This discussion thread is now at an end. I add only a few things: the Talmud did not originate in Babylon, and the Jerusalem Talmud is in fact older than the Babylonian Talmud. There is no NT evidence that Jesus was attempting to restore a pre-Babylonian exile Hebrew faith, although he certainly differs in his teachings from many of the contemporary Pharisees. The Khazar theory of Ashkenazi origins is not generally accepted, although there are reputable people who take it seriously.
