Khazars and Judaism

In his essay entitled O dvoystvennosti verkhovnoy vlasti u khazarov, Vasili V. Grigoriev exposit the Khazar as follows The Khazar people were an unusual phenomenon for Medieval times. Surrounded by creature and nomadic tribes, they had all the advantages of the developed countries structured government, vast and prosperous trading, and a permanent army.At the time, when great fanatism and deep ignorance contested their dominion over westbound Europe, the Khazar state was famous for its justice and tolerance. People persecuted for their faiths flocked into Khazaria from everywhere. As a shimmer star it shone brightly on the gloomy horizon of Europe, and faded past without leaving any traces of existence.This paper introduces to a reader who the Khazar people are and their role in Jewish history.Khazars and JudaismOriginally, the Khazars practiced Shamanism and phallic pietism with the sky god Tengri as the focus. Subordinate Gods whom the Khazars worshipped include cornucopiag oddessU may,Kuara, a thunder god, andErlik, the god of deathDue the persecution of Jews under Heraclius, Leo III, Justinian II and Romanos I, Jews fled to Khazaria. The Mazdak revolts in addition caused Jews from Persia to flee to Khazaria. It was said that Jewish merchants from this age regularly traded in Khazaria. They may have wielded strong econimic relations in Khazaria.Sometime in the 8th century or 9th, the Khazar royalty converted to Judaism and the most of the population followed. The reason for the conversion, as some historians say is that the nance cannot anymore endure the nasty forms of intimate excesses of his people. King Bulan abolished shamanism and the worship of phallic objects. He decided against Christianity and Islam and selected Judaism.The King and his nobles were converted immediately by the rabbis from Babylonia. Phallic worship was then forbidden. Kings bespeak for rabbis to open schools and synagogues in the nation. Judaism has become the religion o f Khazaria.The conversion of King Bulan started the in the buff policy that only a Jew can occupy the Khazar throne. The kingdom became a theocracy where the leaders imposed religion as the guide to everyday life. Judaism provided not only religious but also civil laws.