The concept of "Ashkenazi Jewish" does not correspond as strongly as you might think to a homogenous genetic make-up. Ashkenazi Jewish people come from a wide r

The concept of "Ashkenazi Jewish" does not correspond as strongly as you might think to a homogenous genetic make-up. Ashkenazi Jewish people come from a wide range of European and Middle Eastern genetic make-up, and you'll find as much diversity within Ashkenazi Jews as there is between Ashkenazi Jews & Europeans / Ashkenazi Jews - eastern Mediterranean basin. The higher rate of heritable disease is due to isolated communities marrying lots of first cousins etc (historically speaking). But there were many such dispersed & distinct such communities.