Ashkenazi Judaism refers to the Jewish cultural and religious traditions that developed among Jews in Central and Eastern Europe. This group emerged in the Middle Ages, primarily in regions like Germany, Poland, and Russia. Ashkenazi Jews have their own unique customs, languages, and religious practices, including the use of Yiddish, a language that combines German with Hebrew and Slavic elements. The Ashkenazi community has made significant contributions to Jewish scholarship, literature, and the arts. Notable figures include Moses Mendelssohn, a philosopher who helped modernize Jewish thought, and Sholem Aleichem, a famous Yiddish writer. Today, Ashkenazi Jews represent a large portion of the global Jewish population.