Germany and is derived from a Biblical figure mentioned in Genesis 10:3. Ashkenazi Jews established communities in German-speaking lands by the 10th century, long before the horrors of the 20th century. Meanwhile, "Nazi" is an abbreviation of "Nationalsozialist," which emerged in 1920s Bavaria as a pejorative label for Adolf Hitler’s party.
And here’s a cruel twist: the word "Ashkenazi" itself means "Jews of Germany."
Now, here’s where the irony sharpens: the Holocaust’s genocidal focus was overwhelmingly on Ashkenazi Jews—an ethnic group. Ashkenazi Jews made up about 90% of European Jewry. The Nazis murdered roughly six million Jews—about two-thirds of Europe’s Jewish population—and, in total, approximately eleven million people perished during the Holocaust, including non-Jews, according to The History Channel. The magnitude is intellectually deafening. An article recently surfaced claiming only 200,000 people died in the death camps. A lie will get halfway around the world before truth even gets its pants on.—Winston Churchill. The optics of that lie can give the impression to today's youth, that "genocide" is a far worse thing than the holocaust. Israel is losing a war it cannot fight, the enemy is global ignorance.
The particular "English" spelling of Israel includes the "ae" combination, but this is ironically NOT the "ae" used in other Latin languages, which is called the "ash". The letters are NOT the usage used in "Cæsar," "encyclopædia," and "fæces". It is NOT the Hebrew vowel sound, instead, it's a ligature or a digraph representing a specific vowel sound that existed in Latin and ancient Greek. The "ae" is a convention used in some English transliterations to represent a Hebrew vowel sound (specifically the kamatz under the aleph) and is not related to the "ash symbol" (æ) found in Latin-based alphabets.
Ash, as the name for this character, came from the ash tree. The most common native species found throughout Israel is the Syrian Ash (Fraxinus syriaca), known in Hebrew as "מילה סורית (Mila Surit)". Asherah poles were sacred trees or wooden poles that were erected in ancient Canaanite religious practices to honor the goddess Asherah. God commanded the Israelites to cut down the Asherah poles of the Canaanites (Exodus 34:13, Deuteronomy 7:5, 12:3). They were forbidden from setting up their own Asherah poles beside the altar of the Lord (Deuteronomy 16:21). The presence of Asherah poles is often linked to divine judgment (Judges 3:7, 1 Kings 14:15, 2 Kings 17:16). Archaeological inscriptions from sites like Kuntillet Ajrud in the Sinai Peninsula suggest that Asherah may have been associated with Yahweh, possibly as a consort.
Asherah was a significant mother goddess in the Canaanite pantheon, often considered the consort of the chief god El* and the mother of other deities, including Baal.
*(note: EL AL (אל על) is the flag carrier airline of Israel.The name "El Al" (אל על) is derived from the Hebrew phrase meaning "to the skies," "upwards," or "skywards." This name was inspired by a biblical verse from the Book of Hosea (11:7) which in Hebrew reads "...and my people are bent on turning away from me; and though they call to Him who is on high, he does not raise them up." The phrase "el al" (אֶל עָל) in this context is often interpreted as "to the One above" or "to God.")
If we apply the oral tradition to Is/ra/el, we can isolate "el" (adressed above) and are left with "Is"(Hebrew for, "man" or "each one") and the letters "ra". The Hebrew word רַע (Ra) has a primary meaning of "bad." In ancient Egyptian mythology, Ra was the sun god. By the Fifth Dynasty (around 25th-24th centuries BCE), Ra rose to become the king of the gods, the patron of the pharaoh, and the creator of everything. For reference, the Jews were slaves in Egypt when Ra was the most powerful Egyptian god. Exodus 12:40 states the Israelites lived in Egypt for 430 years.
Combined, "isra" is significant in the context of the Arabic word إِسْرَاء (ʾIsrāʾ), which refers to the Prophet Muhammad's miraculous night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem. Hebrew and Arabic were sibling languages 3000 years ago (roughly the Iron Age)Both belong to the Central Semitic branch of the Semitic language family. This means they share a common ancestor language, often referred to as Proto-Semitic, from which they both evolved over time.
In Hebrew "ash" is אֵפֶר (éf-er) which sounds like "heifer" which a soft 'h'. The significance of the red heifer (פָּרָה אֲדֻמָּה - parah adumah) in Jewish tradition is paramount, its ashes are crucial for the purification ritual described in the Book of Numbers (Chapter 19). The ashes of a red heifer are essential for the establishment of the Third Temple.
The word "is" (אִישׁ) in Hebrew means "man," "husband," or "each one."
The form "yis" (יִשׁ) is less common as a standalone word. It can be a shortened form or part of other words. For example, it's the beginning of Yisrael (יִשְׂרָאֵל), which most commonly means "God contends" or "one who struggles with God." This name was given to Jacob after he wrestled with an angel in the Book of Genesis.
Therefore, while "is" has a clear and common meaning of "man," "husband," or "each one," "yis" is more often encountered as a part of other words, most notably Yisrael, with the meaning related to striving or contending with God.
The Hebrew name Rael (ראֵל) has a few possible meanings and interpretations:
- Friend of God: This is a common interpretation, suggesting a close and cherished relationship with the divine.
- To be exalted: This meaning implies a sense of honor, high standing, or being elevated.
- It is also considered by some to be a shortened form of Israel, which means "he who struggles with God" or "wrestles with God."
- Less commonly, it's suggested to be related to the Hebrew word for "ewe" (רָחֵל - Rachel), implying innocence or purity.
Therefore, the meaning of Rael in Hebrew is generally associated with a connection to God, either as a friend or someone who has a unique relationship, or with the idea of being exalted and honored.
So Israel (Yisrael) means, "exhaulted man, friend of God" when broken into the definitions of each syllable.
